Page:The Story of Aunt Becky's Army-Life .djvu/253

Rh every town in the North—and they were going to have their own.

On Saturday I went over to the camp, and distributed a supply of tobacco, combs, needles, thread, and nameless little things, which, being deprived of, add greatly to a soldier's discomfort. It was a sad visit for me. So long I had thought anxiously over them, that I could not separate them from my heart now; and when they stood in line greeting me, and I heard the words of thanks which one after another volunteered, with the band striking up its parting strains in the interlude, words are vain to express my emotions, and swelled my heart almost to suffocation.

We left for Washington on Monday morning, June 12th, at seven o'clock. I could not look backward on the pleasant grove, or the green, sun-checkered hill-side. I closed my eyes, and the ambulance rattled along, bearing me on the journey toward home. Bound for home! And who ever thought I should go one step towards it, and not feel the joy in every fibre of my nature?

Then were thoughts of the dead left mouldering behind in the grave-yard at City Point, and in the trenches of many a well-fought field. There were thoughts of the tales we must tell to waiting friends, how those whom they held dearest on earth met the death which laid them low from mortal care and woe; and we went not back the same exultant one thousand strong, which cheered with loyal throats when they made the downward journey, and rebellion held