Our regiment went into battle with one hundred and forty-seven men and its loss was heavier than any other regiment in the brigade.

The enemy numbered ninety thousand men and two hundred pieces of cannon, we had sixty thousand men and about an equal number of guns. Our total loss was four thousand killed, twelve thousand wounded, and four thousand prisoners, in all about twenty thousand; whilst the enemy's loss was five thousand five hundred killed, twenty-one thousand wounded, nine thousand prisoners, and four thousand stragglers and deserters, making a total of about forty thousand.

About one o'clock in the afternoon the Regulars relieved us at the stone-wall and we were moved back to "Little Round Top," where we received rations and remained until the afternoon of the next day, during which time it rained severely.

CHAPTER XXIV.

FALL OF REYNOLDS. THE BOY's SWORD. MARCH. UNDYING Love. FALLING WATERS. LEE CROSSES THE POTOMAC. WAPPING HEIGHTS. MANASSAS GAP. ANECDOTE. MARCHING IN A CIRCLE.

BEFORE leaving the field of Gettysburg let us refer to Major-general John F. Reynolds, in the death of whom, a most skillful officer, brave soldier, high-minded and honor able man, and courteous gentleman, the army and country sustained a great loss, but nowhere was it more sincerely felt than in the First brigade of the Reserves whom he had moulded in their infancy and led to honor and glory on many fields. It will be remembered, at Harrison's Landing the men of this brigade determined to present the General with a handsome testimonial of their regard, which on account of the active service in which they

THE BOY'S SWORD.

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were soon after engaged, was not procured until a short time before we left Fairfax Station, and no opportunity being afforded to present it, it was taken into Pennsylvania with the intention of presenting it to him on the battle-field, but, alas! when they arrived within hearing of his guns, he had passed to immortality.

In this gift the men felt great pride, as it was known that the general had refused to receive similar ones when tendered by officers, but he could not refuse this, prompted as it was by the pure and disinterested feelings of the men's hearts. And it was such a one as any general would have been proud of. It consisted of a costly sword of most exquisite workmanship, and was accompanied by a sash, and belt embroidered with heavy bullion. The blade of the sword was of the finest Damascus steel, and the scabbard of pure gold, having inscribed upon it on a scroll:

"Presented to Major-general John F. Reynolds, by the enlisted men of the First, Second, Fifth and Eighth regiments of the First brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves, in testimony of their love and admiration. Mechanicsville, June 26th, 1862."

Upon the grip was a black onyx, in the centre of which was set in diamonds the initials J. F. R., surrounded by a wreath of precious brilliants. On the reverse, in a handsome scroll was inscribed"Vincit Amor Patriæ." Crowning the grip was a solid globe of gold, chased with the map of the world, around which was the belt of the Union in blue enamel, with thirteen diamond stars, while eptwined around the guard was an exquisitely-shaped serpent, with its venomous tongue protruding as if to steal one of the stars from the galaxy. The shield of the hilt was formed of the coat of arms of the State of Pennsylvania, cut from a solid plate of gold. Beneath this, on the scabbard, was a fine figure of the Goddess of Liberty modeled from the statue surmounting the Federal Capitol. In style and workmanship it was exquisitely gotten up, every touch upon it

being given by hand, it resembling a fine piece of jewelry.*

Subsequently, W. H. Grier, a brave and gallant sergeant of the Fifth was chosen to proceed to Philadelphia and presented it to the general's sister, Mrs. Henry Landis. On the morning of the 5th, it being ascertained that the enemy was in full retreat by the Fairfield and Cashtown roads, the Sixth corps was sent in pursuit on the Fairfield road, and the cavalry on the Cashtown road, by Emmetsburg and Monterey passes. As these passes were reported by Major-general Sedgwick as being very strong, General Meade determined to follow the enemy by a flank movement, and accordingly leaving a brigade of cavalry and infantry to harass the enemy, he put the army in motion for Middletown, Maryland.

Major-general French, in anticipation of orders, moved from Frederick and reoccupied Harper's Ferry and seized Turner's Pass, in the South Mountains. He also pushed his cavalry to Williamsport and Falling Waters, where he destroyed the enemy's pontoon bridge and captured its guard.

At five o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th, we moved off in a southwesterly direction over exceedingly bad roads, and at twelve o'clock at night bivouacked in an `open field and threw out pickets. The next morning, about eleven o'clock, we marched to the State line, where a congratulatory address from General Meade was read to us and we bivouacked for the remainder of the day and night.

At four the next morning we moved off, passing near Emmetsburg and continuing along the base of the South Mountains, marching on the fields skirting the pike and passing through Graceham and Creegarstown, and bivouacked about dark, six miles from Frederick, having marched tweuty-one miles over very heavy roads.

*The designs in many respects were entirely new and original, and the sword has been pronounced one of the most chaste and beautiful ever made in this country. It was manufactured by Mr. E. Kretzmar.

The Catholic Convent at Emmetsburg since we passed there, has received a bright gem into its cloisters, the melancholy story of which is peculiarly interesting to the Reserves. A young lady, possessed of all the charms. and attributes of womanly graces, won the heart of one of the Reserves' ablest generals. Her love was too pure and holy to look to this world alone for bliss, and although their hearts and hands were plighted, she postponed the happy hour that was to make them one, while she plead with him with all her earnestness to come into the folds of her church. The general, though one of the most upright and moral of men, could not be induced to leave the faith he had been reared in, and thus while their hearts were trembling between love and piety, and love and manly virtue, the hero sealed his devotion to his country by pouring out his heart's blood to hold the ground until the Army of the Potomac could concentrate at Gettysburg. And how fitting the sequel! Bowed down with the loss of her brave and gallant hero, she consecrated her fortune to charity and her life to her God.

At six o'clock on the morning of the 8th we marched, heading nearly west, and passing over fields soon struck the Catoctin Mountains, up the rugged sides of which we clambered through a heavy rain that had been falling all night. Arriving at the summit we commenced the descent along a narrow and rough road, and soon had a fine view of the magnificent valley, in which Middletown is situated, and a large number of troops were laying. Passing through Middletown, which was filled with moving columns of troops and wagons, we turned to the left and bivouacked about a mile to the south. During the night rations were served out to the companies.

The next morning we marched at six, and crossed the South Mountains at a point where the left wing of our army had gained a glorious victory on the 14th of September last. Descending the western slope we bivouacked about two miles from Keedysville, within

sight of Antietam's glorious field. Through the day we heard heavy firing in the direction of Williamsport. A full supply of shoes and stockings, which were much needed were received and distributed during the night.

The next morning we commenced our march at six o'clock, and soon afterwards heard heavy cannonading. Passing near Keedysville and La Roy, we struck Antietam creek, passing by Delamont Mills, where the enemy had been in the morning, and some of their officers had ordered dinner, which they did not remain to eat. Just beyond here we halted and threw out cavalry and infantry skirmishers, who occasionally exchanged shots with the enemy for over two hours.

On the morning of the 11th we moved forward cautiously to near the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turnpike, where we deployed in line of battle, and rested until four in the afternoon, at which time the division moved forward in columns of companies with the regiments at deploying distance, with a heavy body of skirmishers in front, and the pioneers to tear down the fences. Having advanced about two miles, the division halted, and our regiment and five companies of the Fifth, under Colonel Woodward, were sent out on picket. We found the Second Corps pickets engaged with the enemy on the pike for the possession of a piece of woods, and did not succeed in making our connection with their line until after dark, when we occupied the inner edge of the woods in dispute. The Second Corps fell back and changed their line twice through the night, and we had to alter ours to correspond with theirs.

The next morning, Sunday, we advanced our line, occupying the woods in dispute without opposition, crossed the pike and posted our line on the elevated ground beyond, sending Companies C and H, Captains Byrnes and Mealey, to occupy a piece of heavy timber further in advance and to the left within close proximity to the enemy's picket pits. Soon after, heavy artillery and musketry firing was heard on our right, and about