there is any deed in the power of a mortal which can sway the feelings or soften the heart it is that of one man laying down his life for another. The breast heaves and the eye is suffused with tears at the spectacle of Pythias putting his life in jeopardy only for his friend. There is a halo of glory hovering about the profession of arms. It has its seat in the sacrifice of self, which is its ruling spirit. The man who stands upon the field of battle and faces the storm of death that sweeps along, whether he merely puts his life thus in jeopardy or is actually carried down in death, torn and mangled in the dread fight, is worthy of endless honors, and though we class the deed with the lowest of human acts, prompted by a hardihood which we share with the brutes, and in which the most ignorant and besotted may compete with the loftiest, yet it is an act before which humanity will ever bow and uncover. Who that walked that field of carnage and beheld the maimed and mangled, and him cold in death, could withhold the tribute of honor and respect? For, could he make that dying soldier’s lot his own, or that of his nearest and dearest friend, he would only then justly realize the sacrifice. Our casualties in the fight were: Killed, nine; wounded, thirty-five; missing, one. Total, forty-five. CHAPTER X. Return to Washington--Embark for New York--Return--Transferred to the Western Army. The pursuit of the retreating enemy was commenced by the Twelfth army corps at 1 o’clock P. M., on July 5th. At night we encamped at Littletown, Pennsylvania, and on the following morning moved by the way of Frederick to Antietam creek. On the 7th instant we marched through Frederick, filed to the right, and passed by a rebel spy that was hanging to a limb of a tree. We moved a short distance, and halted, where we remained all night. On the 8th we marched over the mountains in the direction of Sharpsburg. On the 9th we passed over the battlefield, and camped near Fairplay, Maryland. On the 10th we moved through the town, and camped for the night near Falling waters. On the following day we advanced to Fairplay, a small town to the south of St. James’ college, and the Twenty-ninth regiment, with its customary good (?) fortune, was thrown out as skirmishers, and during the day exchanged frequent shots with the enemy’s cavalry, and at night resting in position on the extreme front. During the night rebel cavalry approached very near our line, but our orders were positive not to fire unless attacked. On the following morning we were relieved and retired to the main line, where we assumed position as support to Knapp’s battery, which was hotly engaged at intervals during the day.