l you have who has shown any strategic ability."

"If that be your opinion, sir," was the decided reply, "the sooner we
are rid of him the better."

And to this reply the country says, Amen!

"But what a shame it is that military genius is so little appreciated by
the Administration, and that he is removed just at this time! Why, I
heard our Colonel say that he had heard the General say, that in a few
days more, he would have won a decisive victory," remarked a young
officer, in a jaunty blue jacket, to a companion, gesticulating as he
spoke, with a cigar between the first and second fingers of his right
hand.

An older officer, who overheard the remark, observed, drily:--"He was
not removed for what he would do, but for what he had done."

"And for what he had not done," truthfully added another.

Never had General, burdened with so many sins of omission and
commission, as the conversation indicated, been so leniently dealt with,
now that the Rebels in their favorite, and with him successful game of
hide and seek, had again given him the slip, and were only in his front
to annoy. As they had it completely in their power to prevent a general
engagement at that point, his remark as to what would have been done was
a very rotten twig, caught at in the vain hope of breaking his fall.

CHAPTER XIV.

_A Skulker and the Dutch Doctor--A Review of the Corps by Old Joe--A
Change of Base; what it means to the Soldier, and what to the
Public--Our Quarter-Master and General Hooker--The Movement by the Left
Flank--A Division General and Dog-driving--The Desolation of Virginia--A
Rebel Land-Owner and the Quarter-Master--"No Hoss, Sir!"--The Poetical
Lieutenant unappreciated--Mutton or Dog?--Desk Drudgery and Senseless
Routine._

"It's about time, Bill, for you to have another sick on," said a lively
lad, somewhat jocosely, as he rubbed away at his musket-barrel, on one
of our last mornings at the Camp, near Warrenton. "Fighting old Joe has
the Corps now, and he will review us to-day, the Captain says, and after
that look out for a move."

"Don't say," drawled out the man addressed; a big, lubberly fellow,
famous in the Regiment for shirking duty--who, when picket details were
expected, or a march in prospect, would set a good example of
punctuality in promptly reporting at Surgeon's call, or as the Camp
phrase had it, "stepping up for his quinine." "Well," continued he,
"Lord knows what I'll do. I've had the rheum