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280 It may be proper to mention, as a pertinent episode in the last days of the Stonewall, that among the arrivals which soon followed her into Havana was an imposing looking American man-of-war steamer. She anchored only a very short distance off. One morning a letter was handed to the commander of the Stonewall, which bore the signature of an old acquaintance—the captain of the man-of-war close by. The purport of this communication was suggesting the propriety of a surrender of the Stonewall to him. Its receipt was promptly acknowledged, and although its kind suggestions were fully appreciated, they were politely declined.

The Stonewall was in a position to present herself to the Captain-General, or, through him, to the Queen of Spain; but she was not the craft to surrender on demand or solicitation.

,, July 17, 1863.

Major, Assistant Adjutant-General:

Sir—I respecffully submit the operations of my brigade in the recent engagements with the enemy near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in the following report:

The division having encamped for three days at Fayetteville, on the morning of July 1st moved forward on the Chambersburg and Gettysburg turnpike; at two and a half P. M. came within sight and hearing of a distant artillery fire between our own and the enemy's forces near the latter place.

The division filed off to the right of the road and halted in the woods for an hour; then, resuming the march towards Gettysburg, one and a half miles, my brigade filed off to the right of the road in a perpendicular direction, and marched in this direction near one mile; and being joined by a battery of artillery, the command halted and remained here during the night on picket, beyond and to the rear and at right angles to the right flank of the remainder of the division in line in front.

At 7 A. M. the following morning the brigade rejoined the division, then in front, and advanced, bearing to the right for the purpose of taking position in line of battle—the Major-General Commanding indicated to me the position to be occupied by my brigade.