pe of trifling presents and hospitable
welcomes, in order that it might return at the next pay-day.
Notwithstanding all his tact, however, Tom Green was in many respects an
awkward, haphazard fellow, continually in difficulty, although as
continually fortunate in overcoming it. His troubles were known to the
Regiment, as the Sutler's interests were individualized to a great
extent, and while all might be amused, he was never beyond the pale of
sympathy. During the long winter evenings, the barrels and boxes in his
tent seated a jovial crowd of officers, who in games and with
thrice-told stories, would while away what would otherwise be tedious
hours. Not unfrequently was the Chaplain, who quartered close by,
disturbed with a "sound of revelry by night," to have his good-humor
restored in the morning by a can of pickled lobster or brandied
cherries.

On one of the merriest of the merry nights of the holidays, our Western
Virginia Captain was the centre of a group of officers engaged in gazing
intently upon a double page wood-cut, in one of the prominent
illustrated weeklies, that at one time might have represented the
storming of Fort Donelson, but then did duty by way of illustrating a
"Gallant Charge at Fredericksburg."

"There it is again," said the Captain. "Not one half of our Generals are
made by honest efforts. Their fighting is nothing like the writing that
is done for them. They don't rely so much upon their own genius as upon
that of the reporter who rides with their Staffs. By George, if old
Rosey in Western Virginia----"

"Dry up on that, Captain," interrupted a brother officer. "Old Pigey is
the hero of the day. He understands himself. Didn't you notice how
concertedly all the dailies after the fight talked about the cool,
courageous man of science; and just look at this how it backs it all up.
Old Rosey, as you call him, never had half as many horses shot under him
at one time. Just see them kicking and floundering about him, and the
General away ahead on foot, between our fire and the Rebels, as cool as
when he took the long pull at his flask in the hollow."

"And half the men will testify that that was the only cool moment he saw
during the whole fight."

"No matter," continued the other, "he has the inside track of the
reporters, and he is all right with all who 'smell the battle from
afar.'"

"Well, there's no denying old Pigey was brave, but he was as crazy as a
boy with a bee in his breeches,"