for a man of six feet two, with a Major's
straps upon his shoulders.'

"The Major wilted till he felt about two feet six, but mustered presence
of mind sufficient to tell the General his errand, and how his personal
solicitude had prompted him to perform it himself. The General heard him
kindly; stated that he had no doubt but that the Court would act
favorably upon the application, and that it should be referred to them.
The Court, when it met, acted favorably, so far as to give the Colonel,
who was tried first, fifteen minutes to hunt a lawyer. But they wouldn't
let the Lieut.-Colonel act, as he was a party, and several others were
excluded on the ground of being witnesses, although they took good care
not to call them. Both pleaded guilty to the 'simple disobedience of
orders,' and the Court was ashamed to try them upon anything besides but
the 'disrespectful conduct;' in regard to which old Pigey's assertions
were taken, instead of the circumstances being proved. The Colonel was
too indignant at the treatment to set up any defence, but the
Lieutenant-Colonel cross-examined old Pigey until his testimony looked
like a box of fish-bait. The General swore that he had given him 'the
lie,' but upon being questioned by the Colonel, stated that 'he did not
believe the Colonel intended to call his personal veracity into
question.' In the same manner he had to explain away that duelling
charge. At last he got so confused that he would ram wood into the stove
to gain time, bite the ends of his moustache, play with the rim of his
hat, and when cornered as to the Lieutenant-Colonel's character as an
officer, to relieve himself, stated;--that he must say that the Colonel
had hitherto obeyed every order with cheerfulness, promptitude, great
zeal and intelligence, and that his intercourse with the Commanding
General had been marked by great courtesy at all times."

"The Colonel also stated further, that he had testimony to contradict
that Adjutant, or Wharf-Rat, as you know him best by. He had told me
before the trial to tell that young law student, Tom, a private of Co.
C, who heard the conversation that the Adjutant had testified to, to be
within calling distance during the trial, with his belt on, hair combed,
and looking as neat as possible. Well, in Tom came, his face and eyes
swelled up from a bad cold, a stocking that had been a stranger to soap
and water for one long march at least, tied about his neck to cure a
sore thro