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third, whose case presents a striking instance of that fortitude which brought many sick and wounded through that long retreat, while many strong men were compelled to succumb to the fatigue and become prisoners. He was wounded through the elbow at the battle of Golden's Farm. The wound was severe, and such as would ordinarily require amputation.

He was immediately conveyed to Savage's Station, where the surgeons determined to remove the arm. Smith resisted, but was forced upon the operating table. It became necessary for the surgeons to leave the subject for a moment, when he sprang from the table and hurried away from the the Hospital. He followed the moving army from day to day, much of the time unable to obtain food, his arm frightfully swollen, and every moment becoming more painful. After four days he arrived at Harrison's Landing, and found his way on board of one of the transports, his wound still undressed. He was carried to Baltimore, and placed in the General Hospital there. Here, too, the surgeon in charge, determined upon amputation, and declared he could not live ten days in that condition. "Then," said Smith, "I will die with two arms." For several days the surgeon refused to dress the wound at all, and at length was about to force the operation, when the Chief Surgeon, after a careful examination, remarked, that as the young man. appeared to have an excellent constitution he might bear up under the excruciating pain, and perhaps

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FIGHT AT SAVAGE'S STATION.

recover without losing the limb. The wound was now dressed for the first time, and although months of pain and sickness followed, Smith finally recovered his health, with the consolation that his obstinate endurance had saved his right arm.

After remaining two hours in the woods round Savage's Station, Davidson's Brigade marched two miles further to the rear, when a halt was ordered. Several large boxes of Quartermaster's stores were found here, having been left for want of transportation. The men helped themselves freely to clothing, doffing their old garments for entire new suits. After resting for a few moments, the Brigade was ordered back again to the Station, to support Gen. Brooks, who had become engaged with the enemy. Proceeding back at a double quick, Brooks was found driving the enemy in fine style with his Vermont Brigade, after having punished them severely. The battle lasted until an hour after sunset, when a brilliant cavalry charge totally routed and put to flight the rebels. Gen. Brooks was, however, wounded. The Vermont troops fought nobly, sustaining the reputation which they had previously won at Lee's Mills and in other engagements. While the conflict was raging fiercely, a member of the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania stepped out in front of the line of battle, and, unmindful of the bullets which were whistling around him, delivered a very solemn prayer. The effect was most impressive on the hearers.

Parties, including one of ten men from the Thirty

GEN. DAVIDSON SUN-STRUCK.

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third, detailed to bury the dead, were nearly all taken prisoners. The Brigade remained until ten o'clock in the evening, the men falling asleep in their tracks, when it again moved to the rear, on the road previously taken, towards White Oak Swamp. Gen Davidson, who had been sun-struck during the afternoon, was borne along for some distance on a litter by members of the band. On being temporarily left by the road-side, the General stepped into a house close by, and a straggler happening along took his place. The men returning, took up the litter, and carried the straggler nearly a mile before discovering their mistake. They were very much chagrined over the "sell," but thought it too good a joke to keep.

7A

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A DREARY NIGHT MARCH.

CHAPTER XV.

A Tedious Night March.-White Oak Swamp.-Sudden Attack by the Enemy.-Narrow Escape of General Smith.-A Cowardly Colonel.

COL. TAYLOR succeeded to the command of the Brigade. The distance to the bridge was represented as being inconsiderable, and the troops plodded wearily along, congratulating themselves that they should soon reach a resting place; but hour after hour of the long night passed, and no bridge appeared. Owing to the darkness and confusion, the commands became mingled together, Regiments losing their Brigades, and soldiers their Regiments.

It was now the fourth night the men had been without sleep, which, together with the fearful excitement through which they had passed, exhausted their strength, and one after another sank down by the road side, knowing that the enemy would soon be along.

An hour before day the Brigade reached the bridge which crossed White Oak Swamp, when a scene ensued which baffles description. The structure was very narrow, and each Regiment pushed ahead pell-mell, in order to get over first. A Maj. General

CROSSING WHITE OAK SWAMP.

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stood on the bridge and kept repeating: "For God's sake hurry up men." The enemy were pressing closely behind, and might make their appearance at any moment, rendering escape impossible. Already guards stood, with torch in hand, waiting the first signal of their approach to fire the structure, and thereby save those who had already crossed.

After anxiously waiting an hour, the Thirty-third succeeded in effecting a crossing, but many were found to be missing. A placard was posted up by the roadside directing such men as might afterwards come up, to the spot where the Regiment was located. General Smith temporarily established his head-quarters under a fruit tree, and sent out aids to hunt up his various Regiments. Those of Colonel Taylor's Brigade being got together, moved up, about six o'clock, on their way from the swamp, taking the road to Harrison's Landing. They proceeded, however, only a short distance, over the crest of a hill, and halting, formed in line of battle.

No signs of the enemy being visible, arms were stacked, and the men scattered in various directions-some to pitch tents, others to bring water or bathe themselves. Nearly all the stragglers had now got over, and about eleven o'clock the bridge was in flames. When the Thirty-third were receiving rations they were suddenly startled by the roar of fifty cannon and the appearance in their midst of shot and shell. Under cover of the dense wood on the opposite side of the swamp the enemy had planted their batteries, in close proximity to us, and