Memoirs of Chaplain Life (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 Excerpt: ...a wood. I remarked to one of our officers: "Why are those troops out there? I supposed we were in the lead " "Oh," said he, "there are no troops there--can not be." "Well," said I, "there are, and if you will mount my horse you can see them." I dismounted, and the lieutenant, who was on foot, stepped into the stirrup and at a glance saw the troops, who, by this time, were a little closer; and he saw, too, that they were Confederates who were trying to outflank us and gain the "vantage ground" first. We dispatched word immediately by an orderly to the commander, who ordered a "halt front face march " Then "halt ground arms " The commander took advantage of the bed of the railway. It passed through an elevation, making a cut that was perhaps two or three feet deep. In this cut--an excellent breastwork--the Union troops rested on their arms and waited for the Confederates to come up. Had I not seen the Confederates, mounted as I was on a horse fully sixteen hands high, we might have been cut to pieces. Each army, or portion of an army, watched the other and manoeuvred for quite awhile. As we could do nothing, two doctors and myself proposed to retire and get some coffee, and to find a place for the wounded in case there should be a battle, as by this time it was getting late in the afternoon. We selected a place which we thought would be suitable, with ambulances and hospital men ready and awaiting results. The young man who attended me had been very much demoralized by the experience of the morning surprise, and he had lost our coffee and provisions. We made a fire, however, and procured a few ears of corn from the supply brought for the horses, cooking it in the fire, which ha...