and throw their deadly missels into their ranks. They falter, and cannot go any further, when the rebel infantry reforming, take courage, advance over their works, and drive our men back. Some new men relieve those who have been fighting, and going in with a cheer, drive the rebels back. For a long time neither side has much advantage, but we can tell by the direction of the roar of artillery that the rebel infantry are being driven inside their works again. Hark! we hear a yell as if all the fiends of bedlam were let loose, and the enemy drive our men before them, for they are reinforced by the famous Black Horse Cavalry, and nothing, it seems, can stop their terrible onslaught. Hurrah, hurrah, is heard along the lines, for it is the gallant Sixty-Ninth New York, a regiment composed of the stalwart sons of Erin, led by the brave Corcoran. They advance with a cheer, and meet the flower of the South. The chivalry try to ride over the mudsills, but are met by the bayonet, and thrust after thrust is made by the sturdy arms of the Celt, and many a horseman is left dangling from his horse's stirrups. Forward-charge, is the order given by their noble Colonel, and the Black Horse Cavalry are no more, as but few get back to tell the tale how they were cut to pieces. Surely, such men are worthy of all praise, and their name will be handed down by all good Americans as true defenders of this glorious country. This charge caused a lull in the battle. A locomotive whistle is heard from Manassas, and it is evident that Beauregard's army is being reinforced. Now we must not give them time to get to the battle ground before the rebel army is demolished, and accordingly the battle is renewed with more vigor than before. The roar of artillery and the rattle of musketry is almost deafening. Our men go forward once more on the charge, and drive the rebels before them, but are met by the fresh troops of Johnson's army and are forced back against superior numbers. Oh, that we could get reinforcements too, but, alas, for some one's neglect to keep Johnson from uniting his men with Beauregard's. Our men are hurled back in utter confusion. The excitement is taken up by the citizens who went from Washington to witness the battle. They

fly, and never pull up until they are safely inside the Capitol. The teamsters cut the traces of their horses and mules, leaving hundreds of wagons behind to block up the roads. The artillery cannot get through, and have to abandon their guns and fly. All is in one utter mass of confusion. The enemy advance with their artillery and fire into the rear of the retreating columns, all fly in dismay. Of course we have to get back now, and we retire in good order, and camp on Centerville heights, where we wait until the last man has passed, which is about 3 o'clock Monday morning. It is left for our regiment to cover the retreat. We file into the road and march in platoons, taking up all the road; fix our bayonets so as to be ready to resist the rebel cavalry, should they follow up the retreating army. But they do not pursue, and probably are as badly whipped as we.

Monday, and indeed it is a blue one, and to add to our miserable feelings it commenced to rain about 5 o'clock. It pours down in torrents and all are wet to the skin. We continue our march, never halting till we pull up in front of Washington, after marching about thirty miles in the rain, slush and mud. Oh, how tired we are, as a few of us make our way to the Long Bridge, thinking to cross over to Washington and get something good to eat, but there is a sentinel on the bridge with orders to let no one pass but officers. Oh, yes, the officers could pass and bask in the sunshine of luxury, but the poor soldier could lie down by the roadside and die from want. Making our way back to an old barn, we find every place in the hay taken up with the poor, tired soldier, and it is difficult to find a place to crawl into. At last a comrade calls out."here is a place." We go to the offered shelter, make a nest in the hay, and soon forget our disastrous battle and ignominious flight from Bull Run by being clasped in the arms of good old morpheus.

CHAPTER VI.

A LONG DAY-VISIT FROM SENATOR CHANDLER-GETTING THE REGIMENTS TOGETHER-CAMP AT ARLINGTON-CAMP HUNTER

-DETAILED ON SPECIAL DUTY.

When I awoke from my refreshing sleep, I heard the word bread on the outside of the barn. The sun was shining through the cracks, and I thought, of course, that it was morning, I look at my watch to find that it is 5 o'clock, but whether in the morning or afternoon I do not know. On getting out I find that the sun is pointing away to the west, and it is Monday still. Going to a wagon from Washington, I buy some bread and cheese, return to my nest in the hay, share with my neighbors, cover up again, and sleep soundly till morning. We all crawl out of our steaming nests and get out in the morning sun, feeling as fresh as a daisy. We build some fires, cook our favorite coffee, and feel happy once

more.

Senator Chandler visits us, makes us a neat little speech, and assures us that the women in Michigan will not get married till we get home. But we shall see how near a prophet he is.

There is a great time getting the different regiments together and placed in position. Our brigade strike off for Arlington Heights and go into camp, where the gallant Thirty-Seventh New York, an Irish regiment, join us. We have now the Twelfth and Thirty-Seventh New York, First Massachusetts, Second and Third Michigan brigaded together under command of General I. B. Richardson. We commence to build some forts, and are kept busy one way and another. Soon we move to Hunter's Place, midway between Washington and Alexandria, where we have a nice camp on the banks of the Potomac.

A detail is made from our regiment to guard the tools that are used for building forts and other duty. There are twenty of us

on the detail, commanded by Lieutenant Bogardus, and we proceed up the bluffs overlooking the valley beneath. Oh, what a lovely camping ground! I shall never forget my lonely beat on guard in this camp. A panorama stretches out before me that is difficult to describe. Down in the valley are myriads of tents shining in the sun; the lazy four-mule teams, as they pull their covered wagons along the different roads; the beautiful Potomac, as it winds its way to the sea; the Long Bridge leading across the river connecting the sacred soil with Washington, whose beautiful Government buildings increase the grandeur; and the unfinished monument to the Father of his Country, are all visible at one view. The fortifications around Washington are growing up like mushrooms, and now the Capitol is considered safe. We have built three or four forts in a short time, Fort Scott, Fort Richardson, and some smaller redoubts and breastworks. Our work is done here now, and we have to move to some other locality.

CHAPTER VII.

MC'CLELLAN TAKES COMMAND-GRAND REVIEW-CAMP LYON-ARRIVAL OF THE FIFTH MICHIGAN-ALEXANDRIA.

Who is to take command of the army? is asked by President Lincoln of the old hero, General Scott, for it is evident that the Commander-in-Chief is too old now for the great work before him. The hero of Mexico did know one man he thought he could trust his army to, and that man was General George B. McClellan, a young man who had proved himself a brave and cool officer under him in Mexico. General McClellan is in command now. He is busy organizing the army; and it is given out that he is going to have a grand review, and every one is getting ready for the first of the kind in the army. We are all ready, and each regiment files out of its camp, headed by a band of music, for Munson's Hill, there to be reviewed by our gallant Commander, General McClellan. The different corps, divisions and brigades take up their position in line, and we hear great cheering to our right. It sounds nearer and nearer, when our band strike up the beautiful tune, "Hail to the Chief." Our gallant Little Mac. rides past and is cheered by General Richardson's brigade. He passes along the lines, followed by his long train of staff officers, and looks as proud as a king; and no wonder, for the whole vast army that covers the fields around him is of his own making, numbering 75,000 men. He halts at a front in the field, the whole army break into company fronts and pass in review before their noble Chief, the President, Cabinet, Foreign Ministers, and about 30,000 citizens from all parts of the United States. Truly that was a sight that none will ever forget who had the good fortune to be there. We all go home the shortest way we can after passing in review, each one feeling proud of his Chief.

We go now to Camp Lyon, in front and to the left of Alexandria, where we build more forts, one of which is named after the