an
even more determined conflict on the day next to dawn, it can readily be
imagined that minds naturally prone to superstition were thrilled with
emotions and conjectures aroused by the sight. At any rate, these
"northern lights," reinforced by the memory of the fearful carnage so
recently suffered, seem to have been interpreted as a summons home--as
the Northern hosts, like the shifting lights, had vanished from view
when daylight appeared.

In January, 1863, with William McClintic, of our company, I returned to
the army, which was in winter-quarters near Guiney's Station in Caroline
County.

After arriving in a box-car at this station, about midnight, during a
pouring rain, we found one section of the battery camped three miles
from Port Royal. The other section, to which I belonged, was on picket
twelve miles beyond--at Jack's Hill, overlooking Port Tobacco Bay. The
section near Port Royal had comfortable winter-quarters on a hillside
and was well sheltered in pine woods; and, as most of my mess were in
this section, I was allowed to remain until the contents of my box
brought from home were consumed. One night soon after my arrival, while
making a visit to members of another mess, Abner Arnold, one of my
hosts, pointing to a large, dark stain on the tarpaulin which served as
the roof of their shanty, said, "Have you any idea what discolored that
place?" As I had not, he said, "That's your blood; that is the
caisson-cover on which you were hauled around at Sharpsburg--and neither
rain nor snow can wash it out."

The infantry of the Stonewall Brigade was in camp seven miles from us,
toward the railroad. Having ridden there one morning for our mail, I met
two men in one of their winter-quarters streets. One of them, wearing a
citizen's overcoat, attracted my attention. Then, noticing the scars on
his face, I recognized my former messmate, Wash. Stuart, on his return
to the battery for the first time since his fearful wound at Winchester
the preceding May. His companion was Capt. Willie Randolph, of the
Second Virginia Regiment, both of whom will be mentioned later.

The chief sport of the troops in their winter-quarters was snowballing,
which was conducted on regular military principles. Two brigades would
sometimes form in line of battle, commanded by their officers, and pelt
each other without mercy. In one such engagement a whole brigade was
driven pell-mell through its camp, and their cooking utensils captured