n-plated squadron of Rear
Admirable Head being detailed from the blockade to take the
Mackerels across, as soon as a heavy rain should make the lake too
deep for navigation by personal wading. The troops were at the
landing at the appointed time, and were about to embark in good
order, when it was discovered by the negro servant of one of the
officers, that they had forgotten to bring any ammunition with
them, and that the iron-plated squadron had not arrived. This
unfortunate discovery made it necessary for the Mackerel Brigade to
fall back thirty-three and a half feet, and the General thus wrote
to the Honest Abe at Washington:

"'DEAR SIR,--The safety of this Army depends entirely upon its
immediate reenforcement by all the troops at Washington, as my
plan is entirely different from your plan, and your plan
differs somewhat from my plan. The importance of saving
Washington by your plan, is as nothing when compared with the
opposite tenor of my plan; which might, after all, be the
saving of Washington by my plan, though my plan does not agree
with your plan. I will stay with this army, and die with it, if
need be, by my plan.

"'THE GENERAL OF THE MACKEREL BRIGADE.'

"Both plans were put in force, and during the period elapsing
between this date and the middle of November, the troops were
busily occupied in fortifying themselves--against the inclemency of
the weather. Arrangements being made and completed for the decent
interment of such troops as should die of old age before the next
great movement took place, the General of the Mackerel Brigade had
just opened a correspondence with his family on the subject of the
Presidency of the United States in 1865, when he received the
appended note:

"'GENERAL,--You will feel immediately relieved upon receiving
this, and will report immediately to your wife at Hoboken.
Colonel Wobert Wobinson is hereby ordered to take command of
the Mackerel Brigade.

"'ADJUTANT.'

"Upon the assumption of command by General Wobinson, it was
immediately observed that he possessed a great deal of Shape. He
crossed Duck Lake on his Shape, and in pursuance of the plan of his
predecessor, opened an instant attack upon Paris. Shortly after the
attack, the whole Brigade was back