ious services, (which were never
omitted while in camp,) were held, followed by the singing of the
Doxology. To many who stood at parade rest, that evening, listening,
with heads uncovered, to those words of comfort and encouragement
from our chaplain, it was to be the last attended on earth, for ere
the setting of another sun, they would be lying dead on the fields of
Manassas. At tattoo roll-call we were informed by our officers that
our regiment would probably march at daylight. The boys rolled their
blankets around them, and lying down, secured what little sleep they
could, with thoughts busy with the dear ones at home and the probable
events of the morrow.

At about 2 A. M. Sunday, 21st, the call sounded, and on every side
and in all directions was heard the sound of the bugle and the drum,
calling the soldiers from their sleep; and before the echoes of those
bugle notes had ceased reverberating among the Virginia hills, our
brigade was in line on the road, and ready to move. We were fully
assured in our minds that a battle was to be fought that day; in fact
Colonel Burnside had the day before stated to our officers that,
although the period for which we enlisted had expired, he did not
purpose to turn back at such a time, in the face of the enemy, and
when the government needed our services; and it is to the credit of
the regiment, and the State of Rhode Island, that regardless of the
expiration of our term of enlistment we manfully did our duty during
that campaign.

The order to march having been given, we tramped steadily along the
Warrenton Road, no sounds being heard save the steady tread of the
soldiers, and the occasional low words of command from the officers;
the stars were still visible, and the nearly full moon was going down
behind the western hills. At about daylight we passed through
Centreville, and soon arrived at the small bridge at Cub Run. While
on the road that morning, we were quite surprised to see Theodore W.
King, of our company, join us. He had been quite sick in the
hospital at Centreville for two days, but hearing of our regiment
passing on the road, he left the hospital and started for his
company, saying that if there was any fighting to be done, his place
was with Company F. King, though only a mere boy, did his duty
manfully on that eventful day, and about noon, in the heat of the
battle, fell, mortally wounded.

Just before arriving at Cub Run, we met on the road a regiment and