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parts of the field； having got separated from their corps and mixed
up with the enemy； and carried off the field with them as they
retired。 These for the most part accepted the offered parole； but
some fifteen； like Vincent； preferred a Northern prison to
promising to abstain from fighting in defense of their country； and
in the middle of the day they were placed together in a tent under a
guard at the rear of the camp。
The next morning came the news that Lee had fallen back。 There
was exultation among the Federals； not unmingled with a strong
sense of relief； for the heavy losses inflicted in the previous
fighting had taken all the ardor of attack out of McClellan's army；
and they were glad indeed that they were not to be called upon to
make another attempt to drive the Confederates from their
position。 Vincent was no less pleased at the news。 He knew how
thin were the ranks of the Confederate fighting men； and how
greatly they were worn and exhausted by fatigue and want of food；
and that； although they had the day before repulsed the attacks of
the masses of well…fed Northerners； such tremendous exertions
could not often be repeated； and a defeat； with the river in their
rear； approachable only by one rough and narrow road； would have
meant a total destruction of the army。
The next morning Vincent and his companions were put into the
train and sent to Alexandria。 They had no reason to complain of
their treatment upon the way。 They were well fed； and after their
starvation diet for the last six weeks their rations seemed to them
actually luxurious。 The Federal troops in Alexandria； who were for
the most part young recruits who had just arrived from the north
and west； looked with astonishment upon these thin and ragged
men； several of whom were barefooted。 Was it possible that such
scarecrows as these could in every battle have driven back the
well…fed and cared…for Northern soldiers！
〃Are they all like this？〃 one burly young soldier from a western
state asked their guard。
That's them； sir；〃 the sergeant in charge of the party replied。 〃Not
much to look at； are they？ But； by gosh； you should see them
fight！ You wouldn't think of their looks then。〃
〃If that's soldiering；〃 the young farmer said solemnly； 〃the sooner I
am back home again the better。 But it don't seem to me altogether
strange as they should fight so hard； because I should say they
must look upon it as a comfort to be killed rather than to live like
that。〃
A shout of laughter from the prisoners showed the young rustic
that the objects of his pity did not consider life to be altogether
intolerable even under such circumstances； and he moved away
meditating on the discomforts of war； and upon the remarks that
would be made were he to return home in so sorrowful a plight as
that of these Confederate prisoners。
〃I bargained to fight；〃 be said； 〃and though I don't expect I shall
＇ike it； I sha'n't draw back when the time comes； but as to being
starved till you are nigh a skeleton； and going about barefooted and
in such rags as a tramp wouldn't look at； it ain't reasonable。〃 And
yet； had he known it； among those fifteen prisoners more than half
were possessors of wide estates； and had been brought up from
their childhood in the midst of luxuries such as the young farmer
never dreamed of。
Among many of the soldiers sympathy took a more active form；
and men pressed forward and gave packets of tobacco； cigars； and
other little presents to them； while two or three pressed rolls of
dollar notes into their hands； with words of rough kindness。
〃There ain't no ill feeling in us； Rebs。 You have done your work
like men and no doubt you thinks your cause is right； just as we
does； but it's all over now； and maybe our turn will come next to
see the inside of one of your prisons down south。 So we are just
soldiers together； and can feel for each other。〃
Discipline in small matters was never strictly enforced in the
American armies； and the sergeant in charge offered no opposition
to the soldiers mingling with the prisoners as they walked along。
Two days later they were sent by railway to the great prison at
Elmira； a town in the southwest of the State of New York。 When
they reached the jail the prisoners were separated； Vincent； who
was the only officer； being assigned quarters with some twenty
others of the same rank。 The prisoners crowded round him as he
entered； eager to hear the last news from the front； for they heard
from their guards only news of constant victories won by the
Northerners； for every defeat was transformed by the Northern
papers into a brilliant victory； and it was only when the shattered
remains of the various armies returned to Alexandria to be
re…formed that the truth gradually leaked out。 Thus Antietam had
been claimed as a great Northern victory； for although McClellan's
troops had in the battle been hurled back shattered and broken
across the river； two days afterward Lee had retired。
One of the prisoners； who was also dressed in cavalry uniform；
hung back from the rest； and going to the window looked out while
Vincent was chatting with the others。 Presently he turned round；
and Vincent recognized with surprise his old opponent Jackson。
After a moment's hesitation he walked across the room to him。
〃Jackson；〃 he said； 〃we have not been friends lately； but I don't see
why we should keep up our quarrel any longer； we got on all right
at school together； and now we are prisoners together here it
would be foolish to continue our quarrel。 Perhaps we were both
somewhat to blame in that affair。 I am quite willing to allow I
was； for one； but I think we might well put it all aside now。〃
Jackson hesitated； and then took the hand Vincent held out to him。
〃That's right； young fellows；〃 one of the other officers said。 〃Now
that every Southern gentleman is fighting and giving his life； if
need be； for his country； no one has a right to have private quarrels
of his own。 Life is short enough as it is； certainly too short to
indulge in private animosities。 A few weeks ago we were fighting
side by side； and facing death together； to…day we are prisoners； a
week hence we may he exchanged； and soon take our places in the
ranks again。 It's the duty of all Southerners to stand shoulder to
shoulder； and there ought to be no such thing as ill…feeling among
ourselves。〃
Vincent was not previously aware that Jackson had obtained a
commission。 He now learned that he had been chosen by his
comrades to fill a vacancy caused by the death of an officer in a
skirmish just before Pope fell back from the Rappahannock； and
that he had been made prisoner a few days afterward in a charge
against a greatly superior body of Federal cava＇ry。
The great majority of the officers on both sides were at the
commencement of the war chosen by their comrades； the elections
at first taking