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tent-mate one day, "You go and get der rations, and you gook it, Tshon-you are such a good gook-and ve eat it!" This soldier would fight well under his commander's eye: not otherwise.

There is no career of life in which a man's true

nature is so clearly seen at every angle as that of a soldier during war.

"No half measures.

CHAPTER XVI.

SHERIDAN'S RIDE.

No squeamishness in resolution.

Nemesis is

Let us be terrible and useful.

Does the

not a conceited prude. elephant stop to look where he sets his foot? We must crush the enemy."-Vide VICTOR HUGO'S " 'Ninety-Three."

"He taught the doubtful battle when to rage."-ADDISON.

HE passage of the James River by the Army of the Potomac was accomplished about the middle of June, 1864. Grant was then south of Richmond and Petersburg, threatening Lee's communications with the interior of the Confederacy. The Southern Chief recognised the peril in which he stood from Grant's mischievous left, and Sheridan's troopers, and he planned a third Northern invasion, with a view to forcing the Union Commander to raise the siege.

General Early, at the head

of 20,000 men, was despatched up the Shenandoah Valley to clear it of Federal troops, cross the Potomac,

and threaten Washington. Early's troops reached Maryland and Pennsylvania during the first days of July. Plundering expeditions were sent out

in all directions. The Confederate Chief made a requisition upon the inhabitants of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for $500,000; but since the cash was not forthcoming he burnt the town. Union men in Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania were panicstricken, flying, with all their worldly wealth, at the approach of the "Early bird," who devoured everything within reach. Thousands of Marylanders, friends of the rebellion, hailed the head of the Southern column with open arms and shouts of joy. Towards the middle of July, Early was converging on Washington; his marches had been unusually rapid, and his calculations warranted a hope that the Union citadel would fall before him. But the Departments were no longer filled with Southern sympathisers; and the citizen clerks shouldered their muskets. The city was one grand hospital; and the crippled and feeble soldiers manned the forts-these, together with a small garrison, held the defences until the Sixth Corps arrived from the front.

It was evening, and dusk, when we reached Washington. We were much surprised at the cheering and clapping of hands which hailed us. We had always been in the enemy's country, expecting nothing but sulks from civilians, and this friendly greeting from the throng which lined the streets imparted firmness

and elasticity to the tired veteran's tread. A portion only of our corps was engaged with the enemy, for, upon discovering that heavy reinforcements had arrived, Early withdrew beyond the Potomac with his spoils, which included 7000 horses and cattle. Our brigade remained in the vicinity of Washington for one day after the pursuit was ordered. Passes for a few hours were issued to soldiers to visit the city. Orders to march suddenly came-the men had not returned, and were left behind. Nor was it to be wondered that men, whose only diet for years had been hard bread, pork, and coffee, should tarry at the restaurants for a short-lived feast of daintier food, and drinks more palatable than raw "commissary" whisky. When they discovered that their regiments had marched, cabs were at once engaged to overtake the column. They continued to arrive at intervals; and we were probably ten or twelve miles on the march when the last cab came up, profusely decorated with knapsacks, haversacks, accoutrements, frying-pans, and canteens, while the hilarious occupants-private soldiers-flourished champagne bottles at the troops, and caused universal merriment. When ordered by their company commanders to take their places in the ranks, they argued the absurdity of walking when cabs could be procured. Officers were disposed to treat the whole matter good-naturedly. The offenders were men who would gallantly "face the music" in the event of battle; and during active

L

campaigning, a soldier known to be brave is treated and considered with kindness and leniency by his commanding officers.

General Wright was in command of our army, composed of the 8th, 19th, and his own (6th) corps. He showed lack of genius for independent command; but succeeded in marching the shoes off our feet to no obvious purpose. Early retired up the valley, and deceived our generals into the idea that he was hastening to rejoin Lee at Petersburg. Our corps had returned as far as Georgetown, en route for the Army of the Potomac, on the James, when General Early countermarched rapidly, fell upon our forces near Winchester, under Crook, and gained a signal victory. Grant, growing impatient with the want of success on the Shenandoah, came himself upon the scene, and placed Sheridan in command. Having examined his subordinate's plan of campaign, Grant "saw that but two words of instruction were necessary-'Go in!'" and Sheridan went in accordingly.

Ascending the valley, we passed through Charlestown, where, five years before, John Brown had been imprisoned, and finally hung, for his efforts to liberate the slaves.

Let me here make a digression anent the old hero whose name grows brighter with time. I have not much sympathy with the guerrilla method of conducting either war or politics; but I entertain a boundless admiration for the sublime heroism of old

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