anno

h given him; le

o that."--

th no physical desire remaining except the wish to lie down and be at rest forever, and with no moral feeling in my consciousness except that of shame,--which will forever rise uppermost in me when I think of that ignominious day,--to be suddenly accosted by the man whom I held in the most peculia

have never known--pro

my friend," said he; "you are in safety; thi

in the ambulance, "Reed, b

he Doctor urged me to

do it; I cannot leave Wil

d, from the direction you two wore taking when last seen, t

geant should be unnecessarily alarmed on hearing persons approach, I called him softly by name; then, h

awake than to get him into the ambulance. Reed and I picked him up

awoke it was six in the morning and we were crossing Long Bridge in the midst of a driving rain. There were two seats i

ians, on horseback or in carriages, were before and behind us. Soldiers single and in groups swelled the proces

s eyes were not open, but he was awake,

d his face, I could almost have believed that he had become younger than he had been when I parted with him in Charleston, more than three years before. He knew that I was observi

l stupid, and my spir

e asked, wi

tment!" I cried; "what wi

by the country?"

t reply

eded States? Do you mean the idea symbolized by everything that constitutes American civilization? However, let us not

relieve my devouring curiosity: tell me by what

u there is no such thing as chance, I went to the field delib

and I were in Charleston in 'fifty-eight,' and were told that you were in Europe. And then, too, how coul

being in America and afterward getting to Europe; however, let us defer all talk of Europe and America. As to knowing that

e miscellaneous file of persons, carriages, ambulanc

here I left Sergeant Willis. It was more than a mile from the spot where I met

sed and repassed the place, for I worked all day to help the disabled--- and Reed was e

umbia College Hospital, where we left Sergeant Willis, b

ed from duty for a week. It may take that time to set you right, especially as I can see that

explain my ab

the routed troops will be in or near Washington; then I shall simply write a note, if you insist upon it, to the commanding officer of your c

t that your note will be accepted as a

me of your men will not report to their commands for a week. You wi

; but I should wish to obser

and returned with a pie

do you thi

egiment given, into the hands of the Sanitary Commission for ten days

e not yet succeeded in getting thorough order into our affairs; in fact, my work yesterday was rather the work of a volunteer than the wo

nd soldiers; wagons, guns, caissons, ambulances; companies, spick-and-span, which, had not yet seen service; ones, twos,

urrounded by the remnant of his staff, heads bent down, gloomy. Women wept while serving the hungry. The unfinished dome of the Capitol, hardly seen through the rain, loomed ominous. Depression over all: ambulances full of wounded men, tossin

bles. A woman gave him coffee, which he brought to me, and made me drink. He returned to the table and gave back

was of double length. The ambulance stopped; we got out. The Doctor led the way into one of the tents;

nk I can sle

y n

will no

ill peep in shortly and se

I lay down on the bed, pulling a sheet

he Black-Horse cavalry ride from the woods. I saw the rebel cannons through dust and smoke

oes the future hold for me? for the

n to him; he would be anxious. My eyes opened

sleep readil

verwhelmed by this great calamity that I had not thought o

provided for your father's

ou

re unhurt; go to sleep; by the time you awak

ngel; but I don't bel

feel you

ers on my wrist; I was sit

on my pulse, he said softly, "Poor boy! you have e

on my head; his fingers