I heard the roar, and felt the flash of fire, and saw my more than friend, William A.Hughes, grab the muzzle of the gun, receiving the whole contents in his hand and arm, and mortally wounding him.

Reader, he died for me.
In saving my life, he lost his own.

When the infirmary corps carried him off, all mutilated and bleeding he told them to give me "Florence Fleming" (that was the name of his gun, which he had put on it in silver letters), and to give me his blanket and clothing.

He gave his life for me, and everything that he had.

It was the last time that I ever saw him, but I know that away up yonder, beyond the clouds, blackness, tempest and night, and away above the blue vault of heaven, where the stars keep their ceaseless vigils, away up yonder in the golden city of the New Jerusalem, where God and Jesus Christ, our Savior, ever reign, we will sometime meet at the marriage supper of the Son of God, who gave His life for the redemption of the whole world.
For several nights they made attacks upon our lines, but in every attempt, they were driven back with great slaughter.