Page:Nurse and spy in the Union Army.djvu/157

Rh setting everything combustible in flames, and driving every man from the guns.

"'That morrow! How anxiously we waited for it! how much we feared its results! At sundown there was nothing to dispute the empire of the seas with the Merrimac, and had a land attack been made by Magruder then, God only knows what our fate would have been.' All at once a speck of light gleamed on the distant wave; it moved; it came nearer and nearer, and at ten o'clock that night the Monitor appeared. 'When the tale of brick is doubled, Moses comes.' I never more firmly believed in special providences than at that hour. Even skeptics were converted, and said, 'God has sent her.' But how insignificant she looked; she was but a speck on the dark blue wave at night, and almost a laughable object by day. The enemy call her a 'cheese-box on a raft,' and the comparison is a good one." But insignificant as she appeared, she saved the Union fleet, silenced the rebel monster, and eventually caused her to commit suicide. No wonder then that the news of the death of this formidable foe caused great rejoicing among the Union troops.

Orders were issued to continue the advance up the Peninsula; and as the jubilant troops were engaged in striking tents and making the necessary preparations consequent upon a hurried march, " The Battle Song of the Republic " was being sung with enthusiasm throughout the en-