galloping back
to hurry up stragglers; and the brigade rapidly formed into line, amid
hurried consultations of field officers, muttered curses from captains
who, like Rachel, mourned for their companies "because they were not," and
the other unmistakable signs which indicate nervous anxiety at
headquarters. After an hour or so spent on tenter-hooks, somebody told
somebody something which resulted in our marching ahead, expecting to have
to fight at any moment. But no enemy exhibited himself, and passing
through the principal street of Carlisle, we raised the American flag amid
great enthusiasm.

Blessed be Carlisle--almost the only place since leaving Philadelphia
where cheering had been heard. We could not appreciate too highly the
grateful reception we met. The hurrahs of the men, the smiles and waving
handkerchiefs of the ladies, made us feel that patriotism still existed in
the state; and when the tired and hungry men were shown to a substantial
meal in the market-house, and waited on by the ladies of the village (who
utterly eclipse any seen on the route for good looks as well as
hospitality), it was unanimously resolved that "Mahomet's paradise was a
fool to Carlisle."

Having made some slight amends for their two days' fast, the Twenty-second
marched through the city (without finishing their supper), having been
ordered to support our friends, the Philadelphia battery, in a plan that
had been formed at headquarters for cutting off a rebel detachment
supposed to be around somewhere; a supposition that was strictly correct,
for a very short time showed that they were _all around_ us. On the way to
the position--refreshed and almost as good as new--uproarious cheers were
given for the ladies of Carlisle, the Thirty-seventh, Colonel Roome, for
everything, in fact, _except_ our Brigadier, whose approach, from that
time forth, was the signal for the deadest kind of silence. A slight
which, on this occasion, elicited from that neglected individual an order
forbidding "this ridiculous (?) habit of cheering." Circumstances, you
know, alter cases.

On reaching the crest of a hill, about two and a half miles south of the
village, the artillery was placed "in battery," while the Twenty-second,
now pretty well filled up by the arrival of those who had given out from
the privation and heat of the march, formed line of battle as supports,
and it may be remarked, as an instance of the pluck and the fatigue of the
men, that,