The command responded aye unanimously, and, rolling up our blankets, we prepared to move. Resuming our march, we soon came to a neat, substantial looking farm house, where it was determined an effort should be made to procure breakfast at any price in Confederate currency. We crossed the fence and approached the house. Our commander was to be the spokesman, but just as he was about to apply his knuckles to the stout oaken door, the clatter of horses feet was heard, and to our no little surprise General Lee and staff galloped up. “The brigade will retrate and rally on me, being it’s in the presence of superior numbers, for by Saint Patrick, for all the Confideracy, I wouldn’t have Gineral Lee see me besage a lone counthry house without his orthers,” was the command of our brigadier. The “retrate” was conducted in good “orther,” and the forces assembled upon the commandant some two hundred yards distant. Here, after a short consultation, we concluded to make another essay upon a house close at hand. As we neared the premises the prospect of success seemed discouraging enough, for some twenty cavalry horses were tied to the pailings, and experience had taught us their riders were close by. Judge then of my surprise, when upon inquiring for the proprietress of the house I was confronted by an old and dear acquaintance, Mrs. Hamilton, of Loudon county, and now, at this writing, residing at Chantilly, on the Little River turnpike. ’Tis needless to say the party were made welcome, and in a few minutes we were seated around a bountifully supplied table, laughing and chatting merrily, the vexation of our former disappointment forgotten. A quiet smoke followed, when we prepared to part with this most estimable family with unfeigned regret. The dear old lady of the house, with tears in her eyes, bid us farewell, and her last words were, “Should anything happen to yourself or comrades, don’t forget my house.” I little thought but forty-eight hours would elapse ere I was once more her guest, but under vastly different circumstances. But of that anon. As we passed through Thoroughfare Gap there were evidences on all sides of a stubborn fight, and I could not help being struck with the vital importance of possessing the place. It seemed almost a Thermopylæ, and it astonished me that it was not defended by a larger force of the enemy. Had General Lee been delayed here forty-eight hours we would have lost Jackson and his command, and the remainder of the army would have been compelled to recross the Rappahannock. How imminent the peril! But the masterly generalship of the peerless Lee averted it, and the flanking columns across the mountains soon removed every obstacle. But no time was to be lost, for already we had been delayed too long; and the incessant peals of artillery in our front plainly told us Jackson was sorely pressed, and needed our assistance.