tering and struggling in the air on
long poles. Flutter mills and gunboats could be seen making their hasty
rounds; men wrestling and turning many kinds of machinery could be
taken in at the same glance of the eye. Each regiment had a meeting
house and bowers, weather-boarded and covered with pine and cedar
boughs, presenting the very picture of enjoyment.

This was the handsomest camp in the whole army, and drawings of it
appeared in Harper's Weekly and Frank Leslie, as model camps. It was
here the brigade enjoyed soldiering more than at any other time or
place before or after, having learned to make its profession agreeable,
and looking more particularly to its comfort and enjoyment. Then, there
was added to the pleasures of this camp the noted springs, known as
Crawfish Springs. A huge stream of bright clear water forces itself
from the foot of the hill from whence it issues. They are a natural
wonder, and have called forth the admiration of all who chanced to
visit them. The slaveocracy of this portion of the South made them
their constant summer resort, and the soldiers also enjoyed them as a
pleasant retreat to drive dull time away.

The 3rd brigade remained at Lee and Gordon's Mills two months wanting
three days, during which time it contracted many fond attachments, and
in after times the boys would revert to the memories of this camp with
more than ordinary pleasure. It was while here that Colonel Magee came
from Camp McAfee to bid the boys of his regiment good bye, having been
unable to leave that place with his command. The Colonel's health for a
long time had been very poor, and Surgeon Hooton assured him that he
could not survive the service, nor do justice to himself and his
command by continuing in it. For these reasons he was induced to offer
the resignation of his command, which in due course of time was
accepted. There was a universal feeling of sad regret with the boys of
the Eighty-sixth at this event, a regret that their beloved Colonel no
longer had the strength of body to remain with them through the trying
events of the future, as he had been their pride through those of the
past.

Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. Magee was a man of humane and tender feeling.
Having himself served in the ranks in the Mexican war, he was well
qualified to appreciate the hardships and difficulties incident to a
soldier's life. He was free to converse and associate with his men, at
the same time commanding their highest