e tells me
something has happened to the boys. What is it?'

"Sarah and the women stood as pale as death, but could not speak. Then I
broke down, but tried to be as calm as I could, and said:

"'Our dear Harvey is killed.'

"My wife fell upon my neck and sobbed and cried aloud in despair until
I thought her heart would break. The children ran out to their mother,
crying:

"'Oh! mother, what is the matter? Is papa hurt? Is he shot?'

"They screamed, and the scene was one that would have melted the
strongest heart. James stood and gazed on the scene. When all 'became
somewhat calm, my wife was tenderly placed in bed, and Jennie, after
hearing that the Colonel was safe, staid with her. To the others I
related my experience on the battlefield, and the death of Harvey,
his burial, my capture and release, my arrival at and departure from
Washington, and all up to the time I reached home. The saddest time I
ever spent in my life was during the long, weary hours of that night;
the attempt to reconcile my wife to our sad fate, the fears expressed
by the wives of the Colonel and Tom, the questions of the children, and
their grief and sobs for their Uncle Harvey--they all loved him dearly;
he had petted them and played with them frequently, entertaining them in
a way that children care so much for. Many days my wife was confined to
her bed, the Doctor keeping close watch over her. Weeks of sadness and
gloom in our household passed before we seemed to take the matter as a
part of what many would have to experience in this dreadful and wicked
attempt to destroy the peace and happiness of our people. In the
meantime, Col. Tom Anderson (as he was now a Colonel), and my son Peter,
who had been made a Captain in Col. Anderson's regiment, came home to
see us, and tried to make it as pleasant for us as could be done under
the circumstances. When Peter heard of Harvey's death, through Col.
Anderson, he was very much affected and wept bitterly.

"'That dream haunts me,' he said, 'by day and by night. I know my fate
so well.'

"This amazed the Colonel, and he asked Peter what he meant by this
nonsense.

"'I know,' said Peter, 'but--'

"'But what?' asked the Colonel.

"'Nothing,' replied Peter, and the conversation on that subject dropped
for the time being.

"The visit of Col. Tom and Capt. Peter, as we now out of courtesy called
them, made the time pass much more pleasantly. Col. Tom and the Doctor,
both being good conversati