“I questioned Paul and pressed him further still
To tell his story, but he only shook
His head in silence sadly and lay back
And closed his eyes and whispered—­’All is blank.’ 
That night he muttered often in his sleep;
I could not catch the sense of what he said;
I caught a name that he repeated oft—­
Pauline—­so softly whispered that I knew
She was the blissful burden of his dreams.

“Two moons had waxed and waned, and Paul arose,
Came to the camp and shared my tent and bed. 
While in the hospital he helpless lay—­
To him unknown, and as the choice of all—­
Came his promotion to the vacant rank
Of him who fell at Malvern.  But, alas,
Say what we would he would not take the place. 
To us who importuned him, he replied: 
’Comrades and friends, I did not join your ranks
For honor or for profit.  All I am—­
A wreck perhaps of what I might have been—­
I freely offer in our country’s cause;
And in her cause it is my wish to serve
A private soldier; I aspire to naught
But victory—­and there be better men—­
Braver and hardier—­such should have the place.’

“His comrades cheered, but Paul, methought, was sad. 
One evening as he sat upon his couch,
Communing with himself as he was wont,
I stood before him; looking in his face,
I said, ‘Pauline—­her name is then, Pauline.’ 
All of a sudden up he rose amazed,
And looked upon me with such startled eyes
That I was pained and feared that I had done
A wrong to him whom I had learned to love. 
Then he sat down upon his couch and groaned,
Pressing his hand upon his wound, and said: 
’Captain, I pray you, tell me truthfully,
Wherefore you speak that name.’

“I told him all
That I had heard him mutter in his dreams. 
He listened calmly to the close and said: 
’My friend, if you have any kind regard
For me who suffer more than you may know,
I pray you utter not that name again.’ 
And thereupon he turned and hid his face.

“There was a mystery I might not fathom,
There was a history I might not hear: 
Nor could I further press that saddened heart
To pour its secret sorrow in my ears. 
Thereafter Paul was tenant of my tent—­
Sat at my mess and slept upon my couch,
Save when his duty called him from my side,
And not a word escaped his lips or mine
About his secret—­yet how oft I found
My eyes upon him and my bridled tongue
Prone to a question; but that solemn face
Forbade me and he wore his mystery.

“At that stern battle on Antietam’s banks,
Where gallant Hooker led the fierce attack,
Paul bore a glorious part.  Our starry flag,
Before a whirlwind of terrific fire,
Advancing proudly on the foe, went down. 
Grim death and pale-faced panic seized the ranks. 
Paul caught the flag and waving it aloft
Rallied our regiment.  He came out unscathed.