and cut a gash in my cheek which bled profusely. In
this condition I entered the city of Washington with the
first troops, so that with the exception of one or two
soldiers, wounded a few days previously in passing
through the streets of Baltimore, I can justly claim that
I "shed my blood for my country" among the first of its
defenders. I gloried in being useful to the land that had
done so much for me, and worked, I can truly say, night
and day, to open communication to the South.

I soon removed my headquarters to Alexandria, ¹
Virginia, and was stationed there when the unfortunate
battle of Bull Run was fought. We could not believe the
reports that came to us, but it soon became evident that
we must rush every engine and car to the front to bring
back our defeated forces. The closest point then was
Burke Station. I went out there and loaded up train
after train of the poor wounded volunteers. The rebels
were reported to be close upon us and we were finally
compelled to close Burke Station, the operator and my-
self leaving on the last train for Alexandria where the
effect of panic was evident upon every side. Some of our
railway men were missing, but the number at the mess
on the following morning showed that, compared with
other branches of the service, we had cause for congratu-
lation. A few conductors and engineers had obtained
boats and crossed the Potomac, but the great body of

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