But it appeared we were not to receive them at that spot, for suddenly we were ordered off again, and marched across lots, to the destruction of many a bushel of wheat, clear into the intrenchments in front of Harrisburg.  There for the remainder of the day we waited in line.  Other regiments, we knew not what, were near us in different positions.  The signal flags were waving, and officers galloping by constantly, of whom the quartermaster was hailed with shouts of ‘Grub, grub.’

That night my company and two others went out on picket, taking position near our camp of the day before.  In the morning we advanced a little to a lane—­a cobbler’s stall was converted into headquarters, and the half of the company not on duty went foraging for dinner.  Pigs and chickens were captured, and cooking began in the kitchen of a deserted house close by.  Apple butter, too, the prevalent institution in Pennsylvania, was found in plenty.  So the two halves of the company relieved each other in standing guard and picnicking.  Meantime, however, the rebels, from the woods just in front, were paying their respects with two-inch shell, which shrieked and crashed through the branches, bursting over us, around us, and many of them altogether too near to be pleasant.  Moreover, by one of those blunders which cannot always be avoided, some of our own men, mistaking us, opened fire on our rear; but to this a stop was speedily put by a flag of truce, improvised from a ramrod and a white handkerchief.  We were allowed to fire only three or four volleys in return.  This skirmishing tries courage, I believe, more than a pitched battle.  To lie on the ground for hours, two or three miles in front of your main body, ten feet from the nearest man, and be fired at without firing yourself or making any noise, is a different thing from standing in your place amid the throng and all the noise, excitement, and enthusiasm of a battle, earnestly occupied in firing as fast as you can.  In a battle all the circumstances combine to produce high excitement and drive fear out of a man, leaving room only for that kind of courage properly called fearlessness or intrepidity, belonging to men like Governor Pickens, ‘born insensible to fear.’  But the highest grade of courage is that which, despite of fear, stands firm.  That is the courage of principle, of morale, as opposed to purely physical courage.  It is the last degree—­at the next step we rise into heroism.

In the afternoon we were relieved by a Pennsylvania company, and as we retired in full sight of the rebels, the rascals yelled at us, and gave us several volleys, from which it is wonderful that every man escaped.

That evening we moved to the extreme rear, into Fort Washington, on the bank of the river in front of Harrisburg.  Here it was said our advance work was over, and we were promised comfortable quarters and rest.