A shell burst at the top of the rise.  Another came, and I felt my hat fly off; it was torn on the edge of the brim.  Again, and a great pain seized my shoulder and a more dreadful one my hip.  I was hit, but how badly I did not know.  The pain in my hip was such agony that I feared to look.  Since our great loss at Manassas, I was the tallest man in Company H, and the Captain was lying very near to me.  I said to him that I was done for.  “What!” said he, “again?  You must break that habit, Jones.”  I wanted to be taken out, but could not ask it.  What with the danger and the heat and the thirst and pain, I was unnerved and afraid to look.  Perhaps I lost consciousness for a time; the pain had decreased.  At last I looked, and I saw—­nothing!  I examined, and found a great contusion, and that was all.  I was happy—­the only happy man in the regiment, for the cannon on the hills beyond the river had not lessened their fire, and the sun was hot, and the men were suffering.

As the darkness gathered, the regiment filed out and marched back to bivouac.  I limped along and kept up.  We got water and food and, at length, rest; and sleep banished the fearful memory of a fearful day.

In the fight at Shepherdstown the Confederate infantry drove the Federals to the river bank, where many surrendered.  Some succeeded in getting across to the northern bank, but most of those who attempted the crossing were lost.  It was said in Lee’s army—–­ but with what truth I do not know—­that blue corpses floated past Washington.

After this fight Lee was not molested.  Jackson camped his corps near Martinsburg, and a week later moved to Bunker Hill, where water was plentiful.

From the 25th of June to the 20th of September—­eighty-seven days—­the Army of Northern Virginia had made three great campaigns:  first, that of the week in front of Richmond; second, that of Manassas; third, that of Harper’s Ferry and Sharpsburg.  The Confederates had been clearly victorious in the first two, and had succeeded in the last in withdrawing with the fruits of Harper’s Ferry, and with the honours of a drawn battle against McClellan’s mighty army.

XXIX

FOREBODINGS

“King John.  Alack, thou dost usurp authority.
King Philip.  Excuse; it is to put usurping down.” 
—­SHAKESPEARE.

All of the month of October, 1862, Jackson’s corps remained near Bunker Hill, in the valley of the Shenandoah.  It was here that we learned of Lincoln’s proclamation freeing the slaves.  A few copies of it were seen in our camp—­introduced, doubtless, by some device of the enemy.  Most of the officers and men of Company H were not greatly impressed by this action on the part of the Northern President.  I have reason to know, however, that Captain Haskell regarded the proclamation a serious matter.  One day I had heard two men of our company—­Davis and Stokes—­talking.