iron sky upon the roofs and bursting there-great cannon struck in the throat and knocked down like men; fifteen inch shells, rolled by the monitors into open spaces, exploding and raining the fragments everywhere; ramparts cut down by Parrott shells, and rebuilt in the face of that infernal fire. Yesterday wore out, to-day burns out!

Now come the litters with their woeful burdens, often dripping blood as they come. Wounds of every conceivable and unimaginable character; right arms torn off, not cut off, like a bird's wing with all the muscles and organs that are closely connected with it-deadening sensation, thank God; the skull over the cerebellum completely blown away-and yet the man will not die! There are few groans, except from men unconscious, or from men injured by concussion Now and then a man whose nervous system has been prostrated in his way-viz: by the explosion of a shell close bystung by a bung, as the soldier in the army of Northern Virginia said-comes in crying like a child; a half hour's rest, and a drop of spirits, and his manhood is restored.

The sickening smell of blood, as from some foul shambles in a dungeon; the reeking, almost unbreathable air, away from the skylight; the bare-armed surgeons, operating by candle-light; the floor crowded with anguish and death; the grim, low walls, and the steady drip, rip, drip, ticking aloud; all these must come into the picture of the hospital bombproof of Battery Wagner. Then you must draw out these horrors from Saturday morning until Sunday night; and you will be measurably prepared to admire the courage that gave not an inch, though hungry, thirsty, sleepy, worked almost to death to repair injuries, and without a breath of fresh air that was not obtained at the risk of being torn to pieces.

Six men were ordered out on fatigue; as they left cover a

shell exploded among them, killing and wounding all but one. That one picked up his sand bag, and walked up to the breach without an instant's hesitation; while the steady voice of the officer called out, "second relief!" and the gap was filled. That gallant fellow was afterwards left disabled in a retreat of pickets, at Petersburg, and died on the field of battle.

Being anxious to see how the men were prospering at a distant part of the work, I started across, and presently found an officer sitting, in the heart of that terrible commotion, calmly writing in his note book. He was off duty, but preferred-as experience taught many to do-to keep his place outside, rather than be weakened by the heat and foul air of the bomb-proofs, and dazzled, on his return, by the glare on his eyes. Then an enthusiastic sharp-shooter called out to me: "Come up here, sir! here's a first rate shot," which I thankfully declined, as not in my line." Many curious incidents occurred, of course. A captain took the place of a sharp-shooter for a little while; soon he was whirled round and thrown to the ground. His men ran to him, but he picked himself up, not killed. It proved that a minie ball had grazed his ear. A sentinel outside the Battery was standing in a rifle-pit, with not much room to spare, when lo! a large shell dropped into the pit. IIe shut his eyes, as he told me afterwards, thinking it idle to attempt an escape. The shell exploded, and "only shocked him a little."

Saturday afternoon, my lieutenant-colonel proposed to me that he and I should go through the bomb-proofs and hold short religious services with the men. I carried my Testament and hymn book, and he the indispensable candle. I am satisfied that the flame of the candle was at times three

inches long, and of a dirty yellow-so dreadfully impure had the air become. Shall I ever forget that horrible gloom, or the spectral faces in the background, or the faces that the struggling flame made visible-ghastly, squalid, smirchedlips parched, tangled hair, eyes glittering with fever, watching, and toil. How they drank in every word. Faint and husky voices joined fitfully in the hymn, or faltered amen to the prayer. They were the farewell prayer meetings in Battery Wagner.

Saturday night, the Federals determined to attack Battery Gregg and take it by surprise. This would have hemmed us in and compelled the surrender of the whole command. But our signal men read their signals, as they had often done before; proper preparations were made, and the surprise reversed. The attacking party hardly fired a volley before they pushed back to sea.

Sunday noon brought the Chief Engineer of the Department, to examine if the last hour had indeed come, to which the defence could be protracted. After a careful survey, and a conference with the officers, he returned with his report, and soon there came up the order, by telegraph, from General Beauregard, commanding the evacuation, followed directly by the full written order, adjusting the details, and concluding with the remark that if the evacuation were accomplished, it would be equal to a victory.

Then I got my mittimus. My commanding officer assured me I had done all that could be done in my department, and that it would be a relief to him, if I would go in advance of the mass.

Little preparation was needed, as you may suppose. Soon I was standing at the sally port, dozed by my long stay in the darkness, and weakened even to exhaustion by the toils

and griefs of my work; head throbbing loud and hard, mental facualties almost benumbed. "Now, sir," said a gallant fellow on duty there, "I've watched these fellows until I can almost certainly tell when they are slacking off; just wait till I give the word, and then run about two hundred yards, and you'll be pretty nearly safe." Nothing loath to live and see home once more, I waited the word of command, and then started as fast as I could. So far from lulling, the fire grew; in about twenty yards, instead of two hundred, my strength gave way completely, and I had to walk along in such company as I hope never to keep again. Minie balls, scraps of shells, whole shells bursting, shells overhead on their way to Battery Gregg-why they positively swarmed. My mind was too torpid with weariness to be alarmed, and I watched the display with wonderfully little interest. But I shall ever regret that I had not at the moment energy enough to scramble to the edge of the hillocks, and look out upon the fleet, engaged in its terible work. I trust in the mercy of God that I shall never have such another opportunity; which makes it the greatest pity not to have improved that.

In the same profound apathy of exhaustion, I climbed over the face of Battery Gregg, then being scarred and ploughed with shell and ball, instead of going round it. And when, the boat being ready, I was warned to run for it, I answered "yes," and walked stupidly out; when a friend, whom I teach my children to thank and love, threw his arms round me, and ran me down to the boat. He got back safely.

My narrative properly ends at this point; but it may be well to add a word about the evacuation. South Carolina troops were accorded the honor of leaving the fort last. Men were kept on the works to the very last moment to

keep up the appearance of a fight and mislead the enemy. Proper arrangments were made for blowing up the magazine. They failed, of course; they always do. But it was not for lack of care or coolness that time. One of the bravest of brave men went back alone, and went into the magazine, making sure that all was working well. Yet the drips from the roof, or some other unlooked-for accident, extinguished the fuse, and saved the trophy for the enemy. They pounded away nearly all night, however; we had that satisfaction; pounded away at the empty walls, while the eight hundred men who had held it were safe in the harbor, or on shore.

LONGSTREET AND THE SPY.

THE following incident occurred during the campaign against Pope, in 1862 :

While Longstreet's corps was hurrying forward to Jack son's relief, several brigades in advance, on different roads, were observed to halt, thereby stopping all further progress of the corps. Very angry at this, Longstreet trotted to the front, and was informed that a courier had brought orders from General Lee to that effect!

"From General Lee !" said Longstreet, his eyes glowing with rage; "where is that courier ?"

"There he goes now, general, galloping down the road." "Keep your eyes on him. Overtake him and bring him here!" Which was soon accomplished.

"By whose orders did you halt my brigade ?" asked a brigadier.

"As I have already told you, by General Lee's., I have orders for Longstreet, and must be off to the rear !"