eorge uttered this piece of news, and the
joy of Tom as he heard it, can be appreciated.

"What authority have you, George?"

"Old Pigeon-hole's. I heard him, while on duty about his Head-quarters
to-day, tell a Colonel, that the move had been ordered; that the War
Department had been getting uncommonly anxious, and that it interfered
with certain examinations he was making into very important papers."

"I'll warrant it. I would like to see any move in a forward direction
that would not interfere with some arrangement of his. His moves are on
paper, and a paper General is just about as valuable to the country as a
paper blockade."

"Is the movement general?"

"I think it is."

"Of course then it interferes. George, did you ever hear any patriotism
about those Head-quarters? You have been a great deal about them."

"No, but I have seen a good deal of punch in that neighborhood."

"I'll warrant it--more punch than patriotism. A great state of affairs
this. There are too many of these half-hearted Head-quarters in the
army. They ought to be cleaned out, and I believe that before this
campaign is through it will be done. If it is not done, the country is
lost."

"Country lost! why of course; that is almost admitted about that
establishment. They say we may be able to pen them up, and as they don't
say any more they must think that is about all. I heard a young
officer--a Regular--who seems to be intimate up there say: that there
was no use of talking--that men that fought the way the Southerners--he
didn't use the word Rebels--did, could not be conquered,--that they
were too much for our men, etc., etc. I could have kicked the
shoulder-strapped coward or traitor, may be both, but if I had, old
Pigeon-hole would have had a military execution for the benefit of the
Volunteers in short order. And then he strutted, talking treason and
squirting tobacco juice--and all the while our Government supporting the
scoundrel. West Point was on his outside, but his conversation and
vacant look told me plainly enough that outside of a Government position
the squirt had not brains enough to gain a day's subsistence. But he's
one of Pigey's 'my Regulars,' and to us Volunteers he can put himself on
his dignity with a '_Procul_, _Procul_, _este Profani_.'"

"George, don't stir me up on that subject any more. I get half mad when
I think that Uncle Sam's worst enemies are those of his own household.
We had better anticipate the Capt