326 SKETCHES IN PROSE. 



army. Battle and march had taken off the keen edge of his 

 devotion to country. He got detailed to a clerkship. When 

 he saw Robert after his experience going to the front again, 

 he laughed at him for his verdancy in not getting out of the 

 army when he had a chance. Robert felt contempt for such 

 an expression from one who had professed so much in his time, 

 but for all that it made him feel badly. 



He passed down the Potomac to Acquia Creek, and thence 

 by rail to Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg, where he found 

 his regiment ; but not his tent-mates. By death and discharge 

 they were gone. While he was awa}^ the battle of Fredericks- 

 burg had been fought. It was a dull winter day, snow was on 

 the ground, and the company streets were swamps of mud 

 when he arrived. The sight was not one to raise his spirits, 

 but he entered into his duties with a firm resolve to serve his 

 imperiled country to the bitter end. 



He missed the assault on the height of St. Marye and the 

 glory thereto attached, but there was plenty of work yet to do ; 

 and glory, for that matter. On the 3d of May came the battle 

 of Chancellors ville. It Avas a sad da}^ for the 114th ; from the 

 screening thickets came bullet and shell, till one hundred and 

 seventy -three of their number went down — all their officers but 

 eight. Captain Elliot, the loved commander of company F, 

 here died a patriot's death. Robert was grazed by a bullet, 

 but he came out of the fight safe. 



Another defeat to add to the rest of its disasters for the 

 Army of the Potomac. More chuckling among the opponents 

 of the war ; more satisfaction among deposed generals and 

 their friends ; more worriment for Lincoln ; more weeping and 

 wailing for the dead, and the end of it all hidden by gloomy 

 clouds. But there were brave hearts left, and the Army of 

 the Potomac would yet fulfil its mission. The thinned bat- 

 talions, after a short rest, were again in motion. This time to 

 the North, for Lee was marching on Pennsylvania. 



