r　I　had　been　raised　to　the　rank　of　first　lieutenant。　Every　day　we　were　looking　for　the　big　army　of　Beauregard；　camping　below　Centreville；　some　thirty　miles　south。
  Almost　every　night　a　nervous　picket　set　the　camp　in　uproar　by　challenging　a　phantom　of　his　imagination。　We　were　all　impatient　as　hounds　in　leash。　Since　they　would　not　come　up　and　give　us　battle　we　wanted　to　be　off　and　have　it　out　with　them。　And　the　people　were　tired　of　delay。　The　cry　of　'ste'boy！'was　ringing　all　over　the　north。　They　wanted　to　cut　us　loose　and　be　through　with　dallying。
  Well；　one　night　the　order　came；　we　were　to　go　south　in　the　morning　…　thirty　thousand　of　us；　and　put　an　end　to　the　war。　We　did　not　get　away　until　afternoon　…　it　was　the　6th　of　July。　When　we　were　off；　horse　and　foot；　so　that　I　could　see　miles　of　the　blue　column　before　and　behind　me；　I　felt　sorry　for　the　mistaken　South。　On　the　evening　of　the　i8th　our　camp…fires　on　either　side　of　the　pike　at　Centreville　glowed　like　the　lights　of　a　city。　We　knew　the　enemy　was　near；　and　began　to　feel　a　tightening　of　the　nerves。　I　wrote　a　letter　to　the　folks　at　home　for　post　mortem　delivery；　and　put　it　into　my　trousers'pocket。　A　friend　in　my　company　called　me　aside　after　mess。
  'Feel　of　that；'he　said；　laying　his　hand　on　a　full　breast。
  'Feathers！'he　whispered　significantly。　'Balls　can't　go　through　'em；　ye　know。　Better　n　a　steel　breastplate！　Want　some？
  'Don't　know　but　I　do；'said　I。
  We　went　into　his　tent；　where　he　had　a　little　sack　full；　and　put　a　good　wad　of　them　between　my　two　shirts。
  'I　hate　the　idee　o'bein'hit　'n　the　heart；'he　said。　'That's　too　awful。
  I　nodded　my　assent。
  'Shouldn't　like　t'have　a　ball　in　my　lungs；　either；'he　added。　'　'Tain't　necessary　fer　a　man　t'die　if　he　can　only　breathe。　If　a　man　gits　his　leg　shot　off　an'don't　lose　his　head　an'keeps　drawin'his　breath　right　along　smooth　an　even；　I　don't　see　why　he　can't　live。
  Taps　sounded。　We　went　asleep　with　our　boots　on；　but　nothing　happened。
  Three　days　and　nights　we　waited。　Some　called　it　a　farce；　some　swore；　some　talked　of　going　home。　I　went　about　quietly；　my　bosom　under　its　pad　of　feathers。　The　third　day　an　order　came　from　headquarters。　We　were　to　break　camp　at　one…thirty　in　the　morning　and　go　down　the　pike　after　Beauregard。　In　the　dead　of　the　night　the　drums　sounded。　I　rose；　half…asleep；　and　heard　the　long　roll　far　and　near。　I　shivered　in　the　cold　night　air　as　I　made　ready；　the　boys　about　me　buckled　on　knapsacks；　shouldered　their　rifles；　and　fell　into　line。　Muffled　in　darkness　there　was　an　odd　silence　in　the　great　caravan　forming　rapidly　and　waiting　for　the　word　to　move。　At　each　command　to　move　forward　I　could　hear　only　the　rub　of　leather；　the　click；　click　of　rifle　rings；　the　stir　of　the　stubble；　the　snorting　of　horses。　When　we　had　marched　an　hour　or　so　I　could　hear　the　faint　rumble　of　wagons　far　in　the　rear。　As　I　came　high　on　a　hill　top；　in　the　bending　column；　the　moonlight　fell　upon　a　league　of　bayonets　shining　above　a　cloud　of　dust　in　the　valley　…　a　splendid　picture；　fading　into　darkness　and　mystery。　At　dawn　we　passed　a　bridge　and　halted　some　three　minutes　for　a　bite。　After　a　little　march　we　left　the　turnpike；　with　Hunter's　column　bearing　westward　on　a　crossroad　that　led　us　into　thick　woods。　As　the　sunlight　sank　in　the　high　tree…tops　the　first　great　battle　of　the　war　began。　Away　to　the　left　of　us　a　cannon　shook　the　earth；　hurling　its　boom　into　the　still　air。　The　sound　rushed　over　us；　rattling　in　the　timber　like　a　fall　of　rocks。　Something　went　quivering　in　me。　It　seemed　as　if　my　vitals　had　gone　into　a　big　lump　of　jelly　that　trembled　every　step　I　took。　We　quickened　our　pace；　we　fretted；　we　complained。　The　weariness　went　out　of　our　legs；　some　wanted　to　run。　Before　and　behind　us　men　were　shouting　hotly；　'Run；　boys！　run！'The　cannon　roar　was　now　continuous。　We　could　feel　the　quake　of　it。　When　we　came　over　a　low　ridge；　in　the　open；　we　could　see　the　smoke　of　battle　in　the　valley。　Flashes　of　fire　and　hoods　of　smoke　leaped　out　of　the　far　thickets；　left　of　us；　as　cannon　roared。　Going　at　double　quick　we　began　loosening　blankets　and　haversacks；　tossing　them　into　heaps　along　the　line　of　march；　without　halting。　In　half　an　hour　we　stood　waiting　in　battalions；　the　left　flank　of　the　enemy　in　front。　We　were　to　charge　at　a　run。　Half…way　across　the　valley　we　were　to　break　into　companies　and；　advancing；　spread　into　platoons　and　squads；　and　at　last　into　line　of　skirmishers；　lying　down　for　cover　between　rushes。
  'Forward！'was　the　order；　and　we　were　off；　cheering　as　we　ran。　O；　it　was　a　grand　sight！　our　colours　flying；　our　whole　front　moving；　like　a　blue　wave　on　a　green；　immeasurable　sea。　And　it　had　a　voice　like　that　of　many　waters。　Out　of　the　woods　ahead　of　us　came　a　lightning　flash。　A　ring　of　smoke　reeled　upward。　Then　came　a　deafening　crash　of　thunders　…　one　upon　another；　and　the　scream　of　shells　overhead。　Something　stabbed　into　our　column　right　beside　me。　Many　went　headlong；　crying　out　as　they　fell。　Suddenly　the　colours　seemed　to　halt　and　sway　like　a　tree…top　in　the　wind。　Then　down　they　went！　…　squad　and　colours　…　and　we　spread　to　pass　them。　At　the　order　we　halted　and　laid　down　and　fired　volley　after　volley　at　the　grey　coats　in　the　edge　of　the　thicket　A　bullet　struck　in　the　grass　ahead　of　me；　throwing　a　bit　of　dirt　into　my　eyes。　Another　brushed　my　hat　off　and　I　heard　a　wailing　death　yell　behind　me。　The　colonel　rode　up　waving　a　sword。
  'Get　up　an'　charge！'he　shouted。
  On　we　went；　cheering　loudly；　firing　as　we　ran；　Bullets　went　by　me　hissing　in　my　ears；　and　I　kept　trying　to　dodge　them。　We　dropped　again　flat　on　our　faces。
  A　squadron　of　black…horse　cavalry　came　rushing　out　of　the　woods　at　us；　the　riders　yelling　as　they　waved　their　swords。　Fortunately　we　had　not　time　to　rise。　A　man　near　me　tried　to　get　up。
  'Stay　down！'I　shouted。
  In　a　moment　I　learned　something　new　about　horses。　They　went　over　us　like　a　flash。　I　do　not　think　a　man　was　trampled。　Our　own　cavalry　kept　them　busy　as　soon　as　they　had　passed。
  Of　the　many　who　had　started　there　was　only　a　ragged　remnant　near　me。　We　fired　a　dozen　volleys　lying　there。　The　man　at　my　elbow　rolled　upon　me；　writhing　like　a　worm　in　the　fire。
  'We　shall　all　be　killed！'a　man　shouted。　'Where　is　the　colonel？
  'Dead；'said　another。
  'Better　retreat；'said　a　third。
  'Charge！'I　shouted　as　loudly　as　ever　I　could；　jumping　to　my　feet　and　waving　my　sabre　as　I　rushed　forward。　'Charge！
  It　was　the　one　thing　needed　…　they　followed　me。　In　a　moment　we　had　hurled　ourselves　upon　the　grey　line　thrusting　with　sword　and　bayonet。
  They　broke　before　us　…　some　running；　some　fighting　desperately。
  A　man　threw　a　long　knife　at　inc　out　of　a　sling。　Instinctively　I　caught　the　weapon　as　if　it　had　been　a　ball　hot　off　the　bat。　In　doing　so　I　dropped　my　sabre　and　was　cut　across　the　fingers。　He　came　at　me　fiercely；　clubbing　his　gun　…　a　raw…boned；　swarthy　giant；　broad　as　a　barn　door。　I　caught　the　barrel　as　it　came　down。　He　tried　to　wrench　it　away；　but　I　held　firmly。　Then　he　began　to　push　up　to　me。　I　let　him　come；　and　in　a　moment　we　were　grappling　hip　and　thigh。　He　was　a　powerful　man；　but　that　was　my　kind　of　warfare。　It　gave　me　comfort　when　I　felt　the　grip　of　his　hands。　I　let　him　tug　a　jiffy；　and　then　caught　him　with　the　old　hiplock；　and　he　went　under　me　so　hard　I　could　hear　the　crack　of　his　bones。　Our　support　came　then。　We　made　him　prisoner；　with　some　two　hundred　other　men。　Reserves　came　also　and　took　away　the　captured　guns。　My　comrades　gathered　about　me；　cheering；　but　I　had　no　suspicion　of　what　they　meant。　I　thought　it　a　tribute　to　my　wrestling。　Men　lay　thick　there　back　of　the　guns　…　some　dead；　some　caffing　faintly　for　help。　The　red　puddles　about　them　were　covered　with　ffies；　ants　were　crawling　over　their　faces。　I　felt　a　kind　of　sickness　and　turned　away。
  What　was　left　of　my　regiment　formed　in　fours　to　join　the　advancing　column。　Horses　were　galloping　riderless；　rein　and　stirrup　flying；　some　horribly　wounded。　One　hobbled　near　me；　a　front　leg　gone　at　the　knee。
  Shells　were　flying　overhead；　cannonballs　were　ricocheting　over　the　level　valley；　throwing　turf　in　the　air；　tossing　the　dead　and　wounded　that　lay　thick　and　helpless。
  Some　were　crumpled　like　a　rag；　as　if　the　pain　of　death　had　withered　them　in　their　clothes；　some　swollen　to　the　girth　of　horses；　some　bent　backward；　with　anns　outreaching　like　one　trying　an　odd　trick；　some　lay　as　if　listening　eagerly；　an　ear　close　to　the　ground；　some　like　a　sleeper；　their　heads　upon　their　arms；　one　shrieked　loudly；　gesturing　with　bloody　hands；　'Lord　God　Almighty；　have　mercy　on　me！
  I　had　come　suddenly　to　a　new　world；　where　the　lives　of　men　were　cheaper　than　blind　puppies。　I　was　a　new　sort　of　creature；　and　reckless　of　what　came；　careless　of　all　I　saw　and　heard。
  A　staff　officer　stepped　up　to　me　as　we　joined　the　main　body。
  'You　ve　been　shot；　young　man；'he　said；　pointing　to　my　left　hand。
  Before　he　could　turn　I　felt　a　rush　of　air　and　saw　him　fly　into　pieces；　some　of　which　hit　me　as　I　fell　backward。　I　did　not　know　what　had　happened；　I　know　not　now　more　than　that　I　have　written。　I　remember　feeling　something　under　me；　like　a　stick　of　wood；　bearing　hard　upon　my　ribs。　I　tried　to　roll　off　it；　but　somehow；　it　was　tied　to　me　and　kept　hurting。　I　put　my　hand　over　my　hip　and　felt　it　there　b