h several
rows of holes punched around the crown for ventilation. I still wore the
lead-colored knit jacket given me by "Buck" Ranson during the Banks
campaign. This garment was adorned with a blue stripe near the edges,
buttoned close at the throat, and came down well over the hips, fitting
after the manner of a shirt. My trousers, issued by the Confederate
Quartermaster Department, were fashioned in North Carolina, of a
reddish-brown or brick-dust color, part wool and part cotton, elaborate
in dimensions about the hips and seat, but tapering and small at the
feet, in imitation, as to shape and color, of those worn by Billy
Wilson's Zouaves at first Manassas. This is an accurate description of
our apparel. Among our fellow-soldiers it attracted no especial
attention, as there were many others equally as striking. Very
naturally, we were at first eyed with suspicion by the people we met,
and when we inquired for a place to get refreshments were directed "down
yonder"; in fact anywhere else than where we were.

We soon found a nice little family grocery-store; that is, one kept by a
family, including among others two very comely young women. Here we
found O'Rourke, an Irishman of our company, who had a talent for nosing
out good things--both solids and liquids. We were served with a good
repast of native wine, bread, butter, etc.; and, in case we should not
have leisure for milder beverages, had a canteen filled with whiskey.

While enjoying our agreeable cheer, a man about thirty years of age came
in, he said, to make our acquaintance. He was quite a sharp-looking
fellow, with small, keen black eyes, a "glib" tongue, and told us that
he was an out-and-out rebel, proud to meet us and ready to oblige. Steve
forthwith proposed, as evidence of his good-will, an exchange of
headgear. He dilated eloquently on the historic value of his own cap,
and, while it did not entirely suit him, exposed as he was to the
weather, it would be becoming to a city gentleman, besides reviving the
most pleasant associations as a souvenir; and, moreover, the hat the
stranger wore was most suitable for a soldier and would do good service
to the cause. At length the exchange was made and, Steve having donned
the nice black hat, we took our leave. We had scarcely walked a square
when our attention was attracted by the sound of rapid footsteps
approaching from the rear, and, turning, we saw our new and interesting
acquaintance coming at a run. As h