CHAPTER XV.
FREDERICKSBURG.
As soon as breakfast was over Vincent mounted Wildfire, which had been sent back after he had been taken prisoner, and rode into Richmond.
There he reported himself at headquarters as having returned after escaping from a Federal prison and making his way through the lines of the enemy.
"I had my shoulder-bone smashed in a fight with some Yankees," he said, "and was laid up in hiding for six weeks; but have now fairly recovered.
My shoulder, at times, gives me considerable pain, and although I am desirous of returning to duty and rejoining my regiment until the battle at Fredericksburg has taken place, I must request that three months' leave be granted to me after that to return home and complete my cure, promising, of course, to rejoin my regiment at once should hostilities break out before the spring." "We saw the news that you had escaped," the general said, "but feared, as so long a time elapsed without hearing from you, that you had been shot in attempting to cross the lines.

Your request for leave is granted, and a note will be made of your zeal in thus rejoining on the very day after your return.

The vacancy in the regiment has been filled up, but I will appoint you temporarily to General Stuart's staff, and I shall have great pleasure in to-day filling up your commission as captain.

Now let me hear how you made your escape.

By the accounts published in the Northern papers it seemed that you must have had a confederate outside the walls." Vincent gave a full account of his escape from prison and a brief sketch of his subsequent proceedings, saying only that he was in the house of some loyal people in Tennessee when it was attacked by a party of Yankee bushwhackers; that these were beaten off in the fight, but that he himself had a pistol bullet in his shoulder.