[322] and men saw clearly that which they had always believed was present, but hidden. But he had done his work, and shown how an earnest and pure heart could overcome both constitutional weakness and the disappointments which come to all enthusiastic men; and now he was to meet in battle the end he had long looked forward to with earnest readiness. In the following letter from Lieutenant Miller, formerly one of James's sergeants, we may read the story of his wounds and capture.
The 9th of August, 1862, was a very hot, sultry day. Our brigade marched from Culpeper to within about one mile of Cedar Mountain, where we halted in a piece of woods. Our artillery was already slightly engaged with the Rebels. At about five o'clock, P. M., a brigade of our corps d'armee advanced and attacked the Rebels. They were soon repulsed, and our brigade was ordered forward. We advanced through a piece of woods, my company (A) being thrown forward as skirmishers. My company advanced to within one hundred yards of the Rebels, and we maintained our position while the regiment formed in line of battle in our rear. My Captain (Abbott) had just given the order to fall back on the regiment, when I was struck and fell insensible. When I recovered my senses, I attempted to walk back to the regiment, but was taken prisoner, and led about two miles to the rear of the enemy's lines, where they laid me on the ground with about one hundred and fifty more wounded. About midnight the surgeon dressed my wound, and told me that Major Savage, of my regiment, was also wounded and a prisoner. In the morning I got one of the nurses to lead me to the Major, when I laid down beside him, and we talked and chatted together to pass the time during the day. The Major was very cheerful, though in considerable pain. About nine o'clock that night the Major was put in an ambulance and taken away. The next morning I, too, was sent to the rear. . . . . Major Savage received three wounds. First, a bullet broke his right arm near the shoulder, the ball lodging in the flesh; second, another ball broke his right leg just above the ankle; while he was falling he received a severe contusion on the left hip from a spent ball. About a week after our capture, the surgeons decided to remove the ball in his arm by cutting it out. They accordingly gave him ether. Large quantities were administered without any effect, when the Major sat up in bed, and in a few minutes the ball
