"Does she ask for me?"
"No," said Leila, "at first she did, but not now."
"Read the letter, my dear."
"DEAR LEILA: I wrote to Aunt Ann and Uncle Jim a fortnight ago--"
"Never came," said Penhallow.
"I am called an engineer, but there is no engineering required, so I am
any General's nigger. I have been frozen and thawed over and over. No
camp fires allowed, and our frozen 15,000 besieged 21,000 men. General
S.T. Smith picked me up as an aide, and on the 15th personally led a
charge on the Rebel lines, walking quietly in front of our men to keep
them from firing. It did not prevent the Rebs from abusing our
neutrality. It was not very agreeable, but we stormed their lines and I
got off with a bit out of my left shoulder--nothing of moment. Now we
have them. If this war goes on, Grant will be the man who will end it. I
am too cold to write more. Love to all.
"General Smith desires to be remembered to Uncle Jim, and told me he was
more than satisfied with
"Yours,
"JOHN PENHALLOW."
"Isn't that delightful, Uncle Jim? But every night I think of it--this
facing of death. I see battles and storming parties. Don't you see things
before you fall asleep? I can see whatever I want to see--or don't want
to."
"Never saw anything of the kind--I just go to sleep.
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