pen view towards the enemy at all. That rainy night this
week the Rebs came over in boats and gobbled them up. The Colonel
attributed their loss to their own neglect, and next morning their place
was supplied by four old soldiers, as he called them, from his own
Regiment. That same day at noon, in broad daylight, they were taken."

"And if he were not a firm friend at Division Head-quarters there would
be a dismissal from the service for cause," said an officer of the
crowd.

"Our Corps Commander is too much of a soldier to let it go by," resumed
the officer, "if our Brigadier can force it through Division
Head-quarters, and bring it to his notice."

* * * * *

The order that introduced into the service the novelty of carrying eight
days' rations on a march, had been discussed for some time in the
Regiment. That night the Regiment was withdrawn from the picket line,
and preparations were forthwith made for a practical illustration of the
order on the morrow.

CHAPTER XX.

_The Army again on the Move--Pack Mules and Wagon Trains--A Negro
Prophetess--The Wilderness--Hooped Skirts and Black Jack--The Five Days'
Fight at Chancellorsville--Terrible Death of an Aged Slave--A
Pigeon-hole General's "Power in Reserve."_

It was some weeks after a Rebel Picket, opposite Falmouth, had surprised
one of our own, who had not as yet heard of the change in the usual
three days' provender for a march, by asking him across the river
"whether his eight days' rations were mouldy yet?" that the army
actually commenced its movement. While awaiting the word to fall in,
this mass of humanity literally loaded with army bread and ammunition
resembled, save in uniformity, those unfortunate beings burdened with
bundles of woe, so strikingly portrayed in the Vision of Mirza. To the
credit of the men, it must be stated, however, that the greatest
good-humor prevailed in this effort to render the army self-sustaining
in a country that could not sustain itself.

Another novel feature in the movement was the long strings of pack
mules, heavily freighted with ammunition, which were led in the rear of
the different Brigades. Wagon trains were thereby dispensed with, and
the mobility of the army greatly increased. Stringent orders were
issued also as to the reduction of baggage, and dispensing with camp
equipage and cooking utensils.

In lively ranks, although each man was freighted with the prescribed
ei