[1st]
At daylight passed through Fairfax court house and went into position two miles north of it on Flint Hill, stacked arms, and got our breakfast. Just ahead of us were large bodies of troops and vast parks of wagons and artillery, all taking a rest; as we were to remain till they were gone, we lay down and got some much needed sleep. About 3 P. M., the ground being clear in front, we fell in and were just about to resume the march, when a rebel horse battery came in sight, deliberately unlimbered, went into position, and opened fire, but we gave them so hearty a reception they only remained about five minutes, leaving the field at a gallop, amidst a shower of shrapnel from our guns. This little incident over, we limbered up and proceeded, passing over the identical ground covered by us of the Seventy-first in ’61, through Vienna, to the chain bridge on the Potomac, where the whole corps encamped. The men were greatly fatigued by the march, which was interrupted constantly by the breakdown of the wagons, as well as by stragglers and invalids. Our business was to clean up everything before us, which we did completely and successfully, assisting in the repair of wagons, cheering up the faint-hearted, compelling stragglers to step out, and putting all those actually unable to walk in ambulances. Everything was done leisurely and orderly. We were not afraid of the enemy this time, as we were in ’61, and that makes all the difference.
