20 HENRY HILL GOODELL 



and guard-duty and acquiring the use of fire-arms, which 

 they did not receive until after they arrived at New Or- 

 leans. Goodell soon adjusted himself to the situation. He 

 writes February 7: 



"Everything is peaceful and quiet round here just now, 

 but it's frightfully cold. It is very singular weather here. 

 Just about so often we have a terrific rain-storm; when it 

 clears off, it will be intensely cold for three or four days, 

 then it will get unpleasantly hot and we have another 

 storm to subdue it. I don't think that these changes agree 

 with the men, for we have a large number on the sick-list. 

 The officers' ranks are so reduced by resignation and sick- 

 ness that, out of twenty lieutenants, we have only eight 

 for duty; the consequence is we have to work like Trojans, 

 for every day we detail two lieutenants, one for picket and 

 the other for guard. You would laugh to see me start out 

 on picket. First I have my overcoat on, and my sword 

 and fixings over that; then in my sling I carry my nine- 

 pound woolen blanket and my rubber blanket; then I have 

 my haversack with a day's rations, and lastly my canteen. 

 Oh, but you ought to see some of my dishes that I get up. 

 I should n't know how to name them, but they are luscious. 

 The other day I managed to get hold of some codfish, and 

 being in an experimenting frame of mind, made a delicious 

 fry. Soaked the critter over night, and next morning threw 

 the pieces into the frying-pan along with some pork; to this 

 I added a little concentrated milk instead of butter. Then 

 toasted some bread and poured the whole over it. Why, it 

 was a dish fit for a king ! We are lucky in being able to pro- 

 cure bread now. At first we could get nothing but hard- 

 tack. Fresh meat I have not tasted since we landed, till the 



