While obtaining hay for my horse at a barn, I heard the soldiers singing. They were wounded, but happy; for they had done their duty. They had been supplied with rations,--hard tack and coffee,--and were lying on their beds of straw. I listened to their song. It was about the dear old flag. "Our flag is there! Our flag is there! We'll hail it with three loud huzzahs! Our flag is there! Our flag is there! Behold the glorious stripes and stars! Stout hearts have fought for that bright flag, Strong hands sustained it mast-head high, And oh! to see how proud it waves Brings tears of joy to every eye. "That flag has stood the battle's roar, With foeman stout and foeman brave; Strong hands have sought that flag to lower, And found a traitor's speedy grave. That flag is known on every shore, The standard of a gallant band, Alike unstained in peace or war, It floats o'er Freedom's happy land." Then there came thoughts of home, of loved ones, of past scenes, and pleasant memories, and the songs become plaintive. They sung the old song:-- "Do they miss me at home--do they miss me At morning, at noon, or at night? And lingers a gloomy shade round them, That only my presence can light? Are joys less invitingly welcome, And pleasures less bright than before, Because one is missed from the circle,-- Because I am with them no more?" There was sadness, but not discouragement. It was the welling up of affection, the return of sweet recollections, which neither hardship, suffering, privation, or long absence could efface. They loved home, but they loved the old flag better. Missed at home? Ah! how sadly! CHAPTER XIII. AFTER THE BATTLE. The army commanded by General Lee in the battle, according to Pollard, the Southern historian, numbered seventy thousand. General McClellan states in his report that it was ninety-seven thousand. His estimate was made up from information obtained from deserters, spies, and prisoners:-- Jackson's corps, 24,778 Longstreet's corps, 23,342 D. H. Hill, 15,525 Stuart, 6,400 Ransom and Jenkins, 3,000 Detached regiments, 18,400 Artillery, 400 guns, 6,000 ------ 97,445 General McClellan's forces were:-- 1st corps, Hooker's, 14,856 2d " Sumner's, 18,813 5th " Porter's, 12,930 6th " Franklin's, 12,300 9th " Burnside's, 13,819 12th " Mansfield's, 10,126 Cavalry, 4,320 ------ 87,164 Each division had its own artillery, which is enumerated in the above statement.