ations
and quiet was restored. The loss on our side was fearful. Among the
killed was my cousin, James Allen, colonel of the Second Virginia
Regiment.

While lying among the guns in park that night my rest was frequently
disturbed by the antics of one of the battery horses suffering with an
attack of "blind staggers," and floundering around in the darkness among
the sleeping men.

Before leaving our place of bivouac the next morning, a visit from
General Lee, attended by his full staff, to his son Robert, gave us our
first opportunity of seeing this grand man. The interview between father
and son is described by the latter in his "Recollections and Letters of
Gen. Robert E. Lee," which I quote:

"The day after the battle of Cold Harbor, during the 'Seven Days'
fighting around Richmond, was the first time I met my father after I had
joined General Jackson. The tremendous work Stonewall's men had
performed, including the rapid march from the Valley of Virginia, the
short rations, the bad water, and the great heat, had begun to tell upon
us, and I was pretty well worn out. On this particular morning my
battery had not moved from its bivouac ground of the previous night, but
was parked in an open field, all ready waiting orders. Most of the men
were lying down, many sleeping, myself among the latter number. To get
some shade and to be out of the way I had crawled under a caisson, and
was busy making up many lost hours of rest. Suddenly I was rudely
awakened by a comrade, prodding me with a sponge-staff as I had failed
to be aroused by his call, and was told to get up and come out, that
some one wished to see me. Half-awake I staggered out, and found myself
face to face with General Lee and his staff. Their fresh uniforms,
bright equipments, and well-groomed horses contrasted so forcibly with
the war-worn appearance of our command that I was completely dazed. It
took me a moment or two to realize what it all meant, but when I saw my
father's loving eyes and smile it became clear to me that he had ridden
by to see if I was safe and to ask how I was getting along. I remember
well how curiously those with him gazed at me, and I am sure that it
must have struck them as very odd that such a dirty, ragged, unkempt
youth could have been the son of this grand-looking, victorious
commander.

"I was introduced recently to a gentleman, now living in Washington,
who, when he found out my name, said he had met me once before and tha