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422 march, was the "still" part. The inhabitants received us coldly—some denied us the use of their wells; but this soon changed. They naturally at first dreaded the reputed lawlessness of the "mounted ranger"; but when they found they had "gentlemen" as soldiers, their kindness was great. Even our best friend afterwards, old Mr. Hooe, "houghed" us at first; but we encamped upon his farm during our whole stay at Manassas, greatly to his grief at first, but soon he came to look upon us as a part of his family, and his evident emotion when we parted was touching.

I think we had few or no troops of any arm of the service there then. We were the first, or among the first, military inhabitants of this celebrated post, but soon Marye's rifles and Corse's regiment were followed by all the troops from Alexandria, and formed the nucleus of the grand Army of the Potomac. We, then and for long after being the only two cavalry companies present, were attached to headquarters and doing the whole picket and courier duty. Brigadier-General Philip St. George Cocke was then in command. Generals Sam Jones and Thomas Jordan, just resigned from the old army, but unassigned to special duty, were honorary and honored members of our command—our guests and friends—then and ever after. Soon South Carolina and other troops came rapidly in. General Cocke was superseded in command by Brigadier-General Bonham (Governor Bonham), of South Carolina. Then rapidly poured in troops of every arm—infantry, artillery and cavalry, and General G. T. Beauregard was assigned to the command of the army, retaining his headquarters at Manassas, and ordering General Bonham forward to Centerville. Here we parted from our friends, the "Black horse," they going forward with General Bonham, the "Powhatan troop" being retained by General Beauregard, attached to his headquarters as his "body-guard." But before we parted, and under General Bonham's kind and soldierly administration, we had a happy time—our dress-parades, our drills, occasional alarms, social gatherings and gaities kept us bright. We had everything that was good, and plenty of it—boxes from home—the finest beef, good whisky, brandy and coffee, with white sugar—abundance for horses—good fellowship, bright hopes—no fighting, and not much hardship. Truly those were "the days when we went gypsying," and " grim-visaged war" had not then assumed "his ruffled front." This continued during the early part of General Beauregard's administration, with increased activity as the army expanded. We recall the glorious old First