at Swift Run Gap.  We camped about one mile of the delightful Shenandoah, which, by crossing and recrossing its clear, blue-tinged waters and camping on its banks so often, had become near and dear to all of us, and nothing was more delightful than to take a plunge beneath its waters.  But most often we had to take the water with clothes and shoes on in the dead of winter, still the name of the Shenandoah had become classic to our ears.

The situation of Early had become so critical, the orders so imperative to join him as soon as possible, that we took up the march next morning at a forced speed, going twelve miles before a halt, a feat never before excelled by any body of troops during the war.  When within two miles of Port Republic, a little beyond its two roads leading off from that place, one to Brown’s Gap, we encountered the enemy’s cavalry.  Here they made an attack upon our brigade, but were repulsed at first fire from the infantry rifles.  There was one thing demonstrated during this war, that whatever might have been accomplished in days of old, the cavalry on either side could not stand the fire of the infantry.  And it seemed that they had a kind of intuition of the fact whenever the infantry was in their front.  Nothing better as an excuse did a cavalry commander wish, when met with a repulse, than to report, “We were driving them along nicely until we came upon the enemy’s infantry, then we had to give way.”

This report had been made over and over again, until it became threadbare; but a cavalry officer thought it a feather in his cap to report his defeat or repulse by, “We met their infantry.”  We made a junction with Early near Brown’s Gap, on the 26th, and camped at night with orders to be prepared to march at daylight.  The troops of Early’s were in a despondent mood, but soon their spirits revived at the sight of Kershaw’s Division.  We moved forward in the direction of Harrisonburg, our duty being to guard the two roads leading thereto.  Early sent the other part of the army to the left and forward of us, and in this order we marched on to Waynesboro.  Reaching there next day, the enemy’s cavalry scattered when our troops came in sight.  We began, on October 1st, moving in the direction of the turn-pike, leading from Winchester to Staunton, striking near Harrisonburg on the 6th.

We began the forward movement down the Valley on the 7th, the enemy slowly giving way as we advanced.  We passed through those picturesque little cities of the Valley, Harrisonburg, New Market, and Woodstock, marching a day or two and then remaining in camp that length of time to give rest to the troops, after their long march.  It must be remembered we had been two months cut off from the outside world—­no railroad nearer than Staunton, the men being often short of rations and barefooted and badly clad; scarcely any mail was received during these two months, and seldom a paper ever made its appearance in camp.  We only knew that Lee was holding his own.  We