CONCLUSION
"And all that was death
Grows life, grows love,
Grows love."--BROWNING.
The Doctor held my hand.
Couriers and aides had gone flying in every direction. A hubbub rose; clouds of dust were in the west and north and east and south--everywhere. The Army of the Potomac was retreating.
But not the whole army as yet. Beyond the Rappahannock were three corps,--the Sixth, the Fifth, and the Second, under Sedgwick, Sykes, and Warren,--which General Meade had thrown forward on the morning of this day, in the belief that Lee was retiring. Until these troops should succeed in recrossing to the north side of the river, a strong force must hold the bridges.
Thomas had left my gun. The Doctor shouldered it. I think this was the first gun he had ever touched. He took me with him.
Long lines of wagons and cannon were driving northward and eastward on every road. The Doctor said little. Tears were in his eyes and sobs in his voice. I had never seen him thus.
We reached the Sanitary Camp. The tents were already struck, and the wagons ready to move.
"Stay here one moment, my boy," the Doctor said.
He left me and approached an ambulance, into which I could not see; all its curtains were down. He raised the corner of a curtain, remained there while one might count a hundred--or a million--and came back to me.