d the rest of my life in bed!"

We didn't kill old Crouch--I don't know why, except that he was
protected by a special providence, which sometimes permits such evil
deeds to go unpunished. We used to hope that he would blow his own
brains out, through his bugle, but he didn't--he lived many years after
the war.

=Camp Recreations=

In between our stated duties, we had some time in which we could amuse
ourselves as we chose, and we had many means of entertainment. We had a
chessboard and men--a set of quoits, dominoes, and cards; and there was
the highly intellectual game of "push pin" open to all comers. Some very
skillful chess players were discovered in the company. When the weather
served, we had games of ball, and other athletic games, such as foot
races, jumping, boxing, wrestling, lifting heavy weights, etc. At night
we would gather in congenial groups around the camp fires and talk and
smoke and "swap lies," as the boys expressed it.

There was one thing from which we got a great deal of fun. We got up an
organization amongst the youngsters which was called the "Independent
Battalion of Fusiliers." The basal principle of this kind of heroes was,
"In an advance, always in the rear--in a retreat, always in front. Never
do anything that you can help. The chief aim of life is to rest. If you
should get to a gate, don't go to the exertion of opening it. Sit down
and wait until somebody comes along and opens it for you."

After the first organizers, no one applied for admission into the
Battalion--they were elected into it, without their consent. The way we
kept the ranks full was this: Whenever any man in the Battery did any
specially trifling, and good-for-nothing thing, or was guilty of any
particularly asinine conduct, or did any fool trick, or expressed any
idiotic opinion, he was marked out as a desirable recruit for the
Fusiliers. We elected him, went and got him and made him march with us
in parade of the Battalion, and solemnly invested him with the honor.
This was not always a peaceable performance. Sometimes the candidate,
not appreciating his privilege, had to be held by force, and was
struggling violently, and saying many bad words, during the address of
welcome by the C. O.

I grieve to say that an election into this notable corps was treated as
an insult, and responded to by hot and unbecoming language. One fellow,
when informed of his election, flew into a rage, and said bad words, and
offered to