250

Two days after the battle of Manassas the company was sent on picket duty
to Falls Church, and made a reconnoissance on July 24 and occupied Mason's Hill,
and upon Captain Gaither's report Colonel Stuart (who was at Fairfax Court
House in command of the cavalry and infantry advance of the army) immediately
marched the First Maryland Infantry and First Virginia Cavalry from Fairfax
Court House and took possession of Mason's and Munson's Hills, two important
points, each of which overlooked Washington City.

After this, Company M was constantly on picket duty from Lewinsville to the
Great Falls of the Potomac, and skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry were of
almost daily occurrence. But the enemy finally occupied Lewinsville in force, and
Colonel Stuart was compelled to bring a considerable body of troops to drive them
out. A severe fight ensued before the place was reoccupied by the Confederates,
in which the First Virginia Cavalry, as usual, took a conspicuous part.

About this time Lieutenants George Howard and Samuel W. Dorsey resigned
from the company, and upon an election for Lieutenants Ridgely Brown was
chosen First Lieutenant, Frank A. Bond Second Lieutenant, and Thomas Griffith
Third Lieutenant. The company as thus reorganized was then regularly mustered
into the First Virginia Cavalry, for the first time, at Fairfax Court House on
August I, 1861.

The regiment had now undergone a change of commanders, Captain William
E. Jones having been promoted to the Colonelcy, vice Colonel J. E. B. Stuart,
who had been made a Brigadier-General.

During the fall and winter of 1861-2 the regiment saw much hard service on
picket duty in advance of the army of General Joseph E. Johnston, which was at
Centreville and Manassas. Heavy skirmishing was of frequent occurrence, until
General Johnston finally fell back to the Rappahannock, and during that retreat
the First Virginia brought up the rear. In all these operations Company M was
conspicuous for its gallantry, and was more than once complimented by the
Colonel commanding.

We next find the First Virginia with the army on the Peninsula, under
command of Colonel Fitz Hugh Lee, Colonel Jones having been promoted in the
meantime. By order of Colonel Lee, the initial of the company was changed from
M to K, and to show his appreciation of its services he gave it position on the
right of the column.

The history of the First Virginia Cavalry embraces the whole period of the
war, and if we should go into detail of its operations up to the time Company K
was transferred it would fill a large volume. In all these operations Company K
bore a prominent part. We will, therefore, briefly enumerate the actions in which
the regiment participated up to the transfer of Company K to the First Maryland
Cavalry .