Within an hour an ambulance came in (attended by Colonels Clark and Strong, and Captains Steele and Gile), bearing McPherson's body.

I had it carried inside of the Howard House, and laid on a door wrenched from its hinges.

Dr.Hewitt, of the army, was there, and I asked him to examine the wound.

He opened the coat and shirt, saw where the ball had entered and where it came out, or rather lodged under the skin, and he reported that McPherson must have died in a few seconds after being hit; that the ball had ranged upward across his body, and passed near the heart.
He was dressed just as he left me, with gauntlets and boots on, but his pocket-book was gone.

On further inquiry I learned that his body must have been in possession of the enemy some minutes, during which time it was rifled of the pocket-book, and I was much concerned lest the letter I had written him that morning should have fallen into the hands of some one who could read and understand its meaning.