ajor Lee accompanying him. Sergeant Weiler and three
or four others fired upon them as they turned their horses to fly.
Three balls passed through Washington's body near together, coming
out from his breast. He fell mortally wounded. Major Lee was
unhurt, though his horse was shot. Lee escaped on foot for a short
distance and then by mounting Washington's horse.(12)

When reached, Colonel Washington was struggling to rise on his
elbow, and, though gasping and dying, he muttered, "_Water_," but
when it was brought to his lips from the nearby stream he was dead.
His body was carried to my outpost headquarters, thence later by
ambulance to Reynolds' headquarters at camp. Washington's name or
initials were on his gauntlet cuffs and upon a napkin in his
haversack; these served to identify him. He was richly dressed
for a soldier, and for weapons had heavy pistols and a large knife
in his belt. He also had a powder-flask, field-glass, gold-plated
spurs, and some small gold coin on his person. His sword, tied to
the pommel of his saddle, was carried off by his horse.

On the next day Colonel W. E. Starke, of Louisiana,(13) appeared
in front of my position bearing a flag of truce, and a letter
addressed to the commanding officer of the United States troops,
reading:

"Lt. Col. John A. Washington, my aide-de-camp, while riding yesterday
with a small escort, was fired upon by your pickets, and I fear
killed. Should such be the case, I request that you shall deliver
to me his dead body, or should he be a prisoner in your hands, that
I be informed of his condition.

"I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
"R. E. Lee,
"General Commanding."

Colonel Milo S. Hascall of the 17th Indiana conveyed Washington's
body, on the 14th, by ambulance, to Lee's line, and there delivered
it to Major Lee.

One of Colonel Washington's pistols was sent by Reynolds to Secretary
of War Cameron; the Secretary directed the other one to be presented
to Sergeant John J. Weiler, the knife to Corporal Birney, and the
gauntlets to private Johnson, all soldiers of the 17th Indiana.
General Reynolds obtained the field-glass, but subsequently gave
it to Colonel Washington's son George. Hascall took possession of
the spurs and powder-flask, and Captain George L. Rose, of Reynolds'
staff, retained one or more letters (now in possession of his son,
Rev. John T. Rose), through which one or more of the fatal bullets
passed.

Colonel