oo far in the
rear to see just what kind of position the enemy had decided to hold. As
often happens, we were ordered into the ditch to wait, while the officers
consulted briefly, and all the time the rattle of the guns kept up. Half
the cavalry, by the way, were with us, and we saw them sent off by a
woodroad to the left, supposedly to flank the enemy. Then for our platoon
occurred one of our occasional bawlings out. As we waited, having loaded,
we saw the 4th, 3d, and 1st platoons ordered over the fence into the
field on our right. Being used to seeing the company split into its
detachments for different purposes, and hearing no orders, we remained
placidly in the ditch--for we are now old soldiers, and are learning not
to hunt trouble. But the lieutenant came running, and with a few sharp
words deftly removed the scalp of our leader, and retired with it at his
belt. So over we scrabbled, and took our place in the column. Then we
wandered miles through pastures, woods, and bogs, at first in _column of
squads_, which means four men abreast, and then, as the going became
difficult, in _squad columns_, which means eight men following each other
in single file. Note this difference--I wish we had! At one time, for
nearly a mile, the whole company was in Indian file, winding through the
underbrush.

And as we went thus there came a curious little test of character and
discipline. For to us as we halted at one charming bit of stony hillside,
cedar grown, came one of the amazing persistent buzzards carrying his
whole stock in trade, a box of chocolate bars. We were hungry, and some
men bought; even David began fumbling in his pocket as the man came near.
But he looked at Knudsen, and the Swede frowned, so when the fellow
offered his wares David waved him away. Having shown weakness, he did not
attempt to influence Pickle; but that worthy, with a sigh, put up his
money. "War is hell," said he, and cursed the buzzard. None in our squad
bought; in fact, though the captain was not in sight, I think the buzzard
was disappointed in F company.

Firing was all the time very noisy to our left, and as we moved on it was
plain that we were skirting the centre of the scrimmage in an attempt to
take the enemy in flank. Now our squad columns were sent forward
parallel, eight yards apart, ready at command to spring out in one long
line, the men side by side. Through a cedar swamp we now made our way
among huge old trees, the firing very h