Year: 1863

On the Tth instant | was examined by
the Post Surgeon, and was told that the
prospect of recovery was so remote that
he would have to report me for discharge,
under order No. 100, 1862. This order
provides that if an officer is disabled for
sixty days and then not fit for duty, he
must be mustered out and make room
for the promotion of others. The order
says the Government has provided pen
sions for disabled officers.


The certificate of the Surgeon set forth
that the disability was occasioned by an
Inflammation of the sinovial membrane
of the joint of the right knee, brought
on by a strain because of the weakness of
the leg from the wound received March
%, 1862, at the battle of Winchester, and
that the prospect of recovery to enable
me to take the field, was remote. Upon
this | was mustered out under order No.
100. .. -.- .- .


The surgeon also stated that would
be entitled to receive at least half pen
sion.


have felt for some time that this
might be the result of my disability; but
1 did not resign, because l did not wish
to leave the service, and next because l
felt that l had rendered hard service
enough and had suffered enough to enti-
tie me to all the benefits which muster
out would give ME.


Since receiving the wound have rem
dered about four months hard service.


The Pope campaign on the Rappahan-
mock was certainly hard enough. Who
that was ont with Banks Corps on the
last night of August, can ever forget the
hardships OF that single night? Think
over the rains of the whole season, and
fix the attention upon the heaviest one,
and then standing or marching through
it all, and finally halt and lie down in
the mud and water. without covering,
protection or fire, to sleep, with the ex-
pectation of an attack every hour, and
YOU can say truly, without even an impu-
tation that you are using the license OF
poetry


MY life's beset my path is lost,


The gale has chilled my limbs with frost"


This campaign made me sick. | was
not vet strong enough to endure such IA
tigues and exposures as was required of
the soldiers.


Afterwards the service at Harper's Fer
nv was very hard indeed. | was there
called upon to perform extra duty,
which, together with the ordinary duties
required in my regiment, taxed my ener-
gies and strength very much. The scout,
reconnaissance and picket duty was very
heavy. and in addition was called upon
to inspect our entire brigade. In Novem-
ber was in the saddle ON duty before
the enemy ten days in succession. Seven
davs was on horse from nine in the
morning until after nightfall. This was
no play, or holiday soldering.


This hard service, with the exposure of
the first week in December, caused the
Inflammation in the knee, which has re-
suited in my discharge. On the 8th of
December it was first felt, and in few
days the knee became very much swollen
and very painful, but after. the acute
SYMPTOMS yielded to the treatment, l
supposed l could go to duty, and applied
several times for permission to do so; but
the surgeons positively forbid 1T; and no
officer entered for treatment, can get out
of the CITY until he gets q certificate
| from the surgeon that he is fit for duty.


This discharge, at this time, is not what
wished or desired. l had always wished
| m remain in the service until the rebell-
ion was crushed; and to be compelled
| from disability to leave just at this time,
when the finishing blows are to be given
the rebels, and at time, too, when hon
orable and hard service was bringing such
reward as could not fail to crafty the
reasonable ambition of any man, is very
annoving. 1t must be accepted, howev-
-. as the fortune of war; but 1t IS very
hard to endure by one possessed of pat
riotic spirit, as well as reasonable ambi-
ton.


There is one consolation, which in part
will compensate for the sore dlsapPolnt-
ment. and that is that can. defend the
army and our traduced patriotic soldiers
AGAINST the abuses and SANDER Of the sym
pathisers with rebellion. The man who
goes forth to battle for his country and
| for his flag, for the right of human nature,
and does It braycly, nobly and well, is one
to challenge my highest respect and adj
mirations. His honor is dear to me, his
rights are as my rights, and no soldier
must play wantonly with that honor or
those rights. The isonor and reputation
of those brave men who went with me,
who stood with me in battle, who bravely
endured with me the discomIorts OF the
camp, and the hardships of the march,
are not to be the sport of every cowardiy
man. who chooses to render and and COM
fort to traitors, by abusing them. @


Their honor and life are dearer TO me
than nv OWN, and while have voice. 70