the conversation
had not been interrupted by their arrival at the old house. Here they
were met by a messenger from the colonel, ordering the detachment to
hasten back; for orders had come for the brigade to retire to their old
position.

The wounded and the prisoners were conducted safely back to the line in
the woods, where our party were warmly congratulated upon their decided
success. The brigade fell back, but were immediately ordered forward
again, and held the advanced position which had been so gallantly won. It
was not a very comfortable place; for the soldiers stood over shoes in
the water. Late in the evening, our regiment was relieved by another, and
ordered back to the breastworks in the rear. It had lost but few men,
though torrents of loyal blood had flowed on that eventful day.

The action of that day was the initial conflict of the seven-days'
battles. General McClellan actually commenced his long-deferred
operations against the city of Richmond. But the favorable moment had
passed by, and even then the battalions of the rebels were gathering in
readiness to be hurled upon our devoted army. While the regiment, whose
fortunes have been more intimately connected with our story, was retiring
from the pestiferous swamp, the commanding general received information
of the approach of Stonewall Jackson. These proved to be sad tidings; for
the anticipated triumphal march into the rebel capital was changed into a
bloody but glorious retreat. The battles which were to be fought for a
victorious advance were made to cover a disastrous defeat--disastrous to
the campaign, though not to the army.

Fatigued, hungry and chilled by the night damps of the swamp, the
regiment threaded its way through the intricacies of the woods towards
the breastworks in the rear. It was a dark and gloomy hour, though the
_prestige_ of victory dwelt in the souls of the gallant soldiers. The
officers were not familiar with the ground; and with difficulty they
found their way back to the old line.

"Well, Somers, how do you feel?" asked Captain de Banyan when the
regiment was dismissed.

"I'm all worn out. I haven't got toughened to this kind of work yet,"
replied Somers.

"Don't give it up yet, my boy. We shall be in Richmond in less than a
week, and then we will take rooms at the Spottswood House, and have a
good time."

"Do you believe we shall ever get into Richmond, captain?"

"Certainly I do. Everything is working to my en