colonel to ask him to let him go over there and take
it; and when Joe gave the word the boys went. They didn't go at a walk
either, I tell you; it wasn't any promenade: they went clipping. At
first the guns shot over 'em; didn't catch 'em till the third fire; then
they played the devil with 'em: but the boys were up there right in 'em
before they could do much. They turned the guns on 'em as they went
down the hill (oh, our boys could handle the tubes then as well as the
artillery themselves), and in a little while the rest of the line came
up, and we formed a line of battle right there on that crest, and held
it till nearly night. That's when I got jabbed. I picked up another
horse, and with my foolishness went over there. That evening, you know,
you all charged us--we were dismounted then. We lost more men then than
we had done all day; there were forty-seven out of seventy-two killed or
wounded. They walked all over us; two of 'em got hold of me (you see,
I went to get our old flag some of you had got hold of), but I was too
worthless to die. There were lots of 'em did go though, I tell you; old
Joe in the lead. Yes, sir; the old company won that day, and old Joe led
'em. There ain't but a few of us left; but when you want us, Colonel,
you can get us. We'll stand by you."

He paused in deep reflection; his mind evidently back with his old
company and its gallant commander "old Joe", whoever he might be, who
was remembered so long after he passed away in the wind and smoke of
that unnamed evening battle. I took a good look at him--at "No. 4", as
he called himself. He was tall, but stooped a little; his features were
good, at least his nose and brow were; his mouth and chin were weak.
His mouth was too stained with the tobacco which he chewed to tell much
about it--and his chin was like so many American chins, not strong. His
eyes looked weak. His clothes were very much worn, but they had once
been good; they formerly had been black, and well made; the buttons
were all on. His shirt was clean. I took note of this, for he had a
dissipated look, and a rumpled shirt would have been natural. A man's
linen tells on him before his other clothes. His listener had evidently
been impressed by him also, for he arose, and said, abruptly, "Let's go
and take a drink." To my surprise "No. 4" declined. "No, I thank you,"
he said, with promptness. I instinctively looked at him again to see if
I had not misjudged him; but I concluded no