August 22d King's Division to which Battery D belonged, left camp opposite Fredericksburg, it having been ordered to report with all possible haste at Rappahannock Station. The battery pulled out of park at daylight, and after a hard day's march, made camp within eight miles of the station, some time after dark. Very early next morning as we were aroused, the battery hitched up, and everything made ready to proceed, we heard heavy and continuous firing, which indicated to us that some one was having a hot time of it. At 9 A.M. we were ordered to continue on to the station, which we reached about noon, remaining until dark. All the afternoon troops were continually recrossing the river and moving to the rear, and just before we left, the buildings around the station were fired. The light from this fire illuminated our way for some distance. At the station, and for a mile or so beyond it, as we passed along the road, men were engaged in tearing up the railroad, heating the rails and twisting them beyond any possibility of their being used again. Everything indicated that we had commenced a retrograde movement, and the constant picket firing, which would occasionally increase in volume, as though a regiment or brigade had become engaged, with the added noise of cannon, told us plainly that the enemy were pressing our rear vigorously. In order that our situation may be fully understood, it may be well to give a brief description of the general military events of a few weeks previous to our arrival at the station. On the 27th of June Maj. Gen. John Pope assumed command of the Army of Virginia, composed of Fremont's, Banks's and McDowell's Corps, in all about 38,000 men. The first two of these commands were at Middletown, in the Shenandoah Valley. Of the latter command, one division, under Gen. Ricketts, was at or near Manassas Junction, and King's (to which Battery D belonged) at Fredericksburg. It was the first intention of Gen. Pope to unite these widely separated troops, and in concert with Gen. McClellan, who was occupying an advanced position on the Peninsula, attempt the capture of Richmond; but in the interim between the assumption of this command by Gen. Pope and the uniting of his forces, Gen. McClellan had decided to retire from his advanced position, to the James River, at Harrison's Landing, which was accomplished after seven days of continuous and severe fighting. The rebel commander, Gen. Lee, being relieved from any anxiety for the safety of Richmond, determined upon a demonstration towards Washington, and sent Gen. Jackson with a large force to oppose Gen. Pope. The two armies met at Cedar Mountain, on the 9th of August. A severe battle was fought, resulting in the defeat of our army, which was driven from its position at dark.