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61 I make no question but that it was a wise decision. For ere they would have broken our lines we could easily have annihilated the entire cavalry force of the rebel army. And our skirmish line could have beaten all the force they there displayed. There is much terror in the appearance of cavalry but experienced infantry can never be broken by double their number of cavalry if they charge mounted. When we had made the necessary preparations we the skirmishers again advanced and the rebels retires firing only a few shots and wounding one of the 53d. Just at night fall we entered a woods. Here we picked up a stray rebel. It began to rain just after we posted in the woods. Dark and stormy indeed was that night. I believe I never was in deeper darkness. About 10 P.M. the order came to withdraw our pickets from the woods. In attempting this we were