I  was  wounded,  and  dangerously  so,  on  the  23rd  day  of  June,
1864,  immediately  after  our  movement  to  the  left  along  the  Jeru-
salem Plank  Road.  I  had  lost  Walker,  a  serious  and  sad  thing
for  our  Company.  It  left  my  command  in  a  position  not  to  be
envied.  The  Regiment  had  lost  its  virtual  leader  in  the  disable-
ment of  Major  George  W.  Merrick.
The  leaders  of  the  rebellion  of  1861  to  1865  were  terribly  in
earnest.  It  required  strategy  and  courage  to  subdue  them.  It
was  accomplished,  however,  by  a  fearful  sacrifice  of  life.  Four
hundred  and  sixty-six  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  eighty-six
men  laid  down  their  lives  that  the  Republic  might  live.
