On the morrow we marched to Lost River, and finding the bridge gone, we returned to our camp of the night previous. On the route we passed some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery that West Virginia can boast of. On the 27th we again started for Moorefield, with arrangements for crossing the river, but when nine miles out received orders to return, and went into camp at Wardonsville for the third time. The next day we marched to Strasburg, where the 13th Pennsylvania cavalry was led into an ambush, losing several men in killed and wounded. The Rebels, however, were driven out, though no general engagement occured. The next day we returned to Winchester, having marched ninety-four miles, and that too without having accomplished any particular end as we could see. When in camp we were drilling steadily seven hours a day, gaining in proficiency in the arts of war every day, and fitting ourselves to undergo the fatigue and hardships that we were soon to be called upon to endure. We did a large amount of hard work while in the valley, up to June 12th; long scouts up the valley were a weekly occurrence, and heavy picket and fatigue duty was the daily order of exercise, still, thanks to the excellent water and fine weather, the health of the regiment was in the main good. On the 5th of May, we started out with a week’s rations and forty rounds, on a scout. The first day out we marched for three hours through a drenching rain-storm, such as only occurs in the valleys, we went to New Market, and returned to Winchester on the 9th, having marched one hundred and four miles. We saw a few miserable bushwhackers, but nothing that would indicate any rebel force. It was soon after this trip that the entire regiment went out on road work, making four miles of McAdamized road in three days. Soon after our arrival at Winchester, our Adjutant, W. V. McCracken, and 1st Lieutenant Hugh L. McKee, of company D, were detailed on Gen. Milroy’s staff, where the former served until after the battle of Winchester, and the latter was promoted to Captain and Assistant Quarter-Master, and never again returned to the regiment. On the 9th of June, Lieut. Gillam of company F died of typhoid fever. He had been sick for a long time, and had every attention and care, his wife being with him nearly all the time. On the afternoon of June 12th the Long Roll sounded and the regiment with the 116th Ohio Infantry, 12th Virginia, and Battery D, and a regiment of cavalry started out on the valley pike. When beyond Kearnstown we met the enemy in considerable force, and drawing them into an enfilading fire, gave them so warm a reception that they started up the valley faster than they had come down. We captured a good many prisoners, and after night fall, we returned to camp—satisfied that the next day would bring, as the boys termed it, “business,” and, as events proved, their conjectures were well founded.