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from Orange Court-House to Somerville Ford on the Rapidan, preparatory to the movement forward.
While here the 49th Virginia Regiment, Colonel William Smith, joined my brigade.
Pope's army, then reinforced by the greater part of Burnside's Corps under Reno, was in the County of Culpeper, north of the Rapidan; but before we were ready to move it commenced to fall back to the northern bank of the Rappahannock.
On the 20th, our whole army, now consisting of two wings under Longstreet and Jackson respectively, and Stuart's cavalry, crossed the Rapidan-Longstreet at Raccoon Ford, and Jackson at Somerville Ford,--the cavalry having preceded them early in the morning.
Jackson's wing, comprising the same force he had at Cedar Run, camped at Stevensburg on the night of the 20th.
On the 21st he moved past Brandy Station on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in the direction of Beverly's Ford on the Rappahannock.
Jackson's division under Brigadier General Taliaferro was in front and moved to the ford, where there ensued some cannonading, and a fight between a portion of our cavalry and the enemy on the northern bank.
Ewell's division bivouacked in the rear of Taliaferro near St. James' Church.
On the morning of the 22nd the division moved up to the vicinity of the ford, where the cannonading still continued.
It was then moved to the left, across Hazel River at Wellford's Mill, towards Freeman's Ford, Trimble's brigade being left at Hazel River to protect our trains from a movement of the enemy from across the Rappahannock.
At Freeman's Ford, a portion of Stuart's cavalry was found, and an artillery fight was progressing with the enemy's batteries on the opposite bank.
The three remaining brigades passed to the left from Freeman's Ford, and moved by a circuitous route through the woods and fields towards the bridge at Warrenton Springs.
Late in the afternoon, Lawton's brigade moved to the bridge at the Springs for the purpose of
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