esh
put an end to my existence.

Our colonel's name was Barnett; the countersign for the night was Buena
Vista. About eleven o'clock I observed a man coming towards me. 'Halt!'
I exclaimed; 'who goes there?'

'A _friendt_,' was the reply.

'Advance, friend, and give the countersign.'

The man walked towards me, and whispered in my ear 'Barnett's Sister!'
at the same time attempting to pass. Placing my bayonet close against
his breast, I ordered him to 'halt!' and called for the corporal of the
guard. The Dutchman--for such he was--begged and plead, but it was of no
use; I told him he was trying to 'run the guard,' and he must go to the
guard-house.

'Barnett's Sister! Barnett's Sister! Barnett's Sister!' shouted the
Dutchman. 'I know nothing about Barnett's Sister,' said I; 'stop your
noise, or you will rouse the camp.'

Just then, the officer of the guard came round. I stated the case to
him, and the man was taken to the guard-house. The next morning he was
released, and on inquiry at head-quarters it was found that he had the
password, but had confounded 'Buena Vista' with 'Barnett's Sister.' We
all enjoyed a good laugh over it, and ever after 'Barnett's Sister' was
the password for all who attempted to 'run the guard.'

We lay at Phillippi nearly six weeks. Every day or two an alarm would
occur, the long roll would beat, and the men would form in line of
battle. It is needless to say the alarms were all false. There are
always hundreds of rumors in every camp, and ours was not an exception.
But after the first week we paid little attention to the many wild
reports which were in circulation. Although Gov. Wise had said he would
take dinner in Phillippi or in ---- on the fourth of July;
notwithstanding Gov. Letcher had issued a proclamation warning us to
leave the State in twenty-four hours or he would hang every one of us;
although a proclamation dated Staunton, Va., June 7th, 1861, stated to
the people of Western Virginia that their little band of _volunture (?)_
had been forced from Phillippi by the ruthless Northern foe, led on by
traitors and tories, and that Jeff Davis and John Letcher had sent to
their aid a force of cavalry, artillery and rifles; and although the
proclamation wound up by saying To-morrow an ARMY will follow! we felt
tolerably safe at Phillippi. We had determined, if the aforesaid army
did appear, it should have a warm reception.

Every day or two scouting parties went out and captured