loyed by
the rebels in conveying dead soldiers", having been impressed by
them when they passed by his manor. Nat showed what he called his
"Pass", written on a piece of brown paper and signed by the rebel
general Heath, which exempted him from further impressment into
the rebel service on account of his "extreme poverty, and the
unfitness of his horse and wagon to be of any further service" to
their army! When it is considered what the exigencies of the
rebel service are in the best of times, some idea may be formed
of the prospective perils of the journey about to be undertaken
by our traveller! But "Nat Wolf"--his wagon "tied together with
ropes"--brought his rare freight through in safety, not to speak
of dispatch. Collecting another "large mail", Mr. T. at once set
out for home again, and delivered his precious charge at an early
day, notwithstanding an alarming attack of sickness which
overtook him at Frederick, Md.

"Such zeal in the voluntary service of the regiments, and such
extraordinary exertions to relieve at the earliest possible
moment the anxieties of thousands of hearts for whom he had most
precious messages, is deserving of more than this passing
recognition."

Our march being now directed homeward it may be imagined that our step
was light, and our hearts also. The woods again resounded to joyous
singing which broke from all parts of the line.

During the wearisome and forlorn marches of the last fortnight silence
had for the most part fitlier expressed our emotions; or, if we sang,
the melodies were pensive and often sad. But now all was changed. We
saw that our painful trials were rapidly drawing to a close, and it is
only the truth to say that we rejoiced with exceeding joy.

The distance to Frederick where we expected to get railroad
transportation we understood to be upwards of twenty miles, a two days'
march at the rate at which we had hitherto moved. But the road was
good, though being macadamised it was hard for the feet, and we made
but few rests. During the forenoon we caught sight of an army wagon
train ahead of us in the distance, the white canvas covers dotting the
road for miles like flecks of wool. The solidity of these wagons, which
occasionally passed us singly, and the excellent condition of the teams
excited our admiration, they contrasted so strikingly with ou