Lt. Col. Jacob C. Higgins, soon to be Colonel of the 1^st Pennsylvania Cav., writes from Camp Pierpont, Fairfax Co., Virginia on December 10, 1861.  Higgins first of all brags on his troops: “We have one of the best regiments in the service.”  In his letter he tells about some “fine times” that he has had with the “Secesh.” 

·         “We have some fine times here after ‘Secesh’.  We have one of the best Regts. in the service.  We have
ten companies here & two in Baltimore.  We have over one thousand horses here.  I have been out on a
great many expeditions.  I commanded the reserve when we had the skirmish near Dranesville.”

·         “We left our camp in the evening and marched all night… We struck the Pike between Leesburg and
Dranesville & there made a dash back on Dranesville at full speed and reach the place before daylight
& surrounded the houses and took what Prisoners we wanted and two of the Calvary Pickets that did
not have the right password. …There was an awful bawling & screaming of the women and children
when we took their husbands and brothers out of their beds.”

·         “Then we left Dranesville and …we was suddenly attacked by S.C. & Va. Rebels.  They was concealed
in the thick Pine Woods but we soon routed them & killed & captured all that was on the left of the
road.  ….our boys went at it as if they were hunting game.  Our Carbineer’s was dismounted & entered
the woods soon cleared it.  The Cavalry on the right made their escape.  I would have captured some of
them but the Col. ordered me back to form line in the rear where he expected we would be attacked
every minute.”

·         “We heard the rebel bugles sounding to horse & their drums beating the long roll on our right and then
we moved on for our lines with our prisoners as fast as possible… We was from fifteen to twenty hours
in the saddle and marched out going most of the way on a trot & gallop.”

·         “…one o’clock I rec’d a dispatch from Genl. McClellan through our Hdqtrs to hold myself in readiness
in case of an alarm.  The order stated that there was a large force of Calvary & Infantry within one
mile of our pickets.  This morning I received another dispatch ordering me to be ready to march in a
moment’s notice with two days of rations.”

This letter is 3 pages in easily read ink with a full I.D.  A very nice Cavalry Colonel’s letter! 

#L178 - Price $325