nk in the
advance--while the Thirty-seventh advanced on the right, as skirmishers,
the Philadelphia battery having the centre. At first, a portion of the
rebels, posted in one of the immense barns for which Pennsylvania is so
celebrated, was enabled to annoy the brigade considerably, wounding a
lieutenant and several others of the Thirty-seventh; but they were finally
compelled to evacuate, and in a very short time their artillery was
silenced, and they were in full retreat along the whole length of the
line. This success must be ascribed in a great measure to the gallant
conduct of the Philadelphia battery, which, as far as we were able to see,
was unquestionably the most efficient of the organizations, that the
invasion of her soil had elicited from Pennsylvania patriotism; and in the
eyes of our boys, the Philadelphians therefore stood very high.

In this affair the rebels lost some fifteen killed, and twenty or thirty
wounded (this being the account given by themselves to the farmers in the
vicinity). The Union loss was very slight, though, as usual, there were
all sorts of semi-miraculous escapes. After a short pursuit, the approach
of darkness admonished us of the necessity of caution; a halt was
therefore ordered, and in a short time orders came to go back to camp.
Full of life and spirits, although considerably exhausted by the fatigues
of the day, the brigade took up their line of march for Bridgeport. A
wagon filled with provisions, belonging to the Twenty-second, had been
sent out from the latter place to meet the column as soon as it was known
that there had been a "scrimmage," and hearing of the return of the
troops, those in charge had halted when some six miles out, and were
busily engaged in preparing supper. Orders, however, were sent forward to
repack and hurry everything back, so that the men would have supper ready
on their arrival in camp.

Supper! how the word put fresh vigor into weary limbs, and kept up the
flagging spirits. No one can know, till he has tried, what a difference it
makes in the marching powers whether, after a prolonged fast, you are
proceeding _toward_ your supper or _away_ from it.

While we were marching merrily along, suddenly the order came to _halt_!
_Rest._ And then it was discovered that, for some unknown reason, the
powers that be had decreed that the brigade should spend the night where
they were; and there, drenched with perspiration, without rubber blankets,
haversac