While returning to General Sherman, I passed along the Second and part of the Third Division.

On the left of the Second I found a new Illinois regiment, high up in numbers, working its way into position.

The colonel, a brave but inexperienced officer, was trying to lead his men according to the popular pictorial idea, viz., riding in advance waving his sword.
I was leading my horse, and taking advantage of such cover as I could find on my course, but this man acted so bravely that I tried to save him.

He did not accept my expostulations with very good grace, but was not rough about it.

While I was begging him to dismount, he waved his sword and advanced.