turn around. I was awful
sleepy, but dared not go to sleep for fear I would fall overboard. Finally
my brother fixed me so I could lay my head back, and he held on to me
while I slept. The next morning we landed at a place called West Point, on
the York river; why we landed there we didn't know. Of course soldiers
never did know anything of the whys and wherefores; they only obeyed
orders, stood up or laid down and got killed--they had no choice in the
matter. Well, we landed, and I tell you, we were stiff and hungry. While
they were unloading the horses, which was done by lowering them into the
water and letting them swim ashore, which took some time, they allowed us
a chance to skirmish for food. About half a mile from the river were a
dozen houses--nice-looking places. Towards these we started; they were all
closed up; they all looked deserted; there was not a sign of life, except
the cackle of hens or chickens in the hen-house. Chickens were good enough
for us, and I was one of the first to get to the pen; secured two handfuls
of chicks, and was just emerging with them when a big woman confronted me;
she stood and looked me straight in the eye, and with both hands held on
to a mastiff, that to me looked as big as an ox.

"How dare you?" said she.

"I don't," said I.

"What are you doing with my chickens, you good-for-nothing Yankee thief?"

I tried to apologize, but it was no use. Even my pretty uniform had no
more effect than my eloquence. I simply put Mr. and Mrs. Chicks down and
backed out of the yard. She was good enough to hold on to the dog, for
which I was very grateful. I think I had more respect for the dog than the
lady. However, I had to resort to pork and hard tack for my breakfast.
About noon that day we began our march. Where we were going, everybody
guessed, but none knew. I didn't care. I was now a kind of a half-settled
soldier, but from the first, I was a kind of privileged character. No one
gave me orders. No one seemed to claim me. I had never been assigned to
any company. I never had to answer roll-call. I could go and come as I
pleased. Once in awhile a guard would halt me, but not often. They didn't
know what I was, and they didn't care. All the afternoon we marched. Our
route was along the railroad, the rails of which had the appearance of
being recently torn up by the rebels. About four o'clock I was becoming
very tired. We came to a clearing, and some distance in the field was a
darky pl