nd causes of Napoleon's
Waterloo, but they are as far from the real cause to-day as they were
the night of the rout. It will ever remain the same sad mystery of
Early at Cedar Creek. Men are, in some respects, like the animal, and
especially in large bodies. A man, when left alone to reason and think
for himself, and be forced to depend upon his own resources, will
often act differently than when one of a great number. The "loss of
a head" is contageous. One will commit a foolish act, and others will
follow, but cannot tell why. Otherwise quiet and unobtrusive men, when
influenced by the frenzy of an excited mob, will commit violence
which in their better moments their hearts would revolt and their
consciences rebel against. A soldier in battle will leave his ranks
and fly to the rear with no other reason than that he saw others doing
the same, and followed.

The stampede of Early was uncalled for, unnecessary, and disgraceful,
and I willingly assume my share of the blame and shame. My only title
to fame rests upon my leading the Third South Carolina Regiment in the
grandest stampede of the Southern Army, the greatest since Waterloo,
and I hope to be forgiven for saying with pardonable pride that I
led them remarkably well to the rear for a boy of eighteen. A General
could not have done better.

We passed the little towns and villages of the Valley, the ladies
coming to their doors and looking on the retreat in silence. Were
we ashamed? Don't ask the pointed question, gentle reader, for the
soldiers felt as if they could turn and brain every Federal soldier in
the army with the butt of his rifle. But not a reproach, not a murmur
from those self-sacrificing, patriotic women of the Valley. They were
silent, but sad--their experience during the time the enemy occupied
the Valley before told them they had nothing to expect but insult and
injury, for their bold, proud Virginia blood would not suffer them to
bend the knee in silent submission. Their sons and husbands had all
given themselves to the service of their country, while rapine and the
torch had already done its work too thoroughly to fear it much now
or dread its consequences. But the presence alone of a foreign foe on
their threshold was the bitterness of gall.

On reaching New Market, men were gathered together in regiments and
assigned to camping grounds, as well as the disorganized state of the
army would allow. All night long the stragglers kept coming in, a