extensive inroads in prying
with their bayonets from the walls of the jail in which he had been
confined pieces of stone and mortar. Guards were put upon the Court
House in which old John heard his doom with the dignity of a Cato, at an
early date, or it would have been hewn to pieces. A fine crop of corn
in full leaf was growing upon the field of execution, and for a space of
ten feet from the road-side the leaves had been culled for careful
preservation in knapsacks. The boys had the spirit. Their Commander
lacked capacity or will to give it effect. A beggarly excuse was set up
after the campaign was over,--that the time of service of many of the
Regiments was about expiring, and that the men would not reenlist,--not
only beggarly, but false. The great mass volunteered to remain as it
was, with no prospect of service ahead. All would have stayed had the
General shown any disposition for active work, or made them promise of a
fight."

"Golly," said a tall, raw-boned Darkie, showing his ivories to a crowd
of like color about him, as the fine band of the Fencibles played in
front of the General's Head-quarters. "Dese Union boys beat de
Mississippi fellurs all hollur playing Dixie."

Hardly a face was to be seen upon the streets, but those of these
friendly blacks. They thronged about the camps, to be repulsed by
stringent orders at all quarters. Property they were, reasoned the
commander, and property must be respected. And it was; even pump handles
were tied down and placed under guard. Oh! that a Ben Butler had then
been in command, to have pronounced this living property contraband of
war, and by that sharp dodge of a pro-slavery Democrat, to have given
Uncle Sam the services of this property. Depend upon it, that would have
ended campaigning in the valley of the Shenandoah, that store-house of
Rebel supplies, as it has turned out to be; supplies too, gathered and
kept up by the negroes that Patterson so carefully excluded from his
lines.

"And would have saved us this march," says the Colonel, "a goose chase
at any rate."

"Yes, and had the policy of using the negro been general at the
commencement of this Rebellion, troops would not be in the field at this
day," responded the Lieutenant.

"Why do they not now, come boldly out and acknowledge that slavery is a
curse to any nation?" said the Preacher Lieutenant. "It caused the
Rebellion, and its downfall would be the Rebellion's certain and speedy
death. Thousa