fixed up all the odds and ends about the tents, she began manufacturing corn-starch, in huge cauldrons-full, five or six times a day. The two store-keepers were kept busy from morning to night by a hungry-looking crowd, which we called the "staff brigade," who begged for themselves, and their comrades incapable of locomotion. Supplies were here dispensed in the shape of shirts, drawers, handkerchiefs, books, papers, combs, soap, pickles, sugar, tea, bread, and nearly everything eatable, wearable and usable to be found in a regular "Yankee-notion" country store.

But the two itinerants had the most exacting and delicate duties. It was theirs to visit the sick and dying, to bear them little comforts; to cheer the despondent; to soothe the agony of some, the last moments of others; to play, as occasion required, the parts of nurse, physician and clergyman. Evening brought no rest. The semi-secular employments of the day gave place to the religious labors of the night, and so pleasant and blessed were these, that we longed for the evening, when we could meet the eager congregations.

We began early, and ended late-so that more than once we paid the penalty of our protracted devotion, in arrest by the night guards, whose duty required them to stop all stragglers. But the young Delegates were well known and easily recognized, and no authority would cage them. Such meetings, too, as we enjoyed, would repay one for an occasional arrest, and for the dark and muddy walks by which they were reached.

After a short sermon, studied between our tent and the church, came a prayer and inquiry meeting. This was open to all. One after another would lead in prayer, testify to a newly-found faith, or make an exhortation to his comrades. Some were hoary-headed sinners; others mere boys. Some would flounder painfully as they tried to express their feelings, frequently bursting into tears; while others would charm with the simplicity and power of their native eloquence. From such men we had no difficulty in securing an effective corps of tract distributors. Every morning a number of bronzed faces would look in at our tent door, and then, supplied with loads of tracts, papers, hymn books, &c., the men betook themselves to the different houses and tents, and to the camp of the "Lost Children." One day, the quiet was disturbed by the thunder of distant canSoon after stragglers from the front came in; then a battery

non.

of field artillery which had desolated the path of the advancing enemy. Then came the order to break up the hospital as soon as possible, which was interpreted to us to mean twelve hours. That evening, all who could walk or hobble to our tents were there. We distributed our entire remaining stock. Farewell addresses, delivered by two of us, were answered by the hearty cheers of our audience, and the whole was concluded with a hymn.

In the middle of July began the retreat from Harrison's Landing. The points of embarkation were Newport News, Fortress Monroe and Yorktown. Gen. McClellan reached Acquia Creek on the 24th. Thus ended the unfortunate campaign of the Peninsula.

CHAPTER II.

THE EASTERN ARMIES.

FROM POPE'S BATTLES UNTIL HOOKER TAKES COMMAND.

July 1862-January 1863.

WHILE McClellan was before Richmond, Major General Pope was assigned to the command of the three corps of McDowell, Banks and Sigel. The first intention had been to advance upon Richmond, while covering Washington and protecting Maryland; but the result of the Seven Days' Battles frustrated this design. To secure co-operation between the two armies, Major-General Halleck was called to Washington, as commanderin-chief. General Pope's object now was to effect a diversion in favor of the army retiring from the Peninsula. After some cavalry movements to sever communication between Richmond and the Shenandoah, Gen. Banks, early in August, occupied Culpepper. Pushing forward from that place, he was met at Slaughter's or Cedar Mountain, on August 9th, by a vastly superior force of the enemy under Jackson, and after a desperate encounter compelled to retreat with severe loss. On the 18th, Pope withdrew to the north side of the Rappahannock. Jackson soon after moved into the Shenandoah, and then through Thoroughfare Gap into Pope's rear. Some blind manoeuvring followed in an attempt to cut

off his retreat, which brought on the second battle of Bull Run, August 29th. Gainesville and Chantilly were fought immediately afterwards. Pope's retreat to Centreville began on September 1st. As soon as the army had been drawn back within the Washington entrenchments, he resigned. The command again devolved on Gen. McClellan.

Rev. Chas. H. Corey,' after the evacuation of White House, had hastened to Warrenton, and, with several others, met there the wounded from Cedar Mountain, rendering them signal service.

During the final retreat he came upon four car-loads of wounded, who would have fallen into the enemy's hands, if he had not, with such assistance as the wounded could themselves render, rolled the four cars with their living freight of mangled men, over four miles, to a point where locomotives took them. In doing this he wore his shoes entirely off, and came afterwards into Fairfax C. H. barefoot.

A Barefoot Delegate.

The scene at Fairfax Station was sorrowful indeed. There were literally "acres" of wounded men, many of whom had tasted neither food nor drink for one and two days. The Commission had not yet

The Wounded at Fairfax Station.

learnt how to equip its Delegates. In Washington they could find no buckets, and were obliged to substitute butter-tubs. Having no lanterns, as they went over the doleful ground after nightfall, one hand must serve as candlestick, the other as ministrant. The Delegates filled their "tubs" with coffee, as fast as the "contraband” charged with its preparation could distill it, and, candle in hand, went from man to man, distributing the refreshing drink with soft crack

2 The outfit of a Delegate, for any point whence he was liable to be called to the "front," afterwards consisted of rubber and woolen blankets, haversack, straps, canteen, two woolen shirts, blanks, badge and memorandum-book. The Base and Field Stations were kept supplied with other articles of service, which were not so easily carried.