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OF WILLIAM McKINLEY
69
CHAPTER VIII
The End of a Three Years' Enlistment—McKinley on General Hayes's Staff—Battles at Kernstown and Winchester—A Mission of Life or Death
Early in June, the regiment to which Lieutenant McKinley was attached joined General Hunter's command at Staunton. The majority of the soldiers had now served their full three years of enlistment, and it became a question with these whether they should retire or reënlist as veterans.
"I've seen enough of this war," said one soldier. "I've been in a dozen skirmishes and battles, been shot once, and been sick half a dozen times. I'm going home and give somebody else a chance to bring the rebs to terms."
This sentiment was expressed by a number of others, and those uttering it could not be blamed; for, as they said, they had seen many hardships, and some had not been home since they had enlisted. Mc-
