| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 2 |
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“All our delegates but one left for parts unknown. The woods soon covered their line of retreat, and shut them away from danger. After the shelling had ceased they gathered back to the tent one by one, till all but two returned. Their stories were amusing. Two positively affirmed that they had no regard for themselves, but they felt bound to seek their safety on account and for the sake of their wives and children. One or two confessed frankly that they did not like to be shot at, and deemed discretion the better part of valour. Only one had courage enough to stay with me till morning, while all the rest went back two miles to another camp hospital. When morning came two went straight to White Horse, resolved to find a place where they could be free from the terrible scorching of rebel shells. A tall rock on the crest of the hill had to shield a number of boys from real or supposed danger. They formed a line for twenty or thirty yards behind it and just as the direction of the coming shell seemed to them, so they shifted. When a shell came from the right, the whole pendulumlike column swung to the left, and vice versa.”
Delegates and stores reached City Point June 15. A station was at once established which existed for more than a year. Here some of the most strenuous work of the campaign was carried on by the Commission. Mr. Miller was active here as well as at Point of Rocks. Of his work at the latter place he wrote, under date of August 31, 1864, a report that gives a splendid glimpse of the activities at a busy station.
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