PLAYING POSSUM.

295

head to foot with his blood. He died in a few minutes. I remained in that position, not daring to rise, for our party had fled and. the rebels pursued them. A very few minutes elapsed when the guerrillas returned, and the first thing I saw was one of the men thrusting his sabre into one of the dead men beside me. I was lying partially on my face, so I closed my eyes and passed for dead. The rebels evidently thought I was unworthy of their notice, for after searching the bodies of the two dead men they rode away; but just as I was making up my mind to crawl out from under the dead horse, I heard the tramp of a horse's feet, and lay perfectly still and held my breath. It was one of the same men, who had returned. Dismounting, he came up and took hold of my feet, and partially drew me from under the horse's head, and then examined my pockets. Fortunately, I had no official documents with me, and very little money-not more than five dollars. After transferring the contents of my pockets to his own, he re-mounted his horse and rode away, without ever suspecting that the object before him was playing possum.

Not long after the departure of the guerrillas, our party returned with reinforcements and pursued the rebel band. One of the men returned to camp with me, letting me ride his horse, and walked all the way himself. The guerrillas were captured that day, and, after searching them, my

296

RETURN TO CAMP.

pocket-book was found upon one of them, and was returned to me with its contents undisturbed. It lies before me, while I write, reminding me of that narrow escape, and of the mercy of God in sparing my unprofitable life.

A Sov'reign Protector I have,

Unseen, yet forever at hand;
Unchangeably faithful to save,-
Almighty to rule and command.

After returning to camp, I found that I had sustained more injury by my fall from the horse than I had realized at the time. But a broken limb would have been borne cheerfully, if I could only have had my pet horse again. That evening we held our weekly prayer-meeting, notwithstanding we were on a march. Chaplain and Mrs. B., Nellie, and Dr. E. were present, and joined heartily in singing the following hymn:

And are we yet alive,

And see each other's face?
Glory and praise to Jesus give,
For His redeeming grace.
Preserved by power divine
To full salvation here,
Again in Jesus' praise we join,
And in his sight appear.

What troubles have we seen!

What conflicts have we past!
Fightings without, and fears within,
Since we assembled last!

But out of all the Lord

Hath brought us by His love;

And still he doth his help afford,

And hides our life above.

CHAPTER XXIII.

MC CLELLAN RELIEVED-HIS ADDRESS-BURNSIDE IN COMMAND
-ON THE MARCH-FALMOUTH MY RIDE-OLD BATTLEFIELDS
-SAD SIGHTS-" YANKEE SKULLS "-"BONE ORNAMENTS ""
SHELLING FREDERICKSBURG-PONTOON BRIDGES—OCCUPATION
OF THE CITY-AIDE-DE-CAMP-DREADFUL SLAUGHTER-A GAL-
LANT
SIGHTS-DARK NIGHT-DEATH OF
GENERAL BAYARD-SOMEONE'S PET-RECROSSING THE RAP-
PAHANNOCK.

MAJOR-STRANGE

A

FTER reaching Warrenton the army encamped in that vicinity for a few daysduring which "Father Abraham" took the favorable opportunity of relieving the idol of the Army of the Potomac from his command, and ordered him to report at Trenton, New Jersey, just as he was entering upon another campaign, with his army in splendid condition.

After a brief address and an affecting farewell to officers and men, he hastened to comply with the order. His farewell address was as follows:

"November 7th, 1862. Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac: An order of the President devolves upon Major-General Burnside the command of this army. In parting from you I cannot express the love and gratitude I bear you. As an army you have grown up under my