Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

November 18 — Yesterday evening at dusk we were ordered to report for immediate duty to General Fitzhugh Lee. In a few moments after our bugle sounded we were ready for forward march, and by the time that dusk donned the deep shade of night we were on the march with Fitzhuerh Lee’s cavalry, headed for the Shenandoah Valley, to intercept, repel or use up a Yankee raiding party that is reported to be advancing up the Valley pike. Our speedy expedition is wholly under the superintendence and command of the invincible and gallant Fitzhugh Lee in person. The true cause and reason of the hurried and unexpected movement was occasioned by a raiding party in the Shenandoah Valley, and I think that it was Fitzhugh Lee’s’ object to strike the Valley pike at New Market unsuspected by the raiders, cry havoc and unleash his veterans of war, and strike terror to the hearts of the raid and raiders, or, in other words, clean up the raid in regular Fitz Lee style. We marched rapidly all night, crossed the Rapidan at Liberty Mills, passed through Madison Court House at midnight, and at daylight struck the eastern base of the Blue Ridge, where the cavalry had made a halt. While we halted there with the cavalry General Fitzhugh Lee received a dispatch stating that the Yankee raiders were falling back down the Shenandoah Valley. Then and there the order to move to the Valley was countermanded, and we were ordered back to camp at Orange Court House. We countermarched forthwith and moved all day on the back track. Camped to-night two miles south of Madison Court House.