[fragment]

 

Harper's Ferry surrendered. The whole Rebel Army came to stop our forces. I remember so vividely the time, every year, & dream of terrible war. At 9 o'clock I ascended a hill & climbed a stack of grain, away for 3 miles was the camp fires of Union troops. A dark space & then the fires of the rebs'. I lay down in my place in line of battle, where thousands lay on the dry ground, a bundle of grain for a pillow, blankets over us, looking up at the stars, pondering on the morrow, of home friends, &c. I had been scratch twice by bullets & seven holes in my blouse & pants, 9 hits, in 8 days would I escape tomorrow? A sound sleep, and we found we were on reserve, till 1 PM, we became tired of watching the bursting shell, woulded, death. At 2 we had advanced so near we could see plenty of rebs laying down in a cornfield fireing. We skirmished some that is laid down & fired, roll over on our backs—load—then roll over & fire as fast as we / could. at 3.30 the order came "Scammon's Division Ohio men, Stand up! Tear down that fence boys"! our line extended around a hill we move up a few paces and behold! 16 regiments came into line. It was a grand sight and as I turned my head slightly and looked at 32 flags floating over the heads of men that formed two dark blue lines for one mile & half, I thanked God I was in the line. Thousands of victorious rebels were looking, waiting, for us and 22 heavy cannon were hurling a shower of balls, shells & grape at us. We stood just a moment (Burnside's whole reserve) and the terrible order came "Fix bayonets, Forward double quick, and give them hell! In half an hour over 3000 men were slain, & four thousand, seven hundred & twenty odd wounded. In one day over twenty three thousand were killed, [?] combat.

 

All this, that the man in the image of God, with a black color, whose blood & tears had watered the soil for years centuries, All this, that he should be free. I am glad, for today I have looked around at the terrible curse of slavery and told Anna I was so thankful that I had been born

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