The object of the expedition we were about to make was to drive from Virginia General W. S. Hancock’s forces, which had crossed the Potomac on pontoon at Sir John’s Run and taken up their camp at Berkeley Springs, not far from the Potomac. General Jackson’s plan was to pass General Hancock’s right flank, get in his rear between the army and the Potomac, and kill or capture as many as he could. His plans were similar to the Chancellorsville movement, but we shall see that the weather knocked us out. We struck tents at 8 A.M. Wednesday, January 1, 1862, and the wind struck a good many of them, blowing them down before we had a chance to draw the pegs. It was a blustery day, but not very cold. We moved eight miles to Pughtown, and bivouacked there. On the morning of January 2 reveille sounded at five o’clock, and before daylight we were on the move, but made little headway, as the weather had turned intensely cold, with a light snow. If a man was at the head of the column he was all right; but after a few companies had passed over, the snow became as slick as ice, and skating would have been good if a fellow had had skates. I bivouacked on three cedar rails and built a rail fire on each side, and the red cedar popped sparks on the cape of my overcoat, and when I woke up I was afire. Colonel Maney said that he thought we would get in the fight the next day. We were ordered to cook up all our rations. On the morning of the 4th we were formed in line and each man supplied with forty rounds of cartridges. We marched thirteen miles and reached a point three miles from Bath, or Berkeley Springs, and camped in the woods. It snowed heavily that night, and was extremely cold. There was little sleep for us. On the morning of the 5th we moved on Bath, and as we formed a line a short distance from the town, which was situated on a hill of considerable proportions, the enemy’s battery opened fire upon us. General Stonewall Jackson rode upon Old Sorrel. The General wore a skull cap, a blouse, gray jacket, and the reins hung loosely on Old Sorrel’s neck; he looked more like a plow horse than a war steed. With a twinkle in his eye General Jackson said to Colonel Maney: “Colonel Maney, I want the Virginians [alluding to his old regiment] to take that battery. They have had some rations since your men.” We yelled out: “General, we do not want any rations; let us capture the battery.” General Jackson replied: “Colonel Maney, move your regiment by companies to the right.” We made a gallant charge, but when we reached the guns only two of the enemy were in sight. It was a feint to cover General Hancock’s retreat across the Potomac on his pontoon, but he could have crossed on the ice, as it was nearly twelve inches thick.