be sent to
pay her expenses. In a month's time I received a very formal letter from
her sister stating that, through mediation of relatives, Jennie and her
first husband had become reconciled, and were again living together. I
showed the letter to my mother and explained everything. She was pleased
at the termination of the affair, but, somehow, she took no stock in my
wife's morality. I had about concluded that my valuable services would
not be needed in the war, so I went to Duncan & Sherman's banking house
in Wall Street, intending to ship in one of their vessels, if possible.
There I met Captain Otis, who was in command of the C. C. Duncan when I
made the voyage to Algiers. He had quit going to sea, and was married to
Mr. Duncan's only daughter. Through his influence, I obtained a good
situation as outdoor clerk for the banking house. My work was
principally about the shipping at the docks. I was delighted at the
prospect of remaining at home and living on dry land. The excitement
over the war had quieted down considerably in New York. Regiments
passing through the city for Washington were loudly cheered and soon
forgotten. In the meantime the rebels were strongly fortifying the
Southern coast, and loudly proclaiming that "Cotton was King." The
battle of Bull Run made it quite plain to both parties that they had a
big contract on their hands. The celebrated New York Fire Zouaves did
not go to Richmond as they intended. A number of them became
demoralized, and never stopped running until they got back to Fulton
Market, in New York.

The few ships in the navy captured Port Royal, in South Carolina. Some
of the Confederates from there never stopped until they reached Canada.
Then came Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N. C. The Government
secured all the steamers available for the use of the navy, even taking
the old Staten Island ferry-boats. Gold became very scarce and at a
premium. Legal-tender notes were then issued, and Government bonds sold
at a discount. For small change, postage-stamps were used. All the
silver coin was being hoarded up and withdrawn from circulation. A
revenue tax was placed on everything. On whisky it was two dollars a
gallon. Even the poor people had to pay for the revenue-stamps on the
pawn-tickets when they pledged articles. Before the war ended, good tea
was two dollars and a half a pound; coffee, from forty cents to a
dollar; sugar, twenty-two cents; a common round of beefsteak,
twenty