-SHAKESPEARE'S _Henry V_.

After the undecisive battle of Seven Pines the 47th regiment together
with the 40th and the 55th Virginia regiments and the 22nd Virginia
battalion was formed into a brigade, and this combination continued
until the close of the war. It was known as the First Brigade of the
Light Division, which was composed of six brigades, and commanded by
Maj.-Gen. A. P. Hill. Why it was called the Light division I did not
learn; but I know that the name was applicable, for we often marched
without coats, blankets, knapsacks, or any other burdens except our
arms and haversacks, which were never heavy and sometimes empty.

On Thursday, June 26, the memorable but miss-called "battles around
Richmond" began. Being on the left of the army, the First Brigade had
the honor and the danger of being the first to cross the Chickahominy.
Passing over Meadow bridge, we dispersed the enemy's outpost, only one
man being wounded in the passage, and hurried on towards Mechanicsville
and Beaver Dam, where was posted the extreme right of the Federal army.
The contest raged for six hours. We failed to dislodge the enemy from
its naturally strong and well-fortified position across Beaver Dam
creek, and our loss was heavy,--heavier in some other brigades than in
ours. The following morning, discovering that our antagonists had
withdrawn, we crossed over Beaver Dam in pursuit.

McClellan had decided to retreat! He called it a change of base; but if
a change of base from the York to the James river was good strategy,
why did he not do it before he was attacked? It looks very much as if he
gave "a reason upon compulsion." It must be conceded that he managed the
retreat with admirable ability, although, while inflicting severe
punishment upon Lee's army, it involved the loss of 10,000 prisoners, 52
pieces of artillery and 35,000 stand of small arms, besides immense
stores of ammunition and provisions. But why retreat? Was it for this
that he had led to the gates of Richmond a grand army of brave and
disciplined men, at an enormous cost to his government? Having many
qualities of a great commander, he lacked the _gaudium certaminis_ and
the daring that assumes the hazard of defeat. In war the adage holds
good with emphasis: "Nothing venture, nothing gain." The celebrated
generals of all times, confiding in their own skill and the bravery of
their soldiers, have been bold even to the degree of seeming rashness.
Such was the spiri