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Colonel Robert M. Stribling, who was captain of the Fauquier Artillery, more commonly called after him, "Stribling's Battery," and who became the distinguished commander of a battalion of artillery, is well known as one of the most intelligent and gallant officers of the Army of Northern Virginia. He is also a student of military science and has written many able articles on military matters, displaying fine ability as an historian, and also striking and original views as a critic.

It will be pleasing to his many friends to know that he has composed a military work, which will soon be published, relating to the history of the Army of Northern Virginia. No one who knows him can doubt but that it will be of great value and an instructive contribution to the history of that immortal army, in which he was a brave, able and faithful officer.

The enclosed article on Five Forks is from his pen. It is composed by reference to the record, which is the primary and best of all sources of information. A study of that record will dispel many illusions produced by hasty and erroneous publications, and it has been closely studied by Colonel Stribling.

2em General Sheridan, having concentrated his cavalry corps at Dinwiddie Courthouse after some skirmishing, on the 31st of March, moved against General Fitz Lee, who had assembled the Confederate cavalry corps at Five Forks, from four to five miles west of Burgess' Mill. Fitz Lee had called for some infantry to equalize, as far as possible, his strength with that of Sheridan. Pickett's division was sent to him that morning. These two commands, then, drove Sheridan back in confusion