s and dirty
dog-ears shewing that it had troubled the brains and thumbs of youthful
Rebels. Instilled into infant minds, and preached from their pulpits, we
need not wonder that they, with the heartless metaphysics of northern
sympathy, should consider slavery "an incalculable blessing," and should
now be in arms to vindicate their treason, its legitimate offspring.

Cannonading had been frequent during the day; its heavy booming at times
varied by the light rattle of the rifle. From four until eleven P. M. it
was a continuous roar, save about an hour's intermission between five
and six. At first sounding sullenly away to the right, then gradually
nearing, until at nightfall musketry and artillery appeared to volley
spitefully almost upon our Division limits. It was apparent that our
line had been broken, and apprehending the worst we anxiously stood at
arms and awaited the onward. Nearer and nearer the howling devils came;
louder and louder grew the sounds of conflict. The fiercest of fights
was raging evidently in the very centre of the ground chosen as our
stronghold. If ever the Army of the Potomac was to be demoralized by the
shock of battle, that was the time. But the feeling was not one of fear
with our citizen soldiery--the noblest type of manhood--rather of
eagerness for the troops in reserve to be called into the contest. Just
before six we heard an honest shout, as the boys would call the cheers
of their comrades. It grew fainter; the firing became more
distant--slackened and ceased at six, to be resumed again at seven, upon
another and more remote line of attack.

The terrible distinctness of this alternate howling and cheering--as
perceptible to the ear during the thunders of the fight, as the silver
lining that not unfrequently fringes the heavily-charged cloud is to the
eye,--is a striking illustration of the power of the human voice. We
were to have another, however, and that of but a single voice, which
from the agony of soul thrown into it, and its almost supernatural
surroundings, must eternally echo in memory.

About three hundred yards distant from the left of our Brigade line, in
an open field, on elevated ground, stood a large and comfortable
looking farm-house. In the morning it had been occupied; but as its
inmates saw our skirmishers prostrating themselves on the one side in
double lines that ran parallel to our breastworks, and the Rebel advance
at the same time attain the edge of the wood u