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re the other day； it seemed to bring Lexington and the other Nineteenth of April close to us。 War has always been the mint in which the world's history has been coined； and now every day or week or month has a new medal for us。 It was Warren that the first impression bore in the last great coinage； if it is Ellsworth now； the new face hardly seems fresher than the old。 All battle…fields are alike in their main features。 The young fellows who fell in our earlier struggle seemed like old men to us until within these few months； now we remember they were like these fiery youth we are cheering as they go to the fight； it seems as if the grass of our bloody hillside was crimsoned but yesterday； and the cannon…ball imbedded in the church… tower would feel warm； if we laid our hand upon it。
Nay； in this our quickened life we feel that all the battles from earliest time to our own day； where Right and Wrong have grappled； are but one great battle； varied with brief pauses or hasty bivouacs upon the field of conflict。 The issues seem to vary； but it is always a right against a claim； and； however the struggle of the hour may go； a movement onward of the campaign； which uses defeat as well as victory to serve its mighty ends。 The very implements of our warfare change less than we think。 Our bullets and cannonballs have lengthened into bolts like those which whistled out of old arbalests。 Our soldiers fight with weapons； such as are pictured on the walls of Theban tombs； wearing a newly invented head…gear as old as the days of the Pyramids。
Whatever miseries this war brings upon us； it is making us wiser； and； we trust； better。 Wiser； for we are learning our weakness； our narrowness； our selfishness； our ignorance； in lessons of sorrow and shame。 Better； because all that is noble in men and women is demanded by the time； and our people are rising to the standard the time calls for。 For this is the question the hour is putting to each of us： Are you ready； if need be； to sacrifice all that you have and hope for in this world； that the generations to follow you may inherit a whole country whose natural condition shall be peace； and not a broken province which must live under the perpetual threat； if not in the constant presence； of war and all that war brings with it？ If we are all ready for this sacrifice； battles may be lost； but the campaign and its grand object must be won。
Heaven is very kind in its way of putting questions to mortals。 We are not abruptly asked to give up all that we most care for； in view of the momentous issues before us。 Perhaps we shall never be asked to give up all； but we have already been called upon to part with much that is dear to us； and should be ready to yield the rest as it is called for。 The time may come when even the cheap public print shall be a burden our means cannot support； and we can only listen in the square that was once the marketplace to the voices of those who proclaim defeat or victory。 Then there will be only our daily food left。 When we have nothing to read and nothing to eat； it will be a favorable moment to offer a compromise。 At present we have all that nature absolutely demands；we can live on bread and the newspaper。
MY HUNT AFTER 〃THE CAPTAIN。〃
In the dead of the night which closed upon the bloody field of Antietam； my household was startled from its slumbers by the loud summons of a telegraphic messenger。 The air had been heavy all day with rumors of battle； and thousands and tens of thousands had walked the streets with throbbing hearts； in dread anticipation of the tidings any hour might bring。
We rose hastily； and presently the messenger was admitted。 I took the envelope from his hand； opened it； and read：
HAGERSTOWN 17th
To__________ H ______
Capt H______ wounded shot through the neck thought not mortal at Keedysville
WILLIAM G。 LEDUC
Through the neck；no bullet left in wound。 Windpipe； food…pipe； carotid； jugular； half a dozen smaller； but still formidable vessels； a great braid of nerves； each as big as a lamp…wick； spinal cord； ought to kill at once； if at all。 Thought not mortal； or not thought mortal；which was it？ The first； that is better than the second would be。 …〃Keedysville； a post…office； Washington Co。； Maryland。〃 Leduc？ Leduc？ Don't remember that name。 The boy is waiting for his money。 A dollar and thirteen cents。 Has nobody got thirteen cents？ Don't keep that boy waiting；how do we know what messages he has got to carry？
The boy had another message to carry。 It was to the father of Lieutenant…Colonel Wilder Dwight； informing him that his son was grievously wounded in the same battle； and was lying at Boonsborough； a town a few miles this side of Keedysville。 This I learned the next morning from the civil and attentive officials at the Central Telegraph Office。
Calling upon this gentleman； I found that he meant to leave in the quarter past two o'clock train； taking with him Dr。 George H。 Gay； an accomplished and energetic surgeon； equal to any difficult question or pressing emergency。 I agreed to accompany them； and we met in the cars。 I felt myself peculiarly fortunate in having companions whose society would be a pleasure； whose feelings would harmonize with my own； and whose assistance I might； in case of need； be glad to claim。
It is of the journey which we began together； and which I finished apart； that I mean to give my 〃Atlantic〃 readers an account。 They must let me tell my story in my own way； speaking of many little matters that interested or amused me； and which a certain leisurely class of elderly persons； who sit at their firesides and never travel； will； I hope； follow with a kind of interest。 For； besides the main object of my excursion； I could not help being excited by the incidental sights and occurrences of a trip which to a commercial traveller or a newspaper…reporter would seem quite commonplace and undeserving of record。 There are periods in which all places and people seem to be in a conspiracy to impress us with their individuality； in which every ordinary locality seems to assume a special significance and to claim a particular notice； in which every person we meet is either an old acquaintance or a character； days in which the strangest coincidences are continually happening； so that they get to be the rule； and not the exception。 Some might naturally think that anxiety and the weariness of a prolonged search after a near relative would have prevented my taking any interest in or paying any regard to the little matters around me。 Perhaps it had just the contrary effect； and acted like a diffused stimulus upon the attention。 When all the faculties are wide…awake in pursuit of a single object； or fixed in the spasm of an absorbing emotion； they are oftentimes clairvoyant in a marvellous degree in respect to many collateral things； as Wordsworth has so forcibly illustrated in his sonnet on the Boy of Windermere； and as Hawthorne has developed with such metaphysical accuracy in that chapter of his wondrous story where Hester walks forth to meet her punishment。
Be that as it may；though I set out with a full and heavy heart； though many times my blood chill