vision of General Lee, who had not, at that time, assumed active field duty. By slow degrees we reached the vicinity of the Confederate Capital. Heintzelman's corps crossed to the south side of Chickahominy River: the rest of our army remained north of the stream. While professing no great admiration for General McClellan as the commander of an army of invasion, I estimate highly his military knowledge and skill. It is, however, true, that privates in the ranks severely criticised his action in dividing the army by a stream liable, in the spring of the year, to rise suddenly, overflow the swampy bottom through which it runs, rendering it all but impossible to reinforce either wing in the event of an attack in force. I remember that private Thomas Holmes, an able, educated man, spoke strongly upon this point, when McClellan's disposition of the army became known.

I was on picket duty on the 30th of May. During the previous night heavy rains had fallen, and the water was rising rapidly. From my post on the river, I saw, during the forenoon, heavy columns of "the men in grey," with banners flying, marching along the opposite bluffs towards our left. Most of our hurriedly-built bridges were swept away by the flood: our picket line was withdrawn to higher grounds in the rear, and all the bottom land was soon inundated. Between one and two o'clock in the afternoon heavy musketry firing was heard, and

the Battle of Fair Oaks was raging. Two divisions of Sumner's Corps, by wading the flood, waist deep, preserving their cartridges dry by holding the boxes aloft, reached the battle-field about sunset, in time to stem the enemy's last charge, and save the left from worse disaster. The fighting was continued during the following day, without advantage to either side, until finally the enemy withdrew at nightfall. Here Johnston was seriously wounded in the side, and Howard lost his arm.

Whilst walking my beat by the river, on the morning of the Battle of Fair Oaks, the Officer of the Picket came up and repeated the order to "keep a sharp look-out." He next asked if I saw two "rebels" concealed in the branches of a tree on the other side of the Chickahominy? He pointed to them. What there was I saw; but not the two men. At his suggestion I climbed a tree, and, from my elevated position, skanned the branches carefully again. As I slid rapidly down the trunk the bark caught a ring I wore, a present from a lady: it slipped from my finger and fell into the muddy water beneath.

"Well," asked the officer, when I reached the ground, "did you see them?”

"Nonsense!" I replied, "there is nothing to see: there are no men in the tree." I was annoyed at the loss of my keepsake, and forgot for the moment that the silly officer was my superior.

Imagination created a great many Southern soldiers

about this time. McClellan talked of the superior strength of the enemy from the moment he reached the Peninsula until he withdrew from that scene of disaster. On the 18th of June, however, he seemed to take heart, for in a telegram to President Lincoln he said::

"After to-morrow, we shall fight the Rebel Army, as soon as Providence will permit. We shall await only a favourable condition of the earth and sky, and the completion of some necessary preliminaries."

But the golden hours were wasted, while the enemy was gathering strength. The swamps of Yorktown and the Chickahominy had told upon the health of our men; and, judging from my own brigade, the sick list of the Army of the Potomac was never so heavy as while we crawled along towards Richmond, in 1862. Thousands of men who continued "on duty" were suffering from a fever generated by the unhealthy, swampy character of the district; and rations of whisky and quinine were issued to the troops.

Leaving one corps under General Fitz-John Porter on the north side of the Chickahominy, McClellan crossed the river with the rest of the army. I believe our brigade held the extreme right, south of the river. The picket lines of the two armies were within a hundred yards of each other, occupying opposite belts of timber, divided-in Hancock's front-by a field of wheat that promised a good yield. The safeguards of the hostile camps were upon the most friendly terms,

meeting occasionally in the centre of the wheat-field to compare notes and have a chat. These visits were contrary to orders, and comrades on the post always kept a sharp look-out for the Officer of the Picket. At other times, "Yankees" and "Johnnies "-for these were the sobriquets we assigned to each othersustained a spicy conversation across the lines. We sometimes got our water from the same brook, or well the "Blue" and the "Grey" filling their canteens in turn. But the most interesting friendly scene enacted by the pickets was at Mine Run. We had been marched out of camp to attack the enemy's position; but owing to accidents and delays the plan was abandoned. The forces of Meade and Lee occupied opposite heights. Mine Run flowed, a narrow brook, through the intervening valley. The hostile picket lines were stationed near the creek. A flock of sheep also inhabited this neutral zone. The pickets dropped their guns and went for the sheep, within plain sight and to the great amusement of both armies.

Bad blood was seldom displayed at the front. When the pickets of either side received orders to "fire!" they informed their opponents of the fact, if they had an opportunity. Yes, we were friendly, and our mutual respect increased as the war continued: but we parted at last without regret.

While encamped on Golden's Farm, we were very unexpectedly ordered to "brush up" and prepare for

inspection." We had not stood in line long when a troop of horse was seen approaching from the left. McClellan, accompanied by a soldierly-looking man, below the medium height, rode side by side in advance. The stranger was dark, with olive-tinted skin, black hair and beard, which he wore full. He was dressed in a dark blue suit and a cap decorated by a gold embroidered band. He scanned us closely, through a brilliant, piercing black eye, as he rode past-Marshal Prim. The Count de Paris was on McClellan's staff at that time. He was tall, lean, youthful-looking; not a graceful rider when seen alongside of "Little Mac," who looked a very handsome soldier when mounted on his "Dan Webster." But the Count had a kindly face, and was a great favourite with the men.

We were fortunate in this visit of Marshal Prim. Had it been postponed for a few days, the noted Spaniard would have witnessed a smaller and less presentable army, huddled together at Harrison's Bar.