PREFACE.



official exactness so well accomplished in the
works above referred to, but will deal with
such experiences as soldiers talk about when
they meet each other at their re-unions and
camp-fires. It is also my desire to treat the
subject in an introspective manner, from a per-
sonal standpoint; from the inner life; emotion-
ally and subjectively, and thereby refresh in
the minds of my comrades their own impres-
sions and feelings.
   In mitigation of the charge of vanity dis-
played by this course, reference is made to the
fact that a story related by an eye-witness, even
if unskillfully told, possesses a certain interest,
and that those most capable of describing stir-
ring and tragic events may not happen to be at
hand to be moved and inspired by them.



iv