152 MEN I HAVE FISHED WITH. 



While it was out of the question for me to think of 

 going at that time, and as there was then no doubt but 

 the trouble would be all over in a few months and my 

 services would not be needed, still this story of the rank 

 of enlisted men seemed strange. I knew little of mili- 

 tary matters, but I had friends who were well posted. I 

 met Colonel Michael K. Bryan, of the Twenty-fifth State 

 Militia, afterward Colonel One Hundred and Seventy- 

 fifth New York Volunteers, who was killed at Port Hud- 

 son on June 14, 1863, and sez I to Colonel Mike, sez I: 

 "Colonel Bryan, our friend, Steve Martin, tells me that 

 in the regiment of sharpshooters which Colonel Berdan 

 is raising every enlisted man will be a second lieutenant 

 after his muster into the United States service. How is 

 this?" 



"Steve proposed to you to enlist?" 



"Yes; said he would if I would." 



Then Colonel Mike sez he to me, sez he: "That's a 

 beautiful bit of gossamer from Steve's workshop, spun 

 to catch such green bottles as you. A regiment of sec- 

 ond lieutenants! I suppose the corporals must be cap- 

 tains and the sergeants field officers, and just how they 

 would find rank enough for the drum major only Steve 

 could tell. Did he tell you that he had authority to raise 

 a company for this regiment and already had his com- 

 mission as captain?" 



"No, that's all news to me. Is it so?" 



"Yes, he has the company partly filled and his com- 

 mission has been issued." 



"Thank you very much, Colonel; I think I under- 

 stand the situation now. Good morning." 



This was some time in late July, and I talked with 

 Steve often and he appeared anxious to enlist if I would. 

 Nearly six years among men who were simple in their 



