ate along
the way, soaking it in the brooks to make it easier for our
molars. We were told for our encouragement that the further we
proceeded the less chance we would have of getting anything to
eat; and we found it so. We had not gone far before we came
across some hungry soldiers who gladly took some of our
crackers." Our travellers were lucky enough to find a roof to
sleep under that night but had to go to bed supperless.

"On Tuesday morning we proceeded on our way hungry, being unable
to procure breakfast: the poor man who gave us lodging having
been robbed by the rebels, who had not left him enough for his
own family. The roads being here lined with cherry trees, we
followed the example of the soldiers and satisfied the cravings
of appetite with this refreshing fruit. ** We at length reached
Cashtown, where we found the main body of our New York and
Brooklyn regiments encamped. ** We found a great many had letters
to send home, which we volunteered to carry, there being no
regular way of sending them. They soon had us pretty heavily
laden; so with a soldier's haversack over each shoulder we
marched along with the column when it moved."

At Altodale our friend "after getting all the letters for New
York" took final leave of us, and started alone to return.
Thinking he might be molested on the road at night--for he meant
to travel the greatest number of hours that his strength would
permit--he armed himself with a pass from head-quarters. "I
left," he continues, "about half-past eight o'clock in the
evening intending to go as far as possible before resting. But
the night being dark, there being some danger of falling into the
hands of the rebels, and the few straggling soldiers with whom I
was in company not being willing to proceed further, I concluded
to halt at the first house I came to. I was up in the night
several times from anxiety of mind, and about two o'clock in the
morning, the moon having risen sufficiently to make the road
visible, I roused the farmer, settled my bill and made my exit.
No sooner had I got into the road than I was peremptorily ordered
to 'halt!' The summons proved to proceed from a picket of the
Thirteenth Regiment, who hailed a comrade and carefully inspected
my pas