RUBY. 53 



military prison, Lebanon was as complete and 

 well-ordered a station as could be found in South 

 Missouri. I had the questionable honor and the 

 unquestionable comfort of holding its command 

 from the end of January to the end of April, — 

 three dreamy months, that seem now to have 

 been passed in a shooting-lodge, under favorable 

 auspices. 



As a legacy of the "Hundred Days," when 

 the " Fourth Missouri " was the " Fremont Hus- 

 sars," we had an able-bodied and extremely well- 

 selected regimental band, that soothed our over- 

 tasked senses when we came in from our work 

 in the fields, gathering where our enemies had 

 sown, and (under the suspended game-laws of 

 the State) shooting grouse and quail in the early 

 spring. 



Naturally, most of my official duties were such 

 as could be performed by an extremely well-reg- 

 ulated adjutant ; and I usually passed his busy 

 half-hour (in private) with Ruby. There had 

 been an impetuosity about the horse at the out- 

 set which it was desirable to quell, and I rode 



