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of General Wadsworth, commander of the Fourth Division. We have avoided, as much as possible, the mention of officers not immediately connected with us, but General Wadsworth is an exception. Few officers in the army possessed greater qualifications to excite the admiration of soldiers. We first saw him at Fredericksburg in December, 1862, and almost daily thereafter, until we were established in our winter quarters at Mitchell's Station. We had read in the newspapers accounts of some of his patriotic services in behalf of his government, but the one that appealed most strongly to our young minds was that of serving without pay. To see a man nearly sixty years of age disregarding the pleasures and comforts that opulence can confer, and which are so very desirable at his age, ignoring the risks to health, or danger to life, to enter the service of his country, was an extraordinary example of patriotism, and would have made him a marked figure in any army.

During the absence of General Newton after the battle of Gettysburg, he commanded the First Corps until we crossed the Potomac River into Virginia, and we felt rather proud of serving under a man of such lofty patriotism. In the first day's fight at Gettysburg, he was conspicuous for the courage and gallantry he showed where fighting was the hardest, and strengthened the attachment which we already felt for him as an officer.

He was born in Genesee, N.Y., October 30, 1807, and was educated at Harvard and Yale colleges, after which he studied law in Albany, N.Y., completing his course with Daniel Webster. Though admitted to the bar in 1833, he never practised his profession, as his time was wholly occupied with the management of his family estate in western New York. Although a Democrat, he supported the Free-Soil party of 1848, and continued to act in defence of the antislavery movement, being presidential elector in 1856, and again in 1860. When communication was cut off with the capital, which happened for a short time in 1861, he chartered two ships on his own responsibility, loaded them with provisions, and went with them to Annapolis, where he superintended their delivery. He was a volunteer aid on the staff of General McDowell at the first battle of Bull Run, where he was commended for his bravery and humanity.

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On the 9th of August following he was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers, and assigned to duty under General McClellan. On March 15, 1862, he became military governor of the District of Columbia, and in the autumn of the same year was the Republican candidate for governor of New York, but was defeated by Horatio Seymour. In December, 1862, he was assigned to the command of a division under General Burnside, taking part in the battle of Fredericksburg. He displayed great skill as commander of the First Division of the First Corps at Gettysburg, his troops being the first that engaged the enemy in the first day's fight. On the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac in the spring of 1864, he was assigned to the command of the Fourth Division of the Fifth Corps.

While rallying his troops, he was struck in the head by a bullet, and before he could be removed the enemy had gained possession of the ground where he laid. Although unconscious, he lingered for two days. Horace Greeley, in his "American Conflict," says: "The country's salvation claimed no nobler sacrifice than that of Gen. James S. Wadsworth, of New York. No one surrendered more for his country's sake, or gave his life more joyfully for her deliverance."

During our march from Gettysburg to Williamsport an incident occurred, which, though of trivial importance, made a deep impression on the minds of those who were a witness to it. We had halted for a rest, when General Wadsworth made his appearance. Seeing one of the boys without shoes he stopped his horse and called to a citizen, who was standing near by, and asked him if he was a Union man, and the man answering that he was, the general told him to take off his boots and give them to that barefooted soldier, adding, “It won't hurt you to do that much for your country." Having waited long enough to see his order carried out he passed along. There was so much sincerity, so much tender solicitude for the soldier, expressed in his manner, and the tone of his voice, that the scene is not likely to be forgotten by those who were a witness to it.

In the very interesting book, "Personal Reminiscences," by L. E. Chittenden, who was Register of the Treasury during the adminis

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tration of Mr. Lincoln, may be found a sketch of General Wadsworth, of which the following is an extract:

Wadsworth fell yesterday. He is in the hands of the enemy, either dead or mortally wounded.

I remember now the sharp pang of sorrow that went through my heart when this despatch was laid on my table; for James S. Wadsworth was a lovable man, my model of the very best type of the citizen of a free republic. I first knew him in the Peace Conference. He was then in the prime of life, with a magnificent physique, an open, frank face, a kind heart, and a fearless soul. After our call upon President Buchanan, he regarded our mission in the conference as ended. He said to James A. Seddon, of Virginia, “Why do you persist in your attempt to deceive the North? You secessionists mean fight! You will keep right on with your treasonable schemes until you either whip us or we discipline you. I shall stay here until Congress adjourns on the third of March, because I cannot honorably resign from the conference. Then I shall go home and help my people to get ready for the war in which you slaveholders intend to involve the Republic."

. . I loved

After the conference I heard no more of Wadsworth until, among the first of the seventy-five thousand, he appeared in Washington with a full regiment of his neighbors from the Genesee Valley. They came so promptly, it was said, because they were armed and clothed by Wadsworth himself. James S. Wadsworth. Here is what I wrote of him when he fell in May, 1864: "In the Peace Conference or in the world there was never a purer or more unselfish patriot. Those of us who were associated with him politically had learned to love and respect him. His adversaries admired his unflinching devotion to his country and his manly frankness and candor. He was the type of a true American, able, unselfish, prudent, unambitious, and good. Other pens will do justice to his memory, but I thought, as I heard the last account of him alive, as he lay within the rebel lines, his face wearing that serenity which grew more beautiful the nearer death approached, that the good and true men of the nation would prize their government more highly when they remembered that it could only be maintained by such sacrifices."

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

VIA ORANGE COURT HOUSE, May 6, 1864, 8 P.M. (Received Richmond, 4.45 P.M., 7th.)

SECRETARY OF WAR: Early this morning as the divisions of General Hill, engaged yesterday, were being relieved, the enemy advanced and created some confusion. The ground lost was recovered as soon as the fresh troops got into position, and the enemy driven back to his original line. Afterward we turned the left of his front line and drove it from the field, leaving a large number of dead and wounded in our

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hands, among them General Wadsworth. A subsequent attack forced the enemy into his intrenched lines on the Brock Road, extending from Wilderness Tavern, on the right to Trigg's Mill. Every advance on his part, thanks to a merciful God, has been repulsed. Our loss in killed is not large, but we have many wounded; most of them slightly, artillery being little used on either side. I grieve to announce that Lieutenant-General Longstreet was severely wounded and General Jenkins killed. General Pegram was badly wounded yesterday. General Stafford, it is hoped, will recover.

Saturday,
May 7.

R. E. LEE.

We remained in the earthworks until 4 P.M., when we were withdrawn to a hill looking down upon the junction of the Orange pike and the plank-road. Rations of fresh meat were issued, large fires were built, and coffee cooked.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

(Extract.)

May 7, 1864, 3 P.M.

At 8.30 P.M., Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth Corps, will move to Spottsylvania Court House, by way of Brock Road and Todd's Tavern.

By command of

MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE.

In obedience to this order, at 9 P.M. we started for Spottsylvania Court House, and marched all night. As we passed along in the rear of the rifle-pits, we noticed the tired soldiers fast asleep on the ground, oblivious to the steady tramp of soldiers who were marching within a few yards of them. We wished we were in the same blissful state. Finally the extreme left of the line was reached when we entered a narrow, crooked road in the woods which were dark as a pocket. Silently and stealthily the trail was followed in single file, and with great care, as the path became obscured. We were now in the heart of the Wilderness. Instructions were whispered along from the head of the line to "jump the run;" "look out for the log," etc., with cautionary orders not to lose connection with each other, nor to get out of the path. In this way we noiselessly marched until nearly daylight, when a halt was made, and the men, tired out, threw themselves on the ground for rest or sleep. We had overtaken the cavalry which was in advance, and now waited for daylight, having marched

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only twelve miles, owing to the difficulties we encountered on the way. We were now within four miles of Spottsylvania Court House.

Sunday,
May 8.

When daylight afforded us an opportunity of seeing each other's faces, it was impossible to restrain our laughter at the comical appearance we presented. The woods where we halted had been burned over by the fire which had been raging for twenty-four hours previously, making a bed of black ashes which stuck to our perspiring faces, so that, on waking, we looked more like drivers of charcoal wagons than soldiers.

Little time was granted us for rest. Some were hastily cooking their coffee while others were engaged in removing the black from their faces, when we were hurried forward, our division being in the advance. It was now learned that both armies were hastening to Spottsylvania Court House. Our present position was near Todd's Tavern, north-east from the town. The cavalry under General Sheridan opened the fight and were soon relieved by our (General Robinson's) division. As we passed out of the woods we charged the wooded hill in front, occupied by rebel dismounted cavalry, who retreated as we advanced, making a stand on another wooded hill half a mile beyond. Here they kept up a brisk fire, aided by artillery. Another charge was ordered, and up the hill we doublequicked, driving the enemy from the crest across an open plain. We were told by General Warren that we should find nothing but dismounted cavalry, but instead, we found Longstreet's corps. A section of a battery was discovered to the south and east of us that had been used to retard our advance. The "Johnnies" were busy getting it away, so we directed our fire toward the group of men and horses, hoping to capture it. A company of cavalry now rode out from the woods on the flank and hailed the battery. We supposed it to be Union cavalry demanding its surrender, and consequently reserved our fire. We soon discovered our error as we saw them running off the battery with drag ropes, whereupon we resumed our firing, but were unable to prevent their securing the gun.

A halt of a few minutes now took place, while we returned the fire from still another hill on the Alsop farm. Soon we received an order