He received us under a great tent, which had evidently been designed for hospital service. It was double, of a bluish stuff, pleasant to the eye, and having a wall tent in front as a vestibule. There was the aid on duty, near whom was collected a numerous staff, composed of foreign officers, nearly all Germans.

The demonstrative courtesy of General Blenker contrasted singularly with the reserved manners of the American officers of his rank. I saw him then for the first time, and it would have seemed that I was one of his most intimate friends. It was continually, "My dear colonel, my good comrade, what a pleasure to see you here," etc. His band, which was excellent, regaled us with some choice selections from the Italian répertoire. Some real champagne was served to us, upon a table loaded with fruit and delicious cake; we witnessed afterwards the parade of a regiment of fine appearance, and apparently well instructed; after which we took our leave, with many compliments and hand-shakings.

The career of Blenker did not correspond with the brilliancy of its commencement. He was not with the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula, was relieved from his command for acting according to his own will, in contempt of military discipline prejudicial to the government, in portions of Virginia, where it was desired to conciliate the people. He died in the humble position from which the war had raised him, regretting a fortune lost by allowing himself to be dazzled by its brilliancy, hurried, perhaps, to the tomb by the worst of griefs, according to the poet: "Il ricordarsi del tempo felice, nella miseria."

In fine that portion of the Army of the Potomac had at that time the advantage over us of having been under fire. A few skirmishes, of little importance, but

quite frequent, had commenced to accustom the men to service, many of whom besides had been present at the battle of Bull Run.

On returning, I entered Washington in company with the military balloon of Lowe, which was at that time on trial. The trial continued for nearly two years, when finally the service was abandoned. Because the very wooded character of Virginia rendered its usefulness problematical, it does not follow that in an open country good results cannot be obtained from aëronauts surveying the ground in advance of an army, and judging somewhat of the position of the enemy.

On my return to camp I found an order to have ready three days' cooked rations, to make a requisition for a sufficient supply of ammunition wagons, and to hold the regiment ready to move at a moment's notice. The cause was a reconnoissance in force by the enemy, which had crossed the upper Potomac, five or six leagues from us. The next day passed in expectation. In the evening, General Peck called his colonels together in his tent. It was positively known that eight thousand Confederates were at Great Falls, upon the north bank of the river. With the maps before us, the probability of their intentions was discussed, what the chances were of an attack at daybreak, the best means of defence. But it seemed to me that no definite instructions had been received at headquarters, and no concerted plan had been drawn up. Hold yourselves in readiness, was about all the orders amounted to. This was strictly conformed to. The pickets were reënforced, strict instructions were given along the whole line. Each man received a hundred cartridges, and slept in his clothes, not knowing whether he would be awakened by the sound of the trumpet or of the firing. I remember that the night was fine and calm. The

stars shone in the heavens, in an atmosphere clear but not cold. The Great Bear descended slowly to the horizon. On looking carefully at it, I was surprised to count an eighth star, more brilliant than the others. An examination with a field glass soon showed that the supplementary star was a small fire balloon, sent up, doubtless, by the enemy as a signal. Innumerable fireflies sparkled in the grass, as if the earth wished to reflect the scintillations of the stars. Nothing disturbed the silence, except a few distant gunshots, fired by some vedettes too easily alarmed. At daybreak it was seen that the enemy's column had retired as it had come, and everything returned to the usual order.

CHAPTER VI.

WINTER QUARTERS.

Settled down at Tenallytown-Moonlight - Pay-day- A case of delirium tremens · Court-martial — General Keyes - Unfortunate affair of Ball's Bluff - Arrangements for winter - Officers' messFlag presentation President Lincoln at the table of the Fifty-fifth

- Effects of the war around Washington.

ON October 9, McCall's division, about twelve thousand strong, crossed the Potomac to establish itself a few miles above Chain Bridge, in the direction of Leesburg. As a consequence of this movement, Peck's brigade was thrown out to occupy Tenallytown, an important position, which covers Georgetown, on the border of the District of Columbia.

The village is built on a hill where five roads converge, three of which are highways. To the right, on the highest point, Fort Pennsylvania commands the plain. It was garrisoned by the Thirteenth Pennsylvania. The Ninety-third Pennsylvania and the Sixty-second New York had their camp further out, along the Rockville road. The Fifty-fifth was sent one mile to the left, near a strong demi-lune, armed with four thirty-two-pounders, and enclosed by a high palisade pierced for musketry. This work, built with care in a well chosen position, bore the name of Fort Gaines. Each one of my companies was sent successively to occupy this fort and become familiar with the use of artillery.

Behind the camp were great forests, along which ran the road from Tenallytown to Chain Bridge. In

front, the view extended a great distance. The eye could follow, over the woods which at that time beautified the valley, the course of the Potomac, whose waters were visible at various points. Beyond could be distinguished the movements of our most advanced forces, and in the distance the indistinct lines of the enemy were lost in the horizon. In front of us, between the river and the Rockville road, arose, on the other side of the valley, a wooded hill, whose trees were fast disappearing. Three redoubts were built there, which, later on, were connected and formed one of the most important forts in the defence of the capital.

It appeared, at first, as if we were not to remain long in that position. We had scarcely formed our camp when one evening an order came to hold ourselves ready to move at a moment's notice. The drums, which were at that moment beating the retreat, changed their tone. The men responded by hurrahs, and in a few minutes the companies were drawn up in position on the color line, when a counter-order was received. We were not to march till daylight. Every one returned to his tent under a rolling fire of pleasantries. At half-past nine came a new order, to go without delay to Chain Bridge. Again the drums began to beat. Ten minutes later, a new counterorder by telegraph. Renewal of jokes in the ranks. At ten o'clock, a third order, this time not countermanded, with instructions to leave only a dozen men with a sergeant to guard the camp, to take with us the two surgeons, leaving the care of the hospital to the hospital steward, and to take the four ambulances.

At half-past ten we were on the road. It was our first night-march, and the orders appeared to indicate that it was not to be a simple military promenade. The