Headquarters Department Northeast Virginia,
Camp at Arlington, June 14, 1861.

Mrs. Fitzhugh,

Ravensworth, Fairfax Co., Va.:

Madam-I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter to your address from the General-in-Chief, which, together with yours to him of the 31st inst., he has sent me to read. Before receiving these letters I had heard of the outrage without knowing whose property had been taken, and had instituted measures to redress the injury.

Your letter gave me to suppose that you had been one of the sufferers, and I immediately made an investigation, confirming this supposition. I have given orders to have your horses returned, as well as those of your neighbors, and will see, so far as I can, that such things shall not again occur. I take the liberty to enclose you a copy of the order which I have just issued, and beg to assure you that I will spare no pains to protect everyone in the vicinity of the troops under my command.

I have the honor to be, madam, with great respect,
Your most obedient servant,

Not having copies of this correspondence of Mr. Seward and General McDowell in my possession until lately, I addressed a letter to General Wilcox, who immediately returned a reply, which, as the reader will see, fully exonerates me from being responsible for any horses taken by the troops, I being only a scout at the time, and should not have been arrested for doing what the commanding officer ordered. The following is the correspondence:

Gen. O. B. Wilcox,

Washington, D. C., November 10, 1898.

U. S. Army, Retired:

Dear Sir-having lately received a copy of the correspondence between Hon. W. M. Seward, Secretary of State, and General McDowell, in relation to the capture of a number of horses in Fairfax county, Virginia, during the month of June, 1861, I desire a statement from you in relation to the facts, a portion of your regiment being sent with me on a scout into the Confederate lines, and during that scout, when several prisoners were taken and

quite a number of horses, two of which were said to have belonged to Gen. R. E. Lee, and left at Ravensworth in care of Mrs. Fitzhugh. All I desire is a statement showing that these horses were turned over to you, and shortly after returned to the owners, as per order of General McDowell; and the further statement that I could not have been responsible, occupying, as I did, the position of a guide and scout, as long as there were commissioned officers in command of the troops, which I was guiding into the enemy's country.

2022 R street N. W., Washington, November 12, 1898. Major Geo. A. Armes:

Dear Sir-In reply to your letter of the 10th inst., so far as my recollection and understanding of the event in question go, the scouting party which brought in the horses was guided by yourself and as scout, but commanded by an officer of the First Michigan Infantry, Vols., who, and not yourself, must have been responsible; and, further, that the horses were turned over to the Quartermaster's Department on their arrival at Alexandria, and there held until ordered to be returned.

Respectfully yours,

(Signed) O. B. WILCOX, Late Col. First Mich. Vols., Bvt. Maj.-Gen.

NOTE. The District of Columbia Battalion referred to on page 37 was commanded by Captain Lemuel Towers, afterward Colonel of one of the District regiments. He took a very active part in the defense of the Capital.

CHAPTER II.

I continued visiting the various camps, and perceived that numerous persons were making money selling edibles and necessaries to the soldiers, and thought that while the new troops were preparing themselves for active service I would try to make a few extra dollars, so long as it did not interfere with my official duties. Procuring a wagon and loading it with a variety of articles, upon an investment of $42 I made a profit of $160. This encouraged me to further ventures in the same line, and during the month of June I cleared over $1200. Investing this in a stock of goods, I established a portable store beyond the bridge near Bailey's Cross Roads, and secured a young man to take charge of my interests there.

This young man resided in Washington, and having known him for some time, I had entire confidence in him; but just before the battle of Bull Run, having occasion to ride out and see how my business was progressing, I found to my astonishment that the store, with all the stock, had been sold, and this valued clerk had disappeared with the proceeds.

So my little fortune having been lost, and the troops preparing to march to Richmond, I was compelled to fall back on my monthly salary of fifty dollars, and did not undertake any further speculation until after the battle of Bull Run.

Having arranged to go with General Heintzleman on his march to Richmond, I obtained ten days' leave from Mr. Seward and reported to the General two days before he broke camp. Then, as he wanted to know the best roads to take, I thought I would venture out as far as the picket line at different points in order tc intelligently report concerning the shortest and best roads to Centerville. Just the night before they were to march I was halted and placed under arrest by about twenty Dutchmen of General Blenker's command, and in spite of all attempts at explanation and endeavors to find some one who could read my papers, I was

the morning an order came for my release, and an officer was ordered to accompany me to General Blenker's headquarters. Here wine and beer flowed freely. After the General and his staff were satisfied that they had not captured Jeff Davis or General Lee I was invited to join them, and we parted good friends. However, as I was the first prisoner the division had taken, the gallant soldiers who had, as they thought, won a great victory in surrounding a lone boy, on his own horse, on a public road, at least half a mile within their own lines, just before sundown, felt that they should all be mentioned in general orders and commissioned as officers as a reward for their alertness on guard.

When released I reported my little experience to Mr. Seward, and, instead of sympathizing with me, as I expected he would, he simply smiled and remarked to those present, among them Col. Amos Webster, that the soldiers seemed to be very watchful and should do well if they ever met the enemy.

Moving out with the command from Alexandria, up the old Braddock road most of the way, until we got near Centerville, where we met a party who informed us that the Confederates had left that town, having placed a few logs in the intrenchments to imitate cannon, and left only a few men in the works; that the

main body had fallen back to Bull Run, and were there thoroughly intrenching themselves.

I told General McDowell that by a prompt movement to the left of Centerville and over to Cub Run there would be a good chance to cut off and capture a large number of the enemy, but he pompously replied that he had force enough to accomplish what he wished and was fully posted as to the movements of the enemy.

I found myself so abruptly "sat down upon" by the great General, who evidently felt at that time that he could whip the world, that the wind was completely taken out of my sails, and I felt as if my patriotism was not appreciated as it should be. Possibly he perceived that I was beginning to feel myself a most important personage to the Army, and that the General was dependent upon me for advice in regard to the movements of the Army. As he did not seem to appreciate the advice and information given him, I returned to General Heintzleman, with whom I remained until after the "great battle," where the General was wounded in the arm and myself in the right knee, just about the time the retreat began, near Blackman's Ford.

It was a memorable sight to witness, carriages of all descriptions, from six to ten abreast, loaded with sightseers, starting on the top of the hill at Centerville and crashing down pellmell to the foot, where the road was only wide enough for two vehicles to pass at one time. The ford was soon so blocked with horses, mules and vehicles of every kind, smashed and pitted upon each other, that it was impossible to use the turnpike, so that thousands had to abandon their carriages and make their way through the fields, some afoot, some on mules or horseback, paying as high as fifty dollars for the privilege of riding a horse or mule, without saddle or blanket. Many of the teamsters left their wagons behind and hired out the horses or mules to sightseers, who had only a few hours before been enjoying their luncheons and had expected to have a good time at a safe distance from the scene of conflict. They had gone out to witness General McDowell in the act of driving the Confederates before him to Richmond. So great was the panic and bewilderment of the men and animals that many were killed and injured in the crash at the ford.