26 HORSE, FOOT, AND DRAGOONS. 



A red and white guidon, fluttering among a group of horsemen 

 on the highest point of the ascent, indicated the position of the 

 staff, and towards it I hurried to .ascertain what was going on, 

 arriving in time to see a reconnoitring party of the enemy's 

 cavalry disappearing in a line of woods in the valley below, 

 pursued by a troop of our own. They wore white linen covers 

 over their shakos to distinguish them from our men, and as- 

 their line vanished into the shadow of the trees, I could see 

 them turning to give a parting shot or two. Our troopers 

 soon returned, reporting no large body of the enemy in sight, 

 and as the hour of noon had approached, orders were given to 

 halt where we were. 



The skirmishers rejoined their regiments, arms were stacked, 

 ranks were broken, and preparations were made for the noon- 

 day meal. Wherever the least shelter from the rain could be 

 found, the men began to build their fires to make their coffee 

 and heat their soup — hard work at first, for the ground was 

 damp and the rain falling heavily ; but as one succeeded, others 

 borrowed the embers, and soon a hundred little fires were burn- 

 ing all over the fields, the smoke curling through the wet grass, 

 and half hiding the groups of busy soldiers. The regimental 

 canteens, huge, solidly built wagons, drawn by two and some- 

 times four horses, and presided over by the cantiniere, or female 

 sutler, of the regiment, came up from the rear, and were soon 

 surrounded by chaffing, pushing throngs of soldiers. 



Alas for the picturesque vivandiere of by -gone times, the 

 traditional " daughter of the regiment !" Where is she now ? 

 Can this fat old woman, her white cap fastened on her head 

 by an old red shawl passing under her chin, and a much -worn 

 private's overcoat thrown over her shoulders, striving with scold- 

 ins voice and authoritative s^estures to maintain a little order 

 among her thirsty customers, as she stands behind the tail-board 



