Following the Flag

turnpike there, also a road which leads to Centreville. Near the junction of the roads, on the west side of the turnpike, there is a large brick house, a fine old Virginia mansion, own

d was built, before Virginia gave up the cultivation of corn and wheat for the raising of negroes for the South, it was a great hi

verdant; there are no hillsides more sunny or valleys more ple

nt General Ord with a brigade and a large number of wagons to Dranesville to gather forage. On the s

cktails in their caps instead of plumes. The soldiers of that regiment were excellent marksmen. They were from the Alleghany Mountains, and often had the valleys and forests and h

, Eleventh Virginia, with the First South Carolina Battery, commanded by C

the road, thinking of the chickens and turkeys which might fall into their hands, and would be very acceptable for Christmas dinners. They reached Diff

in haste from the advance, and rep

dent and threw out companies of flankers, who threaded their way through the woods,

west of Mr. Thornton's house, into the woods, posted the Bucktails in front of the house, put three of Easton's guns into position on a hill east of it, put the Tenth Regiment and the cavalry in rear of the battery on the Chain Bridge road, sent one cannon down t

of Dran

al Ord'

l Stuart

to Geor

to Alex

to Cent

six guns on both sides of the road, to fire toward the Bucktails. The Eleventh Virginia and Tenth Alabama are deployed on the right

the turnpike. So eager were the artillerymen to get into position, that one gun was upset, and the men were obliged to lift it from the ground. But General Ord told the men where to place the guns. He jumped from his horse and sighted them so accurately, that they threw their shells with great precision into the Rebel ranks. The cann

e, shutting out completely the rays of the winter sun, then low down in the western horizon. At the same time the Buckta

we are your friends

ktails?" asked o

llowed by a terrific vol

ey gave an answering volley. The Bucktails hearing the firing

had taken shelter in a house. "Let them fellows

rooms into one, strewing the floor with laths and plaster, and making the house smoke with dus

ve back those fellows," said General Or

Rebels behind the fences fired a volley, but so wild was their aim that nearly all the bullets passed over the heads of the Sixth. In the field and in the woods there

ing on. The fire of the skilled mountaineers was constant and steady. It was too severe for the Rebels to withstand. They gave way suddenly on all sides, and fled in wild confusion down the Centreville road, throwing away their guns, clothing, knapsacks, and cartridge-boxes, leaving one ca

ior forces, had met an equal number of the enemy, and in a fair fight had won a signal victory. It was a proud day to the brave men who had thus shown their ability to conquer a foe equal in numb

y their friends at home. After dinner they had games, sports, and dances, chasing a greased pig, climbing a greasy pole, running in a m

thout any event to break

of Washington, on which all the armies of the Union were to make an advance upon the enemy; but it was midwinter, the roads were deep with mud, and the order was withdrawn. General Grant all the while was winning victories at Fo

to corps, with such promptness and despatch as not to delay the commencement of the operations which he h

's, McCall's, and King's Divisions, and

n's, Blenker's, and Sedgwick's Divisions,

l Heintzelman, and was composed of Fitz-John

r-General Keyes, and was composed of C

lds's and Williams's Divisions, and

d the soldiers had little to do but doze by the camp-fires through the long winter days and nights. Thousands who had led correct lives at home fell into habits of dissipation and vice. Their wives and children haunted their

held prayer-meetings. God blessed their efforts, and hundreds of soldiers became sincere Christians, attesting their faith in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of men by living correct lives and breaking off their evil habits. Under the influence of the religious teachings there was a great reform in the army. The men became sober. They no longer gambled away their money. They became quiet and orderly, obeyed the comma

d I consecrated them to God for life and for death,-the majority of them baptized, as it proved, for death. I then read the form of covenant, the system of faith, to which all gave their assent. I then read the nam

vents so soon to follow was creeping over us, giving earnestness and impressive solemnity to all hearts. It was a day never to be forgotten as a commencement of a new era in the life of

was full of danger, sickness, and death to many, we have girded ourselves for the conflict. It much resembled the solemn communion of Christians in the time of persecution. Our friends who were present from

the former communion, and it gives me the greatest satisfaction to know that this season, which gave to many the highest enjoyment ever known on earth, when the cup of thanksgiving was mingled with tears of grati