attered over the wheat-field, were a number of loose
artillery horses from the batteries that had been knocked out. Taking
advantage of the opportunity to get a meal, one of these stood eating
quietly at a shock of wheat, when another horse came galloping toward
him from the woods. When within about thirty yards of the animal
feeding, a shell burst between the two. The approaching horse instantly
wheeled, and was flying for the woods when another shell burst a few
feet in front of him, turning him again to the field as before; the old
warrior ate away at his shock, perfectly unconcerned.

The firing on both sides, especially on ours, was now diminishing--and
soon ceased. In this encounter ten or twelve members of the company were
wounded, and Frank Herndon, wheel driver at my caisson, was killed.
After remaining quiet for a short time we were ordered back, and again
found ourselves at the cross-roads, near the old gate-posts, which
seemed to be the headquarters of Generals Lee, Jackson and D. H. Hill.

John Brown, one of our company who had been detailed to care for the
wounded, had taken a seat behind a large oak-tree in the edge of the
woods near us. A thirty-two-pound shot struck the tree, and, passing
through the center of it, took Brown's head entirely off. We spent
several hours standing in the road, which was filled with artillery, and
our generals were evidently at their wits' ends. Toward evening we moved
farther back into the woods, where many regiments of our infantry were
in bivouac. The enemy had now turned their fire in this direction. Both
that of their heavy field-pieces and gunboats, and enormous shells and
solid shot, were constantly crashing through the timber, tearing off
limbs and the tops of trees, which sometimes fell among the troops,
maiming and killing men.

After sundown a charge was made against the enemy's left, which was
repulsed with terrible loss to our men. After this the enemy continued
shelling the woods; in fact their whole front, until ten o'clock at
night. Our battery had moved back at least two miles and gone into park
in a field, where, at short intervals, a large gunboat shell would burst
over us, scattering pieces around, while the main part would whirr on,
it seemed, indefinitely.

The next day, the enemy having abandoned Malvern Hill during the night,
we made a rapid start in pursuit toward Harrison's Landing, but suddenly
came to a halt and countermarched to a place where