bay horse was riding down a path beside the
Opequon. He was as beautifully dressed as St. Clair at his best.
His hands were encased in long white buckskin gloves, and long brown
mustaches curled beautifully up until they touched either cheek.
It was he, this Beau Brummel of the Southern army, who had attracted the
attention of irreverent youth. From the shelter of trees and bushes
came a chorus of cries:

"Take them mice out o' your mouth! I know they're there, 'cause I see
their tails stickin' out!"

"What kind o' hair oil do you use? I know your head's oiled, or it
wouldn't shine so."

"Be sure you keep your gloves on or the sun'll tan your hands!"

"Oh, my, it's mother's pretty boy, goin' to see his best girl!"

The young officer flushed crimson through his brown, but he knew it was
no use to resent the words of his tormentors, and he rode steadily on,
looking straight before him.

"That's Caswell, a Georgian, of Longstreet's corps," said Sherburne; "a
good soldier and one of the bravest men I ever saw."

"Which proves," said St. Clair, in a tone of conviction, "that clothes
do help make the man."

Caswell passed out of sight, pursued by derisive comment, but his place
was taken quickly by a new victim. A man of middle age, in civilian
clothes, came riding slowly on a fat horse. He was a well-known sutler
named Williams and the wild lads did not confine themselves to hidden
cries, but rushed from the shelter of trees and bushes, and held up worn
articles of apparel, shouting in his ears:

"Hey, Mr. Williams! The soles of these shoes are made of paper, not
leather. I bought leather, not paper."

"What's the price of blue silk neckties? I've got a Yankee sweetheart
in New York, and I want to look well when our conquering army marches
into that city!"

"A pair of blankets for me, Mr. Williams, to be paid for when we loot
the Yankee treasury!"

But Williams was not disconcerted. He was used to such badinage.
He spread out his large hands soothingly.

"Boys," he said, "those shoes wore out so fast because you chased the
Yankees so hard. They were made for walking, not for foot races.
Why do you want to buy blankets on time when you can get them more
cheaply by capturing them from the enemy?"

His answers pleased them, and some one called for three cheers for
Williams, which were given with a will, and he rode on, unmolested.
But in a few minutes another and greater roar arose. Now it was
swe