bury your unfortunate dead."

After this we returned to the west side of the Rappahannock and encamped
at Pisgah Church, overlooking the plains about Brandy Station. As the
war was prolonged, Confederate rations proportionately diminished, both
in quantity and variety. Consequently, to escape the pangs of hunger,
the few opportunities that presented themselves were gladly seized. In
the absence of the sportsmen of peace times, game had become quite
abundant, especially quail. But our "murmurings," if any there were, did
not avail, as did those of the Israelites, "to fill the camp." I soon
succeeded in getting an Enfield rifle, a gun not designed for such small
game. By beating Minie-balls out flat, then cutting the plates into
square blocks or slugs, I prepared my ammunition, and in the first
eleven shots killed nine quail on the wing. I was shooting for the pot,
and shot to kill.

From this camp our battery was ordered to occupy a fort on the west side
of the river, near Rappahannock Station. Immediately across the river
Hayes's and Hoke's brigades of Early's division occupied a line of
breastworks as a picket or outpost. A pontoon bridge (a bridge of
boats), in place of the railroad bridge, which had been burned, served
as a crossing. While a dozen or more of our battery were a mile in the
rear of the fort, getting a supply of firewood, another member of the
company came to us at a gallop, with orders to return as quickly as
possible to the fort. On our arrival the indications of an attack from
the enemy were very apparent. They must have anticipated immense
slaughter, as no less than a hundred of their ambulances were plainly
visible. About four P. M. they opened on us with artillery, and from
that time until sundown a spirited contest was kept up. While this was
in progress their infantry advanced, but, after a brief but rapid fire
of musketry, almost perfect quiet was restored.

While working at my gun I received what I thought to be a violent kick
on the calf of my leg, but, turning to discover whence the blow came,
saw a Minie-ball spinning on the ground. It was very painful for a time,
but did not interrupt my service at the gun. It was too dark for us to
see what was going on across the river, but the sudden and complete
stillness following the firing was very mysterious. While speculating
among ourselves as to what it meant, a half-naked infantryman came
almost breathless into our midst and announced that bo