e allowed to take
part. A few newspaper men were invited and enjoyed the fun. They declared
that as women have ere this dressed in men's clothes there was no reason
the boot should not be put on the other foot. Mrs. Austin's dance of the
schottische with double-soled cavalry boots was excellent; she was a
well-known auctioneer in the city of Worcester.

December 24. Again on picket duty. It was a lively night on the other side
of the river, innumerable camp fires and firing of guns. The Rebs were
making it lively at their Christmas revels. Afterwards we heard of an
interesting affair, a part of which occurred that same evening. At Rocky
Ford up the river a little way above Falmouth, there was a detail of
cavalry permanently located. Through trading coffee, tobacco and sugar our
boys had become quite a little acquainted with the Johnnies on the other
side of the river, and when Christmas time came the Confederates invited a
number of them over to celebrate Christmas with them. The boys accepted
the invitation and went over, had a fine time, were well entertained and
got back without anything happening to mar the pleasure. A few days later
when New Years came, our boys returned the compliment and invited the
Johnnies over to spend New Years with them. Everything went finely until
late in the evening when who should walk into the tent but the officer of
the day, then the deuce was to pay. The Rebs were marched off to
headquarters, but our boys would not allow the thing to end that way, went
with them to headquarters, explained the whole matter, taking all the
responsibility, and the affair was dropped. The Johnnies were allowed to
return but they were all told they must not do so any more.

December 25. We all went down to the railroad and saw our wounded boys
off, Tom Plunket among them. They were to be taken to a hospital in
Washington. Reports of another grand move were being circulated about camp
now every day. General Burnside reviewed the 9th Army Corps, January 6th.
It was a wet, cold, horrid day and very little enthusiasm was manifest.
January 7th we went on picket down by the river again, but it has become
less trying than it was earlier in the winter. We were not obliged to stay
concealed in our rifle pits so closely. Walking about on both sides of the
river by our men and by the Johnnies, had become quite common and no
firing was indulged in.

January 16. We received cartridges and extra rations and orders were