on the 22d of July, and later at Franklin, they withstood so magnificently the shock of battle, and at the word of command hurled themselves again and again against the enemy, rushing dauntlessly onward to meet overwhelming numbers and certain death.  On the 18th of July, the news reached us that General Johnston had been relieved from command, and that General Hood had succeeded him.  I knew nothing of the relative merits of the two commanders, and had no means of judging but by the effect upon the soldiers by whom I was then surrounded.  The whole post seemed as if stricken by some terrible calamity.  Convalescents walked about with lagging steps and gloomy faces.  In every ward lay men who wept bitterly or groaned aloud or, covering their faces, refused to speak or eat.  From that hour the buoyant, hopeful spirit seemed to die out.  I do not think anything was ever the same again.  For, when after the awful sacrifice of human life which followed the inauguration of the new policy, the decimated army still were forced to retreat, the shadow of doom began to creep slowly upon the land.  The anchor of my soul was my unbounded confidence in President Davis; while he was at the helm I felt secure of ultimate success, and bore present ills and disappointments patiently, never doubting.  Meantime, disquieting rumors were flying about, railroad communication was cut off here and there, and with it mail facilities.  Of course the Confederate leaders were apprised of the movements of the Federals, but at the hospital post we were constantly on the qui vive.  Large numbers of convalescents were daily returning to the front, among them Lieutenant Cluverius, Mr. Vaudry, and Captain Weller.

Rumors of the approach of the Federal forces under McCook had for days disquieted our minds.  The little town of Newnan and immediately surrounding country was already full of refugees.  Every day brought more.  Besides, the presence of hundreds of sick and wounded, in the hospitals which had been established there, rendered the prospect of an advance of the enemy by no means a pleasant one.  But, as far as the hospitals were concerned, the surgeons in charge must await orders from headquarters.  As long as none were received, we felt comparatively safe.

One night, however, a regiment of Roddy’s Confederate Cavalry quietly rode in, taking possession of the railroad depot at the foot of the hill, and otherwise mysteriously disposing of themselves in the same neighborhood.  The following morning opened bright and lovely, bringing to the anxious watchers of the night before that sense of security which always comes with the light.  All business was resumed as usual.  I had finished my early rounds, fed my special cases, and was just entering the distributing-room to send breakfast to the wards, when a volley of musketry, quickly followed by another and another, startled the morning air.  Quickly an excited crowd collected and rushed to the