54

BOOTY SECURED.

were also unlimbered, and placed in position. Co. B., together with twenty-five New Hampshire sharp shooters, were deployed in front as skirmishers. After firing a few shots-from Mott's battery at and dispersing a squad of rebel cavalry in the distance, the force moved forward to the edge of a dense pine forest. Taking seven men with him, Lieut. Draime proceeded through the thicket, to reconnoitre the country beyond, and was, not long after, followed by the entire Company, under Captain Corning. Several herd of cattle were captured, and a large amount of booty secured, at the residence of Captain Ball, the rebel cavalryman who was taken prisoner at Alexandria, and afterwards violated his parole. Great numbers of wagons were in the meantime sent out, in various directions, to secure forage. Very suddenly, however, the rebels opened a warm artillery fire along the whole line, which was responded to by our batteries. Many of the enemy's missiles struck among the Thirty-third, but fortunately no one of the regiment was injured during the entire skirmish. Seeing Lieutenant Draime and his men at the Ball residence, they shelled them furiously, but did not prevent their carrying off a good supply of honey, which was highly relished by them and their comrades.

Having obtained a large amount of spoil, the whole force returned to camp. Lieut. Col. Walker resigned at Camp Ethan Allen, and Capt. Corning was appointed to his place. He was succeeded by Lieut. White, and he, in turn, by 2d Lieut. Draime.

On the 10th of October, the whole Division again moved out to Makell's Hill, and formed in line of battle, skirmishers being thrown out in front. After remaining here several hours, the force fell back to Langley, and from there proceeded east on the Kirby road to "Big Chestnut." In the afternoon of the next day they advanced half a mile further, and went into camp, at what has since been known as Camp Griffin," where the Thirty-third remained until the final advance was made.

On the second day after locating here, sixty men, under command of Capt. Platner, proceeded on a reconnoissance beyond the picket line, and falling in with some rebel cavalry, killed two of the number; Lieut. White shooting one of them dead. The fleeing enemy were pursued until they reached the cover of a dense thicket, when, being strongly reinforced, they turned upon the pursuing party, who escaped back in safety to camp by closely following the sinuous windings of the Virginia rail fences.

On the same afternoon Co. E. had a skirmish with the rebel cavalry, killing several of them in the woods where they were engaged. Some of the other Companies hastened to its support, but did not reach the ground in time to participate in the melée. This was the last of the picket firing before Washington. The men were employed here in drilling, slashing," reviews, sham-fights, and picket duty. Frequently they proceeded out on picket at two or three o'clock in the morning, when the mud was knee-deep, often remaining for thirty hours or more without being relieved.

58

GENERAL DAVIDSON.

During the month of October, Col. Stevens left for the south, taking the Seventy-ninth Highlanders with him. Col. Taylor assumed command of the Brigade, until Gen. Brennan was sent to take charge of it. Not long after he was likewise ordered south. The Forty-seventh Pennsylvania accompanied him, the Eighty-sixth New York taking its place. Gen. Brooks now commanded the Brigade for a few days, at the end of which time. General Davidson, a loyal Virginian, from Fairfax County, was placed over it. Previous to the outbreak he had been a Major in the regular cavalry service, and was a brave and popular officer. He rode a spirited mustang, presented to him by Kit Carson, while serving on the western frontier. The Eighty-sixth New York was soon sent back to Casey's Division, and the Seventy-seventh, raised in the vicinity of Saratoga, succeeded it. As an instance of the great cutting down of the impedimenta of our armies, this regiment then employed one hundred and five double wagons for transportation, where only five are now used for that purpose. The same can be said of most of the commands.

A novel wedding came off one night at the Chaplain's quarters, the happy couple being a private and a laundress belonging to Company C. The affair was conducted with all the ceremony the circumstances of the case would permit of, and to the satisfaction of the guests, who were regaled with wedding cake, wine, and other refreshments, decidedly palatable after the long experience on "hard tack."