This confession startled his hearers , as he knew it would , for he had kept his secret well . Thorn laid his hand involuntarily upon his rifle , Dick drew off a little , and Flint illustrated one of his own expressions , for he `` gawped . '' Phil laughed that musical laugh of his , and looked up at them with his dark face waking into sudden life , as he went on : -- `` There 's no treason in the camp , for I 'm as fierce a Federalist as any of you now , and you may thank a woman for it . When Lee made his raid into Pennsylvania , I was a lieutenant in the -- well , never mind what regiment , it has n't signalized itself since , and I 'd rather not hit my old neighbors when they are down . In one of the skirmishes during our retreat , I got a wound and was left for dead . A kind old Quaker found and took me home ; but though I was too weak to talk , I had my senses by that time , and knew what went on about me . Everything was in confusion , even in that well-ordered place : no surgeon could be got at first , and a flock of frightened women thee 'd and thou 'd one another over me , but had n't wit enough to see that I was bleeding to death . Among the faces that danced before my dizzy eyes was one that seemed familiar , probably because no cap surrounded it . I was glad to have it bending over me , to hear a steady voice say , ` Give me a bandage , quick ! ' and when none was instantly forthcoming to me , the young lady stripped up a little white apron she wore , and stanched the wound in my shoulder . I was not as badly hurt as I supposed , but so worn-out , and faint from loss of blood , they believed me to be dying , and so did I , when the old man took off his hat and said , -- `` Friend , if thee has anything to say , thee had better say it , for thee probably has not long to live . ' `` I thought of my little sister , far away in Alabama , fancied she came to me , and muttered , ` Amy , kiss me good-by . ' The women sobbed at that ; but the girl bent her sweet compassionate face to mine , and kissed me on the forehead . That was my wife . '' `` So you seceded from Secession right away , to pay for that lip-service , hey ? '' `` No , Thorn , not right away , -- to my shame be it spoken . I 'll tell you how it came about . Margaret was not old Bent 's daughter , but a Massachusetts girl on a visit , and a long one it proved , for she could n't go till things were quieter . While she waited , she helped take care of me ; for the good souls petted me like a baby when they found that a Rebel could be a gentleman . I held my tongue , and behaved my best to prove my gratitude , you know .
Of course , I loved XXXXX very soon .
Amy Dick Flint Lee Margaret Massachusetts Quaker Rebel Thorn right