More than one dead man’s haversack did I examine that night; but alas, some one as hungry as myself had anticipated me. I had given the search up in despair, and was returning to my companion, when I stumbled over the body of a Federal soldier that I did not see, owing to the darkness. A suppressed groan escaped the poor wretch, and shocked at my carelessness, I knelt at his side and asked if I could do anything for him. “Water, water, for God’s sake water!” he plead. Placing my canteen to his lips he drained it to the last drop. “Now turn me on my back that I may look once more at the beautiful sky, and watch the bright stars. Stranger, I see from your dress you are an enemy, but in my dying moments I like you none the less. Your turn may come next; and perhaps you, too, will ask the same favor I have asked of you. God grant that you may receive it.” His mind here wandered for some minutes, when recovering, he continued: “Oh it is hard to die thus, away from home and friends; but it is a comfort to have the presence of even one with whom I have just been engaged in deadly strife, and for aught I know inflicted this death wound. My poor wife, my precious child. Stranger, perhaps you, too, have a wife and child far away whom you love dearly? Away up in Pennsylvania I had a happy home, with a fond and loving wife. We were blessed with one dear little babe, a boy. In an evil hour I went to the war to fight for my country’s honor; how much better had I remained at home, for there are plenty without me who have nothing to leave behind.” Again his mind wandered, and I heard him murmur: “How beautiful the heavens are to-night, Emma, and how bright the stars. Come, Eddie, get upon papa’s knee.” A pause, a convulsive shudder, and with “My wife, my child,” upon his lips, the poor soldier’s spirit took its flight from earth. And still, reader, this was but one incident of the thousands that could have been gathered upon that dreadful field. Disengaging his well-filled haversack, I made my way back to where I had left my companion. To my surprise he had heard nothing of either Shellman or Grinnell; and we began to fear they had fallen in the fight. However, they may be at the rendezvous appointed, and thither we directed our steps. We found them there, and unhurt, but engaged in a violent dispute as to which had killed the most Yankees in the fight. “Why, Grinnell,” said Shellman, “didn’t you see that officer fall when I fired?” “I saw an officer fall,” replied Grinnell, “but I tell you your gun didn’t go off. And I will tell you what’s more, you didn’t fire a shot during the fight, but you did a devil of a sight of loading.” “An’ be me soul, Liftinent Shellman, an’ I belave Grinnell is right,” put in Atkins, “for divil the wonst did I see the thing go off, an’ I’ll prove it by the crather itself, I will.” The Enfield was produced, and to the “Liftinent’s” chagrin the barrel was found to contain at least half a dozen cartridges.