communication one with another,
as well as their perfect organization. This was all they did at that
time. We excused Dent, and he returned home.

"That evening at tea my wife (Aunt Sarah) said to Jackson and the General
that she wished Peter to come home.

"'But,' said Jackson, 'mother, you must remember he has been promoted,
and is now a Brigadier-General commanding a brigade, and he cannot very
well get away. He might lose his command by leaving.'

"'Well,' said his mother, 'I want to see him. I am dreaming about him
whenever asleep, and I feel there is something sure to happen to him. I
have seen all the rest of you who are alive, and I want to see him.'

"Here Jennie broke down and cried, remembering the death of her poor
husband when mention was made of all being present who were then alive.
Jackson spoke to Jennie and his mother and quieted them. We all repaired
to the sitting-room and talked over Gen. Anderson's returning to his
command. This was Saturday evening. So he instructed Capt. Jackson and
Lieut. Whitcomb to be ready on Monday morning, as they would then
leave for Chatteraugus. They were well pleased with the General's
determination. His poor wife was depressed, and said she felt as though
he had made so many narrow escapes that perhaps he might not escape
again. But grief and sorrow had been such constant visitors at our house
that we were all prepared for almost anything, and always looking for
the worst. We enjoyed ourselves, however, as best we could until Monday.
Jackson took in the situation, and kept us interested by giving
accounts of many things seen and heard by him in England. This was very
interesting to us, but more especially to the ladies and little girls.

"On Monday they left for their command. The parting with the family was
one of those affecting scenes natural under the circumstances. When poor
old Ham bade good-by to all, after kissing Aunt Martha, his wife, he
turned to my wife and Mary Anderson, and said: 'You need not to cry no
mo.' I be 'sponsible for de General and Capt. Jackson.'

"This was too much for Mary Anderson. Although weeping, she could not
restrain a smile, nor could the others; but Ham was in good faith, poor
old man.

"After they had gone I felt keenly, and drove out to the farm, and there
spent the rest of the day with Joseph Dent. He, however, knew nothing
more than he had disclosed to us, about which I have already spoken. On
returning in the evening I fo