"sardonic grin" in his life,) she answered for the party, and said:

"_Sellin' pies, Gin'ral._"

"Selling pies, eh! Selling pies, eh! Let me see 'em; let me see 'em,
quick!"

The woman untied one end of a bolster-slip, and thrust her arm down
the sack, and brought forth a specimen of the article, which Nelson
seized, and vainly endeavored to break. It was like leather. The
General gave it a sudden twist and broke it in two, when out dropped
three or four pieces of dried apple.

"By ----, madam, you call them pies, do you? Pies, eh! Those things
are just what are _giving all my boys the colic_! Get out of this camp
every one of you! Clear yourselves!"

The camp was thus cleared of pie-venders, who escaped on the
double-quick.

[Illustration: Skeered! That ain't no name for it. See page 18.]

General Nelson was a strict disciplinarian, and frequently tested his
pickets by a personal visit. Upon one occasion he rode through a
drenching rain to the outposts; it was a dark night, and mud and
water were knee-deep in some parts of the road. A portion of the 2d
Kentucky was on guard, and as the General rode up he met the stern
"Halt" of the sentinel, and the usual "Who comes there?"

"General Nelson," was the reply.

"Dismount, General Nelson, and give the countersign," was the
sentinel's command.

"Do you know who you are talking to, sir? I tell you I am your
General, and you have the impudence to order me to dismount, you
scoundrel!"

"Dismount, and give the countersign, or I will fire upon you," was the
stern rejoinder.

And Nelson did dismount, and gave the countersign, and at the same
time inquired the sentinel's name, and to what regiment he belonged.
The following day the man was sent for, to appear forthwith at
head-quarters. The soldier went with great trepidation, anticipating
severe treatment from the General for the previous night's conduct.
Imagine his surprise when the General invited him in, complimented him
highly, in the presence of his officers, and requested, if at any time
he required any service from him, to just mention that he was the
soldier of the 2d Kentucky who had made him dismount in mud and rain,
and give the countersign.

On another occasion he was riding along the road, and was accosted by
two waggish members of the 6th Ohio.

"Hallo! mister," said one of the boys, "won't you take a drink?"

"Where are you soldiers going to?" inquired the General.

"O, just over here a litt