were seen
fluttering from a line which was wont to sustain duck-trousers. The
naval heroes, mindful of their own short rations, and taking high views
of one's duties in a conquered country, looked at me reproachfully, as
who should say, "Shall these things be?" In a moment or two the
returning foragers had landed.

"Captain ----," said Montgomery, courteously, "would you allow me to
send a remarkably fine turkey for your use on board ship?"

"Lieutenant ----," said Major Corwin, "may I ask your acceptance of a
pair of ducks for your mess?"

Never did I behold more cordial relations between army and navy than
sprang into existence at those sentences. So true it is, as Charles Lamb
says, that a single present of game may diffuse kindly sentiments
through a whole community.

These little trips were called "rest"; there was no other rest during
those ten days. An immense amount of picket- and fatigue-duty had to be
done. Two redoubts were to be built to command the Northern Valley; all
the intervening grove, which now afforded lurking-ground for a daring
enemy, must be cleared away; and a few houses must be reluctantly razed
for the same purpose. Colonel Montgomery had the left of the defensive
line, and Lieutenant-Colonel Billings, commanding my own regiment, the
right. The fort under charge of the former was named Fort Higginson, and
that on the right, in return, Fort Montgomery. The former was
necessarily a hasty work, and is now, I believe, in ruins; the latter
was far more elaborately constructed, on lines well traced by the Fourth
New Hampshire during the previous occupation. It did great credit to
Captain Trowbridge, of my regiment, (formerly of the New York Volunteer
Engineers,) who had charge of its construction.

How like a dream seems now that period of daily skirmishes and nightly
watchfulness! The fatigue was so constant that the days hurried by. I
felt the need of some occasional change of ideas, and having just
received from the North Mr. Brooks's beautiful translation of Jean
Paul's "Titan," I used to retire to my bedroom for some ten minutes
every afternoon, and read a chapter or two. It was more refreshing than
a nap, and will always be to me one of the most fascinating books in the
world, with this added association. After all, what concerned me was not
so much the fear of an attempt to drive us out and retake the city,--for
that would be against the whole policy of the Rebels in that region,--as
o