The winter was spent most delightfully, and nothing occurred to disturb its pleasures save an attempted raid made by Butler to Bottom’s bridge, whereupon the cavalry and artillery were promptly moved upon his flank to Tunstall’s station, when he retired. About the first of March, 1864, Colonel Johnson received a telegram from General Lee, saying that a large body of cavalry had passed his flank, and was moving in the direction of the Junction. That officer immediately sent out his scouts to the north and west, and soon discovered that it was a heavy column, indeed, and moving southwest. It crossed the Virginia Central railroad at Frederick’s Hall, on Johnson’s left, and took the road which led direct to Richmond. Of course he at once saw that the object of the enemy was an attack upon that city, believing that there were but few troops to oppose him. Colonel Johnson immediately ordered his pickets to destroy the boats on the Pamunky, to cut off his retreat in that direction, and with sixty men of the First Maryland cavalry, and two guns from the Baltimore Light Artillery—the only disposable force he had left after sending out his scouts to watch the enemy’s movements—he followed in pursuit. Just outside of Taylorsville, the enemy’s pickets were encountered and driven in, and pursued to Ashland. Here a large force was met on its way to destroy the railroad and buildings there, and, after a sharp encounter, the enemy retired. Moving as rapidly as possible along the Telegraph road, Colonel Johnson threw himself upon the enemy’s flank at Yellow Tavern, and posting his men, commenced to capture small parties that came along. Among his captures was a sergeant, with five men, who proved to be a bearer of dispatches from Colonel Dahlgren to General Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick’s guns were then thundering away at the outer defences of Richmond, and Dahlgren’s dispatch informed him that he would attack at dusk that evening on his road, and he looked for Kilpatrick to attack with vigor on his (Kilpatrick’s) side of the city. Seeing at once that he had destroyed the communication between the co-operating forces, Colonel Johnson prepared to attack and harrass Kilpatrick’s rear. Taking care not to expose the number of his force, he attacked a picket in the rear of the centre of the line of battle drawn up in front of Richmond, and drove it in. This bold act conveyed the impression to Kilpatrick that he was cut off, and seriously in danger in his rear. Hastily mounting his troops, he moved at the trot down the Peninsula towards the Pamunky, and crossing the Chickahominy, before dark, at Meadow bridge, he went into camp. Colonel Johnson encamped on the opposite side. During the night, Hampton came upon the enemy, with the First and Second North Carolina, and broke up his camp, capturing several hundred prisoners and horses.