144 THE BATTLE SONG. campment by thousands of manly voices, and every loyal heart seemed inspired by the glorious sentiments which it contained. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grape of wrath is stored; His truth is marching on. Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel: He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, The roads were so indescribably bad at this time that the army could make but little progress. I remember it required thirty-six hours for one train to accomplish the distance of five miles. However, after several days wading through mud and water, the troops reached the White House, ON THE CHICKAHOMINY. 145 where a portion of the army remained for a time, while the advance guards pushed on to the Chickahominy River, and established headquarters at Bottom's Bridge-its further progress being im peded by the destruction of the bridge by the rebels. "The position of the troops were as follows: Stoneman's advance-guard one mile from New Bridge; Franklin's corps three miles from New Bridge, with Porter's corps in advancing distance in its rear; Sumner's corps on the railroad, about three miles from the Chickahominy, connecting the right with the left; Keyes' on New Kent road, near Bottom's Bridge, with Heintzelman's corps at supporting distance in its rear." The ford was in possession of the federal troops, and a reconstruction of the bridge was immediately commenced. On the 24th of May the two following despatches were received by Gen. McClellan from the President: "I wish you to move cautiously and safely. You will have command of McDowell precisely as you indicated in your despatch to us.' "In consequence of Gen. Banks' critical position, I have been compelled to suspend Gen. McDowell's movement to join you. The enemy are making a desperate push upon Harper's Ferry, and we are trying to throw Gen. Fremont's force, and part of Gen. McDowell's, in their rear!" On the 25th, the President also sent the follow 146 THE PRESIDENT'S DESPATCHES. ing to McClellan: "The enemy is moving north in sufficient force to drive Gen. Banks before him; precisely in what force we cannot tell. He is also threatening Leesburg and Geary on the Manassas Gap Railroad, from north and south; I think the movement is a general and concerted one-such as would not be if he was acting upon the purpose of a very desperate defense of Richmond. I think the time is near when you must either attack Richmond or give up the job, and come to the defense of Washington. Let me hear from you instantly." To which McClellan replied: Telegram received. Independently of it, the time is very near when I shall attack Richmond. The object of the movement is probably to prevent reinforcements being sent to me. All the information obtained agree in the statement that the mass of the rebel troops are still in the vicinity of Richmond. I have no knowledge of Banks' position and force, nor what there is at Manassas; therefore cannot form a definite opinion as to the forces against him. I have two corps across Chickahominy, within six miles of Richmond; the others on this side at other crossings, within same distance, and ready to cross when bridges are completed." CHAPTER XI. ANOTHER DISGUISE-I BECOME AN IRISH PEDDLER-FEVER AND AGUE A NIGHT OF SUFFERING IN THE SWAMP-RETROSPECTION-LOST IN THE SWAMP-CANNON MY GUIDES-A SICK REBEL-I FIND SOMETHING ΤΟ EAT-MY NEW PATIENTSYMPATHY FOR SUFFERING-TALK WITH A DYING REBELA WILLING DETENTION-EXTEMPORIZING A LIGHT-THE LAST HOUR-SOLDIERS OF CHRIST-THE CHAMBER OF DEATH. W HILE all these preparations were going for. ward, I was meditating another visit to the rebel camp. It was not safe for me to attempt to palm myself off again on the rebels as a colored boy. In the first place, I should be in danger of being recognized as the cowardly picket who de serted his post-a crime worthy of death; and in the next place, I should be in imminent danger of blistering my hands again—a thing which I felt particularly anxious to avoid, especially in performing labor that would enable the enemy more successfully to repel the attacks of the Federals. Now a new disguise was necessary, and I decided to abandon the African relation, and assume that of the Hibernian. Having had this in view before leaving Williamsburg, I procured the dress and outfit of an Irish female peddler, following the army, selling cakes, pies, etc., together with a 148 ANOTHER DISGUISE. considerable amount of brogue, and a set of Irish phrases, which did much toward characterizing me as one of the "rale ould stock of bog-trotters. The bridges were not finished across the Chickahominy when I was ready to cross the river, so I packed up my new disguise in my cake and pie basket, and my horse, "Frank," and I took a bath in the cool water of the Chickahominy. After swimming my noble steed across the river, I dismounted, and led him to the edge of the water— gave him a farewell pat, and let him swim back again to the other side, where a soldier awaited his return. It was now evening; I did not know the precise distance to the enemy's picket line, but thought it best to avoid the roads, and consequently I must spend the night in the swamp, as the only safe retreat. It required some little time. to don my new disguise, and feel at home in the clothes. I thought the best place for my debut was the "Chickahominy swamp. I did not purpose, this time, to pass the enemy's lines in the night, but to present myself at the picket line, at a seasonable hour, and ask admission as one of the fugitives of that section flying from the approach of the Yankees, which was a usual thing. In crossing the river I had my basket strapped on my back, and did not know that all it contained was completely drenched, until I required to use its contents. It was, therefore, with feelings of dread and disappointment that I discovered this |