"Some depredations were committed on this old man's property, which is near the route traveled by your regiment to-day, and the General desires you to investigate it."

I prided myself on being a strict disciplinarian and determined to probe the thing to the bottom.

"What is it?" I asked of the old man after he had warmed himself and taken a seat.

"Well, sir," said he, "me and my wife and daughters went to the big road to see the army pass, and while we were gone some of your fellows broke into my house, killed some of my chickens, mussed up the sugar and lard and such things, and cooked a meal big enough for forty men." "How much did they damage you?"

"That I can't tell. They spoiled two nice dresses of the girls. I suppose from the looks they put them on to cook in and didn't turn up the sleeves."

I looked at Greenwood; he had suddenly become very red in the face; the other officers smelled a rat of the biggest kind. Music abruptly departed.

"Where is your house situated?" I inquired.

"Just at the foot of the long slope three miles and a half back on the Clinton road," he answered.

I promised him that the matter should be carefully investigated and the offender brought to condign punishment. After the old man left I turned to the Adjutant, who was engaged in an intent study of the fire.

"I say, Greenwood, did you kiss that girl sure enough?" "Go to h-1!" he retorted savagely, and retired to his quarters, followed by roars of laughter.

I did investigate, but the offenders went unwhipped of justice. It was the rascally little Music who had personated the rustic beauty-from whom the amorous Adjutant had ravished a kiss at a cost of seven dollars and a halfand for some time it was a dangerous amusement to talk to Greenwood about it, or even so much as to say "Mudgy" in his hearing. His malevolence toward Music was remarkable remembering how affectionate he had once been; and when the little fellow, on drill a few days thereafter, in endeavoring to "order arms" dropped his musket on his toes and temporarily crippled himself, the Adjutant's delight was unmistakably manifested.

Leaving Greenwood in a rueful humor and Music disabled, my journal turns to a match parade that had been ordered to take place in presence of Generals Pemberton, Loring, Tighlman, Bowen and others.