“They were the cries of wounded men entreating for that which would quench their intolerable thirst.  The thought that Strahan might be among this number stung me to the very quick, and I hastened to the senior captain, who now commanded the regiment.  I found him alert and watchful, with the bugle at his side, for he felt the weight of responsibility so suddenly thrust upon him.

“‘Captain Markham,’ I said, ‘do you hear those cries for water?’

“‘Yes,’ he replied, sadly; ’I have heard them for hours,

“‘Among them may be Strahan’s voice,’ I said, eagerly.

“’Granting it, what could we do?  Our pickets are way this side of the spot where he fell.’

“‘Captain,’ I cried, ’Strahan was like a brother to me.  I can’t rest here with the possibility that he is dying yonder for a little water.  I am relieved from duty, you know.  If one of my company will volunteer to go with me, will you give him your permission?  I know where Strahan fell, and am willing to try to reach him and bring him in.’

“‘No,’ said the captain, ’I can’t give such permission.  You might be fired on and the whole line aroused.  You can go to our old brigade-commander, however—­he now commands the division,—­and see what he says.  He’s back there under that tree.  Of course, you know, I sympathize with your feeling, but I cannot advise the risk.  Good heavens, Blauvelt! we’ve lost enough officers already.’

“‘I’ll be back soon,’ I answered.

“To a wakeful aid I told my errand, and he aroused the general, who was silent after he had been made acquainted with my project.

“‘I might bring in some useful information,’ I added, hastily.

“The officer knew and liked Strahan, but said:  ’I shall have to put my permission on the ground of a reconnoissance.  I should be glad to know if any changes are taking place on our front, and so would my superiors.  Of course you understand the risk you run when once beyond our pickets?’

“‘Strahan would do as much and more for me,’ I replied.

“‘Very well;’ and he gave me permission to take a volunteer, at the same time ordering me to report to him on my return.

“I went back to our regimental commander, who growled, ’Well, if you will go I suppose you will; but it would be a foolhardy thing for even an unwounded man to attempt.’

“I knew a strong, active young fellow in my company who would go anywhere with me, and, waking him up, explained my purpose.  He was instantly on the qui vive.  I procured him a revolver, and we started at once.  On reaching our pickets we showed our authority to pass, and were informed that the enemy’s vedettes ran along the ridge on which we had fought the day before.  Telling our pickets to pass the word not to fire on us if we came in on the run, we stole down into the intervening valley.