“I will now relate a little incident which shows how promptly pluck and character tell.  During the 25th we were pushed forward not far from thirty miles.  On the morning of this severe march a young civilian officer, who had been appointed to the regiment by the Governor, joined us, and was given command of Company I. When he took his place in the march there was a feeling of intense hostility toward him, as there ever is among veterans against civilians who are appointed over them.  If he had fallen out of the ranks and died by the roadside I scarcely believe that a man would have volunteered to bury him.  But, while evidently unaccustomed to marching, he kept at the head of his company throughout the entire day, when every step must have been torture.  He uttered not a word of complaint, and at night was seen, by the light of a flaring candle, pricking the blisters on his swollen feet; then he put on his shoes, and walked away as erect as if on parade.  In those few hours he had won the respect of the entire regiment, and had become one of us.  Poor fellow!  I may as well mention now that he was killed, a few days later, with many of the company that he was bravely leading.  His military career lasted but little over a week, yet he proved himself a hero.

“Now I will put in a few high lights again.  On the 28th we entered Frederick City.  Here we had a most delightful experience.  The day was warm and all were thirsty.  Instead of the cold, lowering glances to which we had been accustomed in Virginia, smiling mothers, often accompanied by pretty daughters, stood in the gateways with pails and goblets of cool, sparkling water.  I doubt whether the same number of men ever drank so much water before, for who could pass by a white hand and arm, and a pretty, sympathetic face, beaming with good-will?  Here is a rough sketch I made of a Quaker matron, with two charming daughters, and an old colored man, ‘totin’’ water at a rate that must have drained their well.”

Marian praised the sketch so heartily that Merwyn knew she was taking this indirect way to eulogize the soldier as as well as the artist, and he groaned inwardly as he thought how he must suffer by contrast.

“I will pass over what occurred till the 1st of July.  Our march lay through a country that, after desolated Virginia, seemed like paradise, and the kind faces that greeted us were benedictions.  July 1st was clear, and the sun’s rays dazzling and intense in their heat.  Early in the afternoon we were lying around in the shade, about two miles from the State line of Pennsylvania.  Two corps had preceded us.  Some of our men, with their ears on the ground, declared that they could hear the distant mutter of artillery.  The country around was full of troops, resting like ourselves.