“The moon was now momentarily obscured by clouds, and this favored us.  My plan was to reach the woods on which the right of our regiment had rested.  Here the shadows would be deep, and our chances better.  Crouching and creeping silently from bush to bush, we made our gradual progress until we saw a sentinel slowly pacing back and forth along the edge of the woods.  Most of his beat was in shadow, and there were bushes and rocks extending almost to it.  We watched him attentively for a time, and then my companion whispered:  ’The Johnny seems half dead with sleep.  I believe I can steal up and capture him without a sound.  I don’t see how we can get by him as long as he is sufficiently wide awake to walk.’

“‘Very well.  You have two hands, and my left is almost useless,’ I said.  ’Make your attempt where the shadow is deepest, and if he sees you, and is about to shoot, see that you shoot first.  I’ll be with you instantly if you succeed, and cover your retreat in case of failure.”

“In a moment, revolver in hand, he was gliding, like a shadow, from cover to cover, and it was his good fortune to steal up behind the sleepy sentinel, grasp his musket, and whisper, with his pistol against his head, ‘Not a sound, or you are dead.’

“The man was discreet enough to be utterly silent.  In a moment I was by Rush’s side—­that was the name of the brave fellow who accompanied me—­and found that he had disarmed his prisoner.  I told Rush to take the rebel’s musket and walk up and down the beat, and especially to show himself in the moonlight.  I made the Johnny give me his word not to escape, telling him that he would be shot instantly if he did.  I gave him the impression that others were watching him.  I then tied his hands behind him and fastened him to a tree in the shade.  Feeling that I had not a moment to lose, I passed rapidly down through the woods bearing to the left.  The place was only too familiar, and even in the moonlight I could recognize the still forms of some of my own company.  I found two or three of our regiment still alive, and hushed them as I pressed water to their lips.  I then asked if they knew anything about Strahan.  They did not.  Hastening on I reached the spot, by a large boulder, where I had seen Strahan fall.  He was not there, or anywhere near it.  I even turned up the faces of corpses in my wish to assure myself; for our dead officers had been partially stripped.  I called his name softly, then more distinctly, and at last, forgetful in my distress, loudly.  Then I heard hasty steps, and crouched down behind a bush, with my hand upon my revolver.  But I had been seen.

“A man approached rapidly, and asked, in a gruff voice, ’What the devil are you doing here?’

“‘Looking for a brother who fell hereabouts,’ I replied, humbly.

“‘You are a—­Yankee,’ was the harsh reply, ’and a prisoner; I know your Northern tongue.”