from the Little River turnpike, encamped near the same place on the same night. Meantime the main army was moving by a flank toward Leesburg. Demonstrations were also kept up toward Georgetown and the Chain bridge, Robertson's brigade moving in the direction of Falls Church. Between Vienna and Lewinsville he encountered the enemy's pickets, and after a brief skirmish drove them in. Having posted a portion of his cavalry with one piece of artillery near Lewinsville to prevent surprise, he then drew up the remainder of the cavalry in a conspicuous position near the church, and opened with his two remaining pieces. The enemy replied with two guns, and the firing continued until nearly sundown, when perceiving several regiments advancing to assail his position, General Robertson, in accordance with his instructions, retired.
The cavalry followed the rear of the army to Leesburg, and crossing the Potomac on the afternoon of the 5th, Lee's brigade in advance, moved to Poolesville. He encountered at that point a body of the enemy's cavalry, which he attacked, capturing the greater portion. The reception of our troops in Maryland was attended with the greatest demonstrations of joy, and the hope of enabling the inhabitants to throw off the tyrant's yoke stirred every Southern heart with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.
The main army moving to Frederick, the next day the cavalry resumed their march on the flank, halting at Urbanna, Hampton's brigade in advance. The advance guard had the good fortune to rescue, from a member of the enemy's signal corps, a bearer of dispatches from President Davis to General Lee. The dispatches, fortunately, by the discreetness of the bearer, had not fallen into the hands of the enemy, and were eventually safely delivered. At Urbanna the main body was joined by Robertson's brigade, at this time under command of Colonel T. T. Munford.
Near this place I remained with the command until the 12th of September, covering the front of the army then near Frederick city, in the direction of Washington. My left, consisting of Lee's brigade, rested at New Market, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; my centre, Hampton's brigade, near Hyattstown; and my right, Robertson's brigade, Colonel Munford commanding, in the direction of Poolesville, with one regiment (the Twelfth Virginia cavalry) at that point.
The enemy having advanced upon my front, Hampton's brigade became engaged in several skirmishes near Hyattstown, driving the
