SOLDIER 21 



other day, when out on picket, one of the men caught a 

 young pig and forthwith flayed and roasted him. That same 

 day, when on picket, a contraband brought us some fresh 

 eggs and some sweet potatoes; but such instances are few 

 and far between. Why, I became a nine-days' wonder on 

 returning to camp and relating my experience." 



Hard as he worked, he seems to have enjoyed himself 

 and got all the fun there was in the life he was living, and 

 to have made some besides. On February 21 he writes to 

 a classmate of a dream that carried him back to college 

 days, and all the old boys were there and each had his own 

 peculiar characteristics and the fun grew louder and louder, 

 until he awoke to find his captain sitting up and wondering 

 what had got into his usually staid and sober lieutenant. 



" With my elevation to my present elevated and highly 

 honorable position I have acquired a dignity of mien and 

 aldermanic rotundity of person highly gratifying to the 

 beholder. But I will tell you what I do miss, and that is 

 books. It would be a perfect luxury to get hold of some- 

 thing readable occasionally. Here we have nothing but 

 army tactics and regulations, a faithful study of which is 

 daily enjoined, which are very good in their way, but 

 not very improving to the mind. I 'm flourishing like the 

 owl of the desert and the pelican of the wilderness. My 

 nocturnal excursions in Amherst dodging the professors 

 have developed in me a strategical skill which will no doubt 

 cause my military genius soon to be recognized. But me- 

 thinks I hear you growl, 'What a cussed Goodell it is!' 

 so I will just dry up." 



