ut everywhere our army was successful. Victory
perched upon our banners. Hood had stubbornly resisted, but
had been gallantly driven back with severe loss. The left
had done its duty. General Steadman congratulated us, saying
his only fear had been that we might fight too hard. We had
done all he desired, and more. Colored soldiers had again
fought side by side with white troops; they had mingled
together in the charge; they had supported each other; they
had assisted each other from the field when wounded, and
they lay side by side in death. The survivors rejoiced
together over a hard fought field, won by a common valor.
All who witnessed their conduct, gave them equal praise. The
day that we had longed to see had come and gone, and the sun
went down upon a record of coolness, bravery, manliness,
never to be unmade. A new chapter in the history of liberty
had been written. It had been shown that, marching under a
flag of freedom, animated by a love of liberty, even the
slave becomes a man and a hero.

"At one time during the day, while the battle was in
progress, I sat in an exposed place on a piece of ground
sloping down toward the enemy, and being the only horseman
on that part of the field, soon became a target for the
balls that whistled and sang their threatening songs as they
hurried by. At length a shot aimed at me struck my horse in
the face, just above the nostril, and passing up under the
skin emerged near the eye, doing the horse only temporary
harm, and letting me off scot-free, much to my satisfaction,
as may be supposed. Captain Baker, lying on the ground near
by, heard the thud of the ball as it struck the horse, and
seeing me suddenly dismount, cried out, 'the Colonel is
shot,' and sprang to my side, glad enough to find that the
poor horse's face had been a shield to save my life. I was
sorry that the animal could not appreciate the gratitude I
felt to it for my deliverance.

"During that night Hood withdrew his army some two miles,
and took up a new line along the crest of some low hills,
which he strongly fortified with some improvised breast
works and abatis. Soon after our early breakfast, we moved
forward over the intervening space. My position was still
on the extreme left of our line, and I was especi