frivolous word, would be
an insult to the slain.

They have long sought for a battle, and often been disappointed and sore
because they failed to find one; but now, for the first time, they
really realize what a battle is. They see it is to men what an arctic
wind is to autumn leaves, and are astonished to find that any have
outlived the furious storm of deadly missiles.

The enemy is in the woods before us, and as the sentinels occasionally
exchange shots, we can see the flash of their guns and hear the whistle
of bullets above our heads. The two armies are too near to sleep
comfortably, or even safely, so the boys cling to their muskets and keep
ready for action. It is a long night, but it finally comes to an end.

9. The enemy has disappeared, and we go to the hill where our fight
occurred. Within the compass of a few rods we find a hundred men of the
Third and Fifteenth lying stiff and cold. Beside these there are many
wounded, whom we pick up tenderly, carry off and provide for. Men are
already digging trenches, and in a little while the dead are gathered
together for interment. We have looked upon such scenes before; but then
the faces were strange to us. Now they are the familiar faces of
intimate personal friends, to whom we are indebted for many kindly acts.
We hear convulsive sobs, see eyes swollen and streaming with tears, and
as our fallen comrades are deposited in their narrow grave, the lines of
Wolfe recur to us:

"No useless coffin inclosed his breast;
Not in sheet or in shroud we wound him,
But he lay like a warrior taking his rest,
With his martial cloak around him.

* * * * *

Slowly and sadly we laid him down
From the field of his fame fresh and gory;
We carved not a line, we raised not a stone,
But left him alone with his glory."

13. We are in a field near Harrodsburg. Moved yesterday from Perryville.
We are without tents. Rain is falling, and the men uncomfortable.

Many, perhaps most, of the boys of the regiment disliked me thoroughly.
They thought me too strict, too rigid in the enforcement of orders; but
now they are, without exception, my fast friends. During the battle of
Chaplin Hills, while the enemy's artillery was playing upon us with
terrible effect, I ordered them to lie down. The shot, shell, and
canister came thick as hail, hissing, exploding, and tearing