August 4 — At sunrise this morning we were ordered to the front. We started immediately after we received the order. We passed through Culpeper Court House and moved out on the Brandy Station road. After we had proceeded about four miles on that road we were ordered back to Culpeper Court House, as the Yankees were advancing on the Rickseyville road from the direction of Hazel River. We went back nearly to town and halted on a commanding hill and awaited orders.
Late this evening General Jenkins attacked the Yankee cavalry at Brandy Station and drove them back a mile. At dusk we were ordered forward again toward Brandy Station. We moved in that direction through a hard rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning; at some places on the road the water was two feet deep. It was ten o’clock to-night when we halted to camp, one mile west of Brandy Station. Camping to-night is a cheerless affair, as thunder-shower after shower passed over us all afternoon and evening, and everything we have, and everything around us, is wet from the ground up to the tree tops.
