that the army is about to do a certain thing, that they will not do
any such thing, but something very different. No, the Southern
government is now a complete military despotism, and for a
successful carrying on of the war against them I think we must
adopt, to some extent, the same rigid policy. Freedom of opinion is
a precious right, and freedom of the press a valuable boon, but when
the publication of news and the utterance of personal opinions
endanger the lives of our soldiers, and even the success of our
armies, surely it is the duty of the government to restrain that
utterance.




CHAPTER V.

COURIER SERVICE.

New Duties. -- Battle approaching. -- Deserters and Scouts.
-- A Providence. -- Position and Forces of the Confederates.
-- Orders to prepare to move. -- My New Position. -- March
to the Battle Field. -- Federals off their Guard. -- Care of
the Confederates against Desertion. -- Council of War. -- A
Dreary Night. -- Awfulness of War. -- The Fight opened. --
Beauregard's Address. -- The First Dead. -- Détour. -- Camp
of 71st Ohio Volunteers. -- Failure of Strategy. -- General
Johnson killed. -- Death concealed. -- Furious Fighting. --
Horse killed. -- Sad Scene. -- Rebels gaining. -- Struck by
a Shell. -- Another Horse killed. -- The Wounded Cavalryman
and his Horse. -- Sleep in the Camp of the 71st Ohio. --