at the usual time, after seven miles and a half, and I, wet
from inside and from out, was glad to wash and change and find leisure to
inspect my troublesome heel, on which I found two blisters which Clay,
being as I told you a medico, skilfully doctored.

But there was no rest for the weary. I foolishly rejoiced when I escaped
the work of helping to make up the shooting records, also (perhaps not so
foolishly) when the typhoid sufferers were taken to be inoculated for the
third time. But while the captain supervised the company clerks, the
lieutenant, in anticipation of a regimental parade, took us out on the
field. See how carefully it was done. As we were but the fraction of a
company he lined us up and made up squads afresh, a corporal to each,
then instructed us in our parade work, and drilled us for two hours.
Having my two blisters, I did not enjoy it, and the men were groaning all
around me. He was as hard to please as the captain; once, looking back
along the line as we marched company front, he said, "The ancestors of
this bunch certainly must have been a lot of snakes!" But I'll venture to
say that none of us, after this, will forget how to oblique in making the
turn.

After ten minutes' rest, we were taken to calisthenics, after which I
anticipated a good loaf. But no, we were assembled, the whole regiment,
for a conference concerning our return home by government aid, the major
and a railroad agent instructing us in the terms. I was glad to find that
I can simply go home on my return ticket, and let the treasury department
pay me when it's good and ready; and after standing in line for half an
hour I was able to state my intention to do this.

There was then just time to change for the parade, which was partly
interesting, partly tedious. Thanks to the lieutenant's drill, we made no
mistakes, though at one time we had to make our way at company front
among the boxes and barrels strewed in the neighborhood of the
quartermaster's shack. Lieutenant Pendleton briefly said, when we were
back in the street, "You did well." And the captain, who left the scoring
long enough to watch the parade, joked us on being mountain goats.

The blisters are no worse for the afternoon's work. It is raining
steadily. Love from

DICK.

EXTRACT FROM THE LETTER OF MISS MAMIE
MARSHALL TO HER FRIEND, MISS ROSETTA
JONES

... And I waved a handkerchiff,