I ought to have done so, but didn't.

I stayed there until this body of infantry came up.

They had come to relieve the cavalry.

It was a detail of negro soldiers, headed by the meanest looking white man as their captain, I ever saw.
In very abrupt words he told the cavalry that he had come to take their place, and they were ordered to report back to their command.

Happening to catch sight of me, he asked, "What is this Rebel doing here ?" One of the men spoke up and tried to say something in my favor, but the more he said the more the captain of the blacks would get mad.