Chickahominy Cavalry Charge

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[AUGUST 9, 1862.

500

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC—CHARGE OF THE FIFTH CAVALRY AT THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY, JUNE 27.—SKETCHED BY MR. A. R. WAUD.-[SEE PAGE 503.]

THE ARMY OF VIRGINIA.

IN connection with the illustrations on page 501, we give the following extract from a letter dated

      SPERRYVILLE, July 18, 1862.

It is a week to-day since General Siegel's corps d'armee marching from Luray in the early morning, crossed the Blue Ridge through Thornton's Gap, and encamped on the hills overlooking this village. Milroy had arrived before, and occupied an advanced position, while part of

General Banks's column, which had once reached Sperryville, countermarched, and is elsewhere posted. General Van Steinwehr, commanding the second division of this corps, occupies the pass some miles to the rear.

The week of repose since our arrival has been helpful in several ways, and even the march was a lesson in logistics which was greatly needed. I can speak only of the division whose performance I witnessed—General Schurz's—but that deserves praise. There was little straggling or plundering by the way, and regiments came in at night with ranks as full as when they started in the morning. General Schurz rightly held his brigade and regimental

commanders to a strict accountability for the presence and order of their men; and, with the exception of the march from Luray to Sperryville, the troops were kept well in the ranks. Along that road the temptation of cherry-trees was too strong for military discipline and the stoicism of commanders, and the men were suffered to gather the fruit without restraint.

The week, however, though I have called it one of repose, has been availed of for constant drill. The troops have been so long on the march that they needed it greatly. Indeed, I suppose there are few volunteer regiments not capable of improvement in that respect. General Siegel

has been absent, and General Schenck in command. Under him, and with the constant supervision of the division and brigade commanders, the troops have been exercised daily. Yesterday was a grand review of General Schurz's division, consisting of General Bohlen's and Colonel Kryzanowski's brigades. General Siegel, who returned on Tuesday, was present. The battalion movements were good, better than the manual, and the review was really a creditable one to officers and men.

General Siegel's and General Schenck's head-quarters are side by side, in a house and the grounds about it, on a hill near the village.

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC—KEARNEY'S DIVISION FIGHTING IN THE WOODS, MONDAY, JUNE 30.—SKETCHED BY MR. A. R. WAUD.—[SEE PAGE 503.]