There was a moment's pause. "What regiment was your father in?" asked
the magistrate.

"He was in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania, your honor."

"Be careful, boy," said the other sternly. Don't try to deceive me."

"I don't want to deceive you, your honor," protested Samuel.

"What brigade was the Seventeenth Pennsylvania in?"

"In the Third Brigade, your honor."

"And who commanded it?"

"General Anderson--that is, until he was killed at the battle of
Chancellorsville. My father was there."

"I was there, too," said the judge.

"My father used to tell me about it," exclaimed Samuel with sudden
eagerness. "His brigade was in the right wing and they had a double
line of trenches. And the rebels charged the line with cavalry. They
charged a dozen times during the day, and there were big trees cut
down by the bullets. My father said the rebels never fought harder
than they did right there."

"Yes," said his honor, "I know. I was one of them."