army rations, a man could consume day after
day, or rather night after night, with no especial alteration in his
physique.

Soup was a favorite dish, requiring, as it did, but one vessel for all
the courses, and the more ingredients it contained, the more it was
relished. Merrick claimed to be an adept in the culinary art, and
proposed to several of us that if we would "club in" with him he would
concoct a pot that would be food for the gods. He was to remain in camp,
have the water boiling, and the meat sufficiently cooked by the time the
others returned from their various rounds in search of provender. In due
time, one after another, the foragers showed up, having been very
successful in their acquisitions, which, according to Merrick's
directions, were consigned to the pot. As some fresh contribution, which
he regarded as especially savory, was added, Merrick's countenance would
brighten up. At one time he sat quietly musing, then gave expression to
his joy in an Irish ditty. His handsome suit of clothes, donned at
Hagerstown, was now in tatters, which made his appearance the more
ludicrous as he "cut the pigeon-wing" around the seething cauldron. He
had particularly enjoined upon us, when starting out, to procure, at
all hazards, some okra, which we failed to get, and, in naming aloud the
various items, as each appeared on the surface of the water, he wound up
his soliloquy with, "And now, Lord, for a little okra!"

In September the army moved again toward Manassas, about seventy miles
distant. When we arrived at Bristow, the next station south of Manassas,
an engagement had just taken place, in which Gen. A. P. Hill had been
disastrously outwitted by his adversary, General Warren, and the ground
was still strewn with our dead. The Federals were drawn up in two lines
of battle, the one in front being concealed in the railroad-cut, while
the rear line, with skirmishers in front, stood in full view. The
Confederates, unaware of the line in the cut, advanced to the attack
without skirmishers and were terribly cut up by the front line, and
driven back, with a loss of several pieces of artillery and scores of
men. The delay caused by this unfortunate affair gave the Federal army
ample time to withdraw at leisure. General Lee arrived on the scene just
at the close of this affair and was asked, by General Hill, if he should
pursue the then retreating Federals. He replied, "No, General Hill; all
that can now be done is to