SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY. 255

in progress, indicating renewed contact with Lee's army, now at the end of its
retreat. This fight between Buford and Stuart was plainly visible across the Rap-
pahannock, and it was watched with interest, because it was taken to be the prelude of
another pitched battle. It turned out to be only a reconnoissance in force.

The Seventh was at this time separated from the Maryland brigade, and it was
understood that it, together with some regiments from other brigades, constituted the
reserve of the 1st Corps. Among the many rumors in constant circulation was one to
the effect that the Seventh Regiment was to be detailed as "sharpshooters." It had been
reported that during the two days' skirmishing at Funkstown the fire of our companies
I and E had been especially effective. It had been learned officially (so went the rumor)
that the enemy's loss during that skirmish in front of the Maryland brigade alone had
been eight killed, including a captain, and fifteen wounded. In point of fact, nothing
was certainly known about anything.

It was mysteriously whispered in select circles as a particularly choice tit-bit of
rumor that "we" had learned to read the enemy's signals, with many cautions to be
very careful of the secret, lest the rebels should get hold of it and immediately
change their signal code.

There was but little incident of any kind to vary the monotony of camp life at Rap-
pahannock station. Deserters were occasionally shot under sentence of court-martial in
some of the neighboring camps, and it was the accepted policy to make these executions
as public and ceremonious as possible, to strike terror into the substitutes and bounty-
jumpers.

Quite in contrast with the dull monotony of the camps in rear, the picket line or ex-
treme front in contact with the enemy is always interesting. Our division outposts at
that time occupied a front of over two miles, the line between the two armies had not
been straightened out, and the opposing sentries were within hailing distance, in some
cases. This situation sometimes gave occasion for ludicrous mistakes. A too sociable
disposition was at times indulged, resulting in the trading of newspapers, coffee, tobacco,
etc., but this intercourse was always promptly repressed by the authorities as soon as
discovered.

About the middle of September a division of cavalry, supported by the second corps,
pushed on as far as Culpeper, not without resistance and loss. A rumor prevailed that
we had captured colors, a large number of prisoners and ten guns, reduced afterwards
to three.

Advance to the Rapidan.

Early on the morning of the 16th of September, 1863, the long expected order came,
and after a march of ten or twelve miles through Brandy and Stevensburg, tents were
pitched about half way between that place and Culpeper Courthouse, on Mountain Run.
The march was toward the sound of cannon, and many dead and crippled horses were
passed.

Here the paymaster made his appearance, and several officers were informed that
their pay had been stopped until their regulation "ordnance returns" were duly for-
warded. As Government officials became more experienced, greater strictness and more
"red tape" was used, and many obscure and neglected "army regulations," which had
been a mystery to inexperienced officers and the despair of department clerks, were
revived and peremptorily enforced by the quick stimulus of "stopping pay."