though an engagement was momentarily expected, more than three
quarters of the rank and file coolly lay down in their places and went to
sleep. An hour passed, and the heavy boom of a cannon, and the explosion
of a shell, brought even the most weary to their feet. Nothing was to be
seen in front; but the thick columns of smoke ascending from Carlisle, the
bright flashes of light and the frequent reports of artillery from the
surrounding hills, showed us that the rebels had surrounded the place in
overwhelming force, and, without affording to the helpless women and
children an opportunity to escape, had commenced to shell the town.

Fortunately the moon had not yet risen, and the dusk of the evening
concealed us as we stealthily crept back. On arriving we learned that a
dash of cavalry had been made into the town, the government barracks and
the gas-house fired, and the batteries had at once opened, without further
warning. As there were inside, at that time, not more than eight hundred
men, and one battery of four guns, and the attacking force numbered four
thousand, with a much heavier force of artillery, things commenced to look
as though our present journey would be continued _via_ Richmond; but
happily our division commander, General W. F. Smith, proved himself here,
as everywhere else, fully equal to the emergency. While a portion of the
Twenty-second were deployed as skirmishers on the flanks of the town,
covered by sharpshooters, posted in the windows of the adjoining houses,
behind which the artillery were placed, the centre of the town was
protected by a force, mainly composed of the recent arrivals, concealed
behind the heavy stone wall of the village cemetery. The Thirty-seventh,
divided in like manner, were scattered around so as to make the largest
possible show--some Reserves were also there--everywhere they should not
have been--who were rushing around indiscriminately, and aggravating the
Thirty-seventh tremendously by disturbing their ranks in so doing.

For the purpose of protecting our flanks, it was found requisite that
out-lying pickets or scouts should be sent as far out to the front as they
could go, to give all the notice possible of any advance of the enemy. The
service was one of such danger, and the assurances of being "gobbled" by
the rebels so great, that the cavalry detailed for that duty refused to
perform it. Colonel Aspinwall, hearing of this, offered to supply their
places. The offer was