than he had ever spoken before, and told me that fodder
for horses was not all that soldiers got when they went out foraging. He
said I wanted to snatch anything that was lying around loose, that could
be eaten. I asked him if the government did not furnish rations enough
for him to live comfortably, in addition to the sanitary stores. He
said sometimes he yearned for chicken. Then I told him his salary was
sufficient to buy such luxuries. He was hot, and talked back to me, and
told me he didn't propose to be lectured by no red-headed private as to
his duties, or his conduct, and he wanted me to understand that I was
expected to forage for him as well as myself, and not to let another
soldier come into camp with a better assortment of the luxuries afforded
by the country, than I did. He said that he picked me out as a man that
would fill the bill, and do his duty. I told him if he had selected me
from all the men in the regiment as being the most expert sneak thief,
he had made a mistake, and I would be teetotally d----d if I would go
through the country stealing hens and chickens for any chaplain that
ever lived, and he could put that in his pipe and smoke it. It was
pretty sassy talk for a private soldier to indulge in towards a
chaplain, but I was so disgusted to hear a man who should discountenance
anything unsoldierly, talk so flippantly about taking from the women and
children of the country what little they had to live on, because we had
the power, their men folks being away in the army, that I got on my ear,
as it were. I told him that I was not much mashed on war, and hoped I
would never have to fire a gun at a human being, but now that I was into
the business, I would fight if I had to, or do any duty of a soldier,
but I would be cussed if I would rob henroosts, and he didn't weigh
enough to compel me to. Then he said I could go back to my company, as
he didn't want a man around him that hadn't sand enough to do his duty.
I asked him if I hadn't better wait till after supper, it being after
dark, but he said I could go right away, and he would have another man
detailed to take my place. I was discharged, because I struck against
stealing hens. I saddled my horse, took my share of the fodder, and
started for my company to return to duty as a soldier. On the way to
my company I saw a half a dozen soldiers, covered with mud, and their
horses covered with foam, ride up to the colonel's tent, and I stopped
to see wh