Page:The Story of Aunt Becky's Army-Life .djvu/235

Rh thought it would be impossible for him to recover, and took charge of his medicine and diet myself. With careful nursing, the tide of life turned in his favor, and he was able to join his regiment before the last battle was fought. Strength and health came back slowly to him, but his nerves seemed bared to the least touch or sound, and at times he seemed to be going into convulsions.

When once, as many times it did, the wild rumor floated down that the rebels were trying to break through our lines, and every patient able to carry a gun was ordered out a short distance from the hospital, he was so struck that I thought he would die of the excitement, and gave him a morphine powder to put him to sleep, after vainly exerting my whole strength to quiet him down.

At the last battle, poor Charley was ordered up with his company, and was struck with the nervous feeling fatally, was sent to the rear, and in a few hours lay a corpse.

I think it was no coward fear which filled his soul; it was an absorbing excitement, which he had no strength to bear, and it broke the pitcher at the fountain.

Our women at the same time, through fear, packed their worldly possessions ready for retreat, and sat up all night in anxious expectation. I went to bed, desiring to be waked at six in the morning; and as I had on the best and only dress in my wardrobe, I had no effects to worry me, and slept soundly, finding myself on waking undisturbed in my cozy tent.