Our Battery

tle river was crossed; and after marching some two miles further we came to a halt. In the meantime the moon had sunk beyond the western hills, and it was now quite dark. Fires were built, around which we gathered and patiently waited for daylight. Our brigade was strewn along the road for miles, and their watch-fires streamed brightly athwart the gloom, but all was quiet, save the mournful hoot of an owl perched in the neighboring forest, and the measured tread of the sentinels as they paced their weary beat.

Daylight came at last, and with it came rain. The command was given to move on, and forward we went, the rain pouring down in torrents, and the roads in a horrible condition. At almost every step, poor, weary, worn out soldiers sank by the road-side, being completely exhausted and unable to proceed further.

About four o'clock in the afternoon, the advance of our battery arrived at Mount Vernon. Here they halted for the remainder to come up, but finally took up quarters in a large field jus