sight of the pictures of their wives and children. They'll
feel more than ever that such men cannot be conquered, and that enough
cannot be done for them.' Three cheers for the women at home, and a
grasp of multitudes of hard, honest hands, and I turned away to visit
other regiments. The officer who was with me, grasped my hand; 'Madam,'
said he, 'promise me you'll visit my regiment to-morrow--'twould be
worth a victory to them. You don't know what good a lady's visit to the
army does. These men whom you have seen to-day, will talk of your visit
for six months to come. Around the camp fires, in the rifle-pits, in the
dark nights or on the march, they will repeat your words, describe your
looks, your voice, your size, your dress, and all agree in one respect,
that you look like an angel, and exactly like each man's wife or mother.
Such reverence have our soldiers for upright, tender-hearted women. In
the valley beneath, just having exchanged the front line of rifle-pits,
with the regiment now occupying it, encamped my son's regiment. Its
ranks had been fearfully thinned by the terrible assaults of the 19th
and 21st of May, as they had formed the right wing of the line of battle
on that fearful day. I knew most of them personally, and as they
gathered round me and inquired after home and friends, I could but look
in sadness for many familiar faces, to be seen no more on earth. I said,
'Boys, I was present when your colors were presented to you by the Board
of Trade. I heard your colonel pledge himself that you would bring those
colors home or cover them with your blood, as well as glory. I want to
see them, if you have them still, after your many battles.' With great
alacrity, the man in charge of them ran into an adjoining tent, and
brought them forth, carefully wrapped in an oil-silk covering. He drew
it off and flung the folds to the breeze. 'What does this mean?' I said.
'How soiled and tattered, and rent and faded they look--I should not
know them.' The man who held them said, 'Why, ma'am, 'twas the smoke and
balls did that.' 'Ah! so it must have been,' I said. 'Well, you have
covered them with glory, but how about the blood!' A silence of a minute
followed, and then a low voice said, 'Four were shot down holding
them--two are dead, and two in the hospital.' 'Verily, you have redeemed
your pledge,' I said solemnly. 'Now, boys, sing Rally round the Flag,
Boys!'--and they did sing it. As it echoed through the valley, as w