kissing my little step-sister good-bye, with a wave
of my hand to father and brothers who stood in the yard and door of the
dear old home, I drove away, and as I did so I could see the expressions
of ridicule and doubt on their faces, while underneath it all there was a
tinge of sadness and fear. They did not think for a moment. I would be
mustered into the army, yet fear took possession of them when I drove off,
for they knew my determined disposition.

Well, I arrived in Belfast. Instead of driving direct to the stable and
hotel, and putting my horse up, I drove direct to the office of the
mustering officer. I did not need to fasten my trusty horse, for he knew
it would only be a few moments, and as I went to the office door, he
turned his head and whinnied as if he were laughing at me. I entered that
office like a young Napoleon. I had made up my mind to walk in before the
officer very erect and dignified, even to raising myself on tiptoe. On
telling the clerk my errand, he ushered me into an inner office, and
imagine my surprise--my consternation--when, swinging around in his chair,
I found myself in the presence of the very officer who had rejected me in
Augusta so many times.

"Damn it," said he, "will you never let up? Go home to your mother, boy,
don't pester me any more. I will not accept you, and let that end it."

I tremblingly told him "I had grown since he saw me last, and that by the
time I was mustered in I would grow some more, and that I would drum and
fight, if it should prove actually necessary."

Thus I pleaded with him for fully one hour. Finally he said, "Well, damned
if I don't muster you in, just to get rid of you. Sergeant, make out this
young devil's papers and let him go and get killed." My heart leaped into
my mouth. I tried to thank him, but he would not have it. He hurried me
through, and at 5:30 P. M., September 15, 1863, I was a United States
soldier. And when I donned that uniform, what a looking soldier! The
smallest clothes they issued looked on me as if it would make a suit for
my entire family, but in spite of the misfit, I took them and put them on,
with the pants legs rolled up to the knees, and the overcoat dragging on
the ground.

I went out of that office as proud as a peacock, but a laughing-stock for
the boys, and all who gazed at me. I think even the old horse smiled and
looked askance; he acted as if I was fooling him, and hungry as he was,
when he turned towards the st