Readers, in writing this book, I do not intend tobring before you a work of ability; but simply to describea few of the many scenes that I passed throughwhile in the Army of the Potomac and in the hospital.It is true, that I did not suffer as some of our soldiersdid; but having lost my right arm, which excludes mefrom most kinds of work, I have taken this method ofgaining a living. I have myself and wife to care for,and my wife's health being poor, makes it still harderfor me to get along; and thus, by writing this book,I hope to place myself and wife in comfortable circumstances.With these few remarks, I throw myselfupon the generosity of the public, thanking them forthe kindness I have already received, and assuringthem that I shall always be grateful for their aid inthe support of myself and wife.
At the breaking out of the Great Rebellion, Iwas engaged at carriage-making in the town ofRussell, in Massachusetts, but thought it my dutyto enter the service in defence of my country, anddo what little I could to keep traitors from tramplingthe good old flag under their feet. I wentand was examined, but was rejected. I came backwith downcast feelings, but was determined to tryagain. As time rolled on, and my health improved,I tried again for a soldier's life, but without success.I little knew the hardships and perils, of activeservice, and thought it very pretty sport. Butit was not the novelty of the scene that inspiredme to go, but the love of my country. Finally,at my third examination, I was accepted; and myheart beat with joy.
I left Springfield, the twelfth day of September,perhaps never to return; and went to Long Island,in Boston Harbor. There I remained one week;then the Transport came to take us far from our[4]homes. Many were the wistful glances that werecast back towards our home, where were the oneswe loved most dear; and how we longed for onemore farewell salute before we left our nativeState; but that could not be. The wind wasblowing hard (it makes my brain dizzy to think ofit now); but we had to go. We little knew butwe should find a watery grave before reaching thescene of action; but the weather calmed, and wehad a very pleasant voyage, and arrived at thefront, where I was placed in Company E, Thirty-secondRegiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, whowere lying at Culpepper, Virginia (which is aboutsixty miles from Washington, and in the directionof Richmond). Here I first commenced my lifein the army. We were not destined to remainhere long; for in less than two weeks, Lee, withhis host of rebels, came marching on to Washington.Then commenced Meade's retreat for Centreville.That was the first marching I had done,and I then hoped it would be the last, for my feetwere badly blistered. My readers can judge forthemselves how they would like to march twenty-threehours out of twenty-four, wi