1863.--Escape of Lee into Virginia.--Reasons.--Cavalry Advance into the Valley _via_ Harper's Ferry.--Riot in New York and other Northern Cities.--Again Across the Potomac on "Sacred Soil."--Blackberries and Discipline.--Mails.--Battle of Manassas Gap.--Mosby Again, and His Bands.--Kilpatrick's Gunboat Expedition on the Rappahannock.--Cavalry Captures Navy.--Complimented by Superiors.--General Advance of the Army.--Third Cavalry Battle at Brandy Station.--Stuart's Cavalry Worsted at Culpepper Court House.--Sharp Artillery Practice at Raccoon Ford, on the Rapidan.--Special Duties and Special Dangers.--Good Living Along the Hazel and Robertson Rivers.--Important Reconnoissance and Raid. --Hard Fighting and Narrow Escape.--Needed Rest Received.--The Paymaster.--Rebel Plan of Attack Foiled by a Citizen Informer. --Suspicious Activity on Our Front. 298 CHAPTER XV. CAPTURE OF THE AUTHOR. 1863.--Fight at James City.--Music of Retreat.--Fourth Cavalry Fight at Brandy Station.--Critical Situation.--Kilpatrick Undaunted.--Davies and Custer.--The Grand Charge.--The Escape.--The Scene.--Subsequent Charges and Counter-charges. --The Cavalry Routed.--The Rappahannock Recrossed in Safety. --Infantry Reconnoissance to Brandy Station.--Comical Affair at Bealeton Station.--Thrilling Adventure of Stuart.--His Escape.--Battle of Bristoe.--Casualties.--Retreat Continued. --Destruction of Railroad by the Rebels.--Kilpatrick at Buckland Mills.--Unpleasant Surroundings.--Sagacity and Daring.--The Author's Capture.--Fall, Insensibility, Change of Scene.--The End.--Introduced to Prison Life. 327 List of Illustrations. PAGE. 1. Portrait of the Author, Frontispiece. 2. Our Cavalry Leaders, 17 3. Cavalry Column on the March, 37 4. Night Attack on Falmouth Heights, 61 5. Burial of Captain Walters at Midnight, during Pope's Retreat, 87 6. Federal and Rebel Pickets Meeting on the Rappahannock, 119 7. Cavalry Scouting Party Halting for the Night, 173 8. Cavalry Fight at Brandy Station, 215 9. The Cavalry Bivouac, 277 10. Cavalry Battle at Buckland Mills, Va., and Capture of the Author, 323 [Illustration: OUR CAVALRY LEADERS. Bayard-Davies-Gregg Stoneman-Sheridan-Pleasonton Buford-Kilpatrick-Custer J.A. O'Neill, N.Y.] THREE YEARS IN THE FEDERAL CAVALRY. CHAPTER I. THE WAR FOR THE UNION.--CONTEST BEGUN.