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went to Leesburg In time to go with my company. My knee was not well and did not get well for several weeks, but I wanted to be with my company if there was a battle. On the morning of the 19th, I was left with five of my company to picket the road near Sudley Springs. About twelve o'clock I went to Col. Hunton with some information in regard to the movement of the Union Army. After delivering my information, I wanted to go back to my company. Col. Hunton would not let me go, but kept me with him as his courier. On the 21st the first battle of Manassas was fought. After that day I did not want to leave Col. Hunton and the 8th Virginia, and when ordered on the 22nd of December to rejoin my company inside of twentyfour hours, I obeyed the order but on the same day applied for a transfer to the 8th Virginia Infantry, which I received the first day of February '62. Here I remained until the close of the war. Col. Hunton wrote to Gen. Beaureguard’s Adjutant General asking him to let me remain with him, and said that he could not do without me. Maj. Norbourn Berkeley carried the letter and said all he could to prevent my going. He told the adjutant general that my horse was lame; he said if my horse could not go, I must walk. Maj. Berkeley then told him that I was lame; he then said if I could not walk, I must crawl. I rejoined my company on the 23rd of December '61 and remained with it until the first day of February 1862. The morning of the 25th of December '61 my company was on picket east of Fairfax C. H. I was put on post at four o’clock in the morning, to be relieved at six, but they did not relieve me until eight. That was the last time I was on picket duty. I do not think one can know how he will feel in battle until he tries it. When going in battle, I prayed to our Heavenly Father to enable me to do my duty. I prayed that my life might be spared, if it was His will, but if it was His will that I should be killed, I asked Him to take me to rest, and to take care of and comfort my wife and children and aged Father and Mother. I was enabled to so act as to please my colonel who commenced talking about me the next day, not knowing that I was present. When he saw me_Jjs_ said, “Hummer, I did not know you wereTpresent but as I have commenced, I will say what I was going to say." He spoke of me in the highest terms of praise. In reply I said I was gratified if I had given satisfaction. He said I gave entire satisfaction.
Several times during the day July 21, 1861 Col. Hunton saw men marching and did not know whether they were friends or foes. He would send me to find out who they were. They were all friends. The regiment was in line of battle by the side of a narrow strip of woods, between the “Robison
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