Under his slouched hat left and right He glanced; the old flag met his sight.

♦ Halt !' — the dust-brown ranks stood fast, 'Fire!' out blazed the rifle blast.

It shivered the window, pane and sash; It rent the banner with seam and gash.

Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf;

She leaned far out on the window sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.

'Shoot, if you must this old gray head, But spare your country's flag,' she said.

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;

The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word:

Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!' he said.

All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet:

All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.

Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;

And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.

Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er

And the Rebel rides on his raids no more.

Honor to her! and let a tear

Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.

Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,

Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!

Peace and order and beanty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;

And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town."

After a short halt for rest and dinner we continued our march, and, at about seven o'clock, bivouacked for the night near Walkersville, having marched about seven miles. Our course lay through a most magnificent portion of the country. Large and thriving fields of wheat, ripe for harvest, splendid farm-houses, spacious granaries and storehouses, bespeaking the fruitfulness and fertility of the soil, abounded along our route, and we had the happy consciousness of knowing and feeling that we were once more among friends. Our encampment was in a locality which had never before been visited by either army, and the inhabitants were very much excited to see so large a body of men, and curious to witness our manner of life in camp. We received the intelligence at this place, that General Hooker had been relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that

General George G. Meade had been appointed his suc

cessor.

On the twenty-ninth we marched at five o'clock, A. M., passing through Walkersville to Woodbury, thence, via Middlebury and Taneytown, about half a mile beyond the village of Taneytown. Our reception in the various places was very enthusiastic. Ladies and young girls distributed beautiful bouquets of flowers to the officers and soldiers; groups of fair damsels, bewitchingly posted in conspicuous places, sang patriotic airs, as the "boys in blue" marched by, and the passage of troops being a novelty, the citizens turned out en masse. Long after tattoo, groups of ladies and gentlemen were promenading through our camps, actuated by a curiosity to see how soldiers really lived in the "tented field."

On the thirtieth, we remained in camp all the forenoon, where we were visited by large numbers of citizens. The regiment had been mustered for pay in the morning, and at two, P. M., we marched through Taneytown via the plank road, through Bridgeport to near Emmettsburg.

The morning of Wednesday, July first, was cloudy, with signs of rain. At nine o'clock the tents were struck, and the battalions in line pursuant to orders. At about noon it commenced to rain, and it was not until two o'clock that we were en route. We marched only about two miles and encamped in a field adjoining the grounds of the St. Joseph's Academy.

It was the good fortune of the writer to accompany the brigade commander and a few invited guests through the academy buildings, where we were shown every attention by Father Borlando and the Lady Superior. St. Joseph's Academy is an institution of the Sisters of Charity, and is the head-quarters of that peculiar sisterhood in the United States. It is picturesquely situated among the most delightful scenery imaginable.

The grounds are very extensive, and beautifully laid out, in grass plots, walks, lawns, gardens, and fountains, and embellished with several fine statues of a religious nature. The buildings, some twelve in number, having been built at different periods as occasion required, are of various styles of architecture, but are all connected by balconies or covered passages. The general effect is fine, notwithstanding this variety and incongruity of style.

The academy was incorporated by the Legislature of Maryland, and controlled exclusively by the "sisters." It is remarkably well adapted to the purposes for which it is used. It being vacation, but few of the young lady pupils were present; but those we saw were very pretty and accomplished. In the parlor were some very fine paintings, including several saints by the old masters, and fine landscapes and heads painted by the sisters or the pupils. The library contained a large and choice selection of books; nearly every depart

ment of literature having a representation. In the museum were fine specimens of mineralogy, chonchology, and the various departments of natural history; also some rare and choice statuettes, medallions, coins, and curiosities of art.

Hours might have been pleasantly and profitably spent here, but we hurried on to the young ladies' sleeping apartment, which was a large hall filled with beds standing near each other, and every one "as square as a brick," not a fold or a wrinkle being visible, either on the snow-white clothes or the plethoric pillows. Around the four sides of the room were small alcoves; one for each occupant, containing washing accommodations and toilet arrangements. Near this room was the oratory, a small niche for devotional purposes. An altar elaborately decorated, surmounted by a crucifix and image of the Savior, stood opposite the door; and even a "heretic" could but feel the sacredness of the spot. The infirmary was a spacious room, excellently ventilated, whose comfortable beds, with their snowy curtains and white spreads, would almost tempt one to be sick. Adjoining the infirmary was the dispensary, which particularly interested the doctor, but possessed no particular charm for the others, save that it reminded them of an apothecary's shop at home by the strong odor of medicine, and the regularity and precision of its uniform and neatly labelled drawers and bottles.