"And all that was death
Grows life, grows love,
Grows love."--BROWNING.
The Doctor held my hand.
Couriers and aides had gone flying in every direction. A hubbub rose;
clouds of dust were in the west and north and east and
south--everywhere. The Army of the Potomac was retreating.
But not the whole army as yet. Beyond the Rappahannock were three
corps,--the Sixth, the Fifth, and the Second, under Sedgwick, Sykes, and
Warren,--which General Meade had thrown forward on the morning of this
day, in the belief that Lee was retiring. Until these troops should
succeed in recrossing to the north side of the river, a strong force
must hold the bridges.
Thomas had left my gun. The Doctor shouldered it. I think this was the
first gun he had ever touched. He took me with him.
Long lines of wagons and cannon were driving northward and eastward on
every road. The Doctor said little. Tears were in his eyes and sobs in
his voice. I had never seen him thus.
We reached the Sanitary Camp. The tents were already struck, and the
wagons ready to move.
"Stay here one moment, my boy," the Doctor said.
He left me and approached an ambulance, into which I could not see; all
its curtains were down. He raised the corner of a curtain, remained
there while one might count a hundred--or a million--and came back
to me.
"Now get in, Jones," he said, preparing to mount his horse.