suspected the presence of Mosby's men, but, through ignorance of locality, the men escaped, all but 2. They captured 12 horses and equipments.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. R. LOWELL, JR.,

Colonel, Commanding Cavalry Camp.

Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Taylor,

Chief of Staff, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

__________________________

DECEMBER 21, 1863. - AFFAIR NEAR HUNTER'S MILL, VA.

Report of Colonel Charles R. Lowell, jr., Second Massachusetts Cavalry.

Vienna, Va.,

December 22, 1863.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that there were from 20 to 30 guerrillas in the neighborhood last night. They attacked a picket station of a corporal and 5 men near Hunter's Mill, with mounted and dismounted men, taking 4 horses and wounding 2 men. Soon afterward an officer and escort on road to Fairfax Courthouse were fired at by 10 or 15 men, and wounded 2 men. One of the wounded men near Hunter's Mill was shot a second time through the body by a guerrilla, after he had surrendered and given up his pistol. Mounted and dismounted party were sent out, but the rebels had disappeared.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

C. F. LOWELL, JR,

Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Taylor,

Chief of Staff, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

___________________

DECEMBER 21-23, 1863 - EXPEDITION FROM BEALETON TO LURAY, VA., AND SKIRMISHES.

Report of Colonel Charles H. Smith, First Maine Cavalry, commanding expedition.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST MAINE CAVALRY,
December 23, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the recent cavalry expedition to Luray:

Monday morning, the 21st instant, the Second, Eighth, and Sixteenth Pennsylvania and First Maine Cavalry Regiments assembled at Bealeton Station at an early hour. Two regiments of the First Brigade at Warrenton were detailed, and were to join the command on the way. As two of the regiments had returned only the evening before from a campaign of several days, a delay of a few hours was caused in order to procure subsistence, forage, ammunition, &c. At 11 a.m. the four regiments left Bealeton and proceeded to Sulphur Springs. At the same time I sent an officer with an escort to Warrenton, with orders for the two regiments from the First Brigade to join the command at that point. At 3 p.m. the officer reported that the officer commanding the brigade had not received the order to make the detail. Supposing there had been some delay, I immediately