starved to death and worn
out with want of sleep and fatigue, that I by some chance got a loaf of
bread and some molasses. I cut it into twelve slices and sweetened them,
intending to give one to every man of our gun. But I could only find
eleven, and, remembering Gilder, went about a long mile to find him; and
when I gave it to him he was so touched that the tears came into his fine
dark eyes. Trivial as the incident was, it moved me. Another was
Theodore Fassitt, a next-door neighbour of mine, whose mother had
specially commended him to me, and who told me that once or twice he had
stolen ears of maize from the horses to keep himself alive. Also Edward
Penington, and James Biddle, a gentleman of sixty; but I really cannot
give the roll-call. However, they all showed themselves to be gallant
gentlemen and true ere they returned home. The first night we slept in a
railroad station, packed like sardines, and I lay directly across a rail.
Then we were in camp near Harrisburg for a week--_dans la pluie et la
misere_.

We knew that the rebels were within six miles of us, at Shooter's Hill--in
fact, two of our guns went there. Penington was with them, and had a
small skirmish, wherein two of the foemen were slain, the corporal being,
however, called off before he could secure their scalps. That afternoon,
as I was on guard, I saw far down below a few men who appeared to be
scouting very cautiously, and hiding as they did so. They seemed mere
specks, but I was sure they were rebels. I called on Lieutenant Perkins,
who had a glass, but neither he nor others present thought they were of
the enemy. Long after, this incident had a droll sequel.

Hearing that the rebels were threatening Carlisle, we were sent thither
on a forced march of sixteen miles. They had been before us, and
partially burned the barracks. We rested in the town. There was a large
open space, for all the world like a stage. Ladies and others brought us
refreshments; the scene became theatrical indeed. The soldiers, wearied
with a long march, were resting or gossipping, when all at once--_whizz-
bang_--a shell came flying over our heads and burst. There were
cries--the ladies fled like frightened wild-fowl! The operatic effect
was complete!

About ten thousand rebel regulars, hearing that we had occupied Carlisle,
had returned, and if they had known that there were only two or three
thousand raw recruits, they might have captured us all. F