tuff cotton-batting in their ears.

A captain of one of the companies was given a furlough about this time and
went home for a time. When he returned he wore a brand new coat with
shoulder straps of the recruiting officer's size. He marched around the
camp with an air of great importance. One day, one of the boys of his
company did some little thing not to his liking and that man was tied up
by the thumbs. This was so uncalled for and so unjust, it caused a very
bitter feeling against the officer throughout the company. Practically
every man in the company became his enemy. He realized the existence of
this feeling and soon after resigned and went home. It was freely remarked
in the regiment that the officer referred to did not dare to go into
another fight with that company. And since the war he has never, to my
knowledge attended a reunion of the regimental association.

December 22. We were on picket again. The evening of the 23d, there
occurred the most important social function of the season. We had a fancy
dress ball at the Hotel de Ville, or in other words in the sutler's tent.
All the quality of the regiment was present. The belles of the evening
were Miss Huggins, the Widow Blush, Miss Lumpkins, Mrs. Austin and Miss
Blinks all of Worcester, Mass. Miss Blinks wore an elegant wreath of birch
leaves. Her gown was red and white, the red being part of a red woolen
shirt furnished by one of the friends of the lady. Miss Lumpkins was a
beautiful creature, her complexion of dark bronze contrasting finely with
the grass green color of her dress; she wore a wreath made of wheat and
white clover blossoms. Miss Huggins, was a little undignified in her
actions. Her dress was thought by some to be decidedly low at the top and
high at the bottom, however, she passed as it was understood that women in
high society are expected to make the most of their charms. Her dress was
sky blue and her apron an American flag; she wore no corsets, thus her
body appeared a little flabby. The lady in whom we all felt the liveliest
interest was the widow. She had all the grace and elegance of a duck, her
style was simply enchanting. She wore a bright red dress, low-necked, with
a white rosette at her belt, with large hoops that bounded around in the
most wonderful way. Her extreme modesty was remarked by all the gentlemen;
whenever she danced she was the center of attraction. The ball was a
strictly private affair, no commissioned officers wer