"Yes.'

"Just as you left Roddy's camp you met one of Roddy's men with a neck-yoke over his shoulders, and carrying a couple of buckets of water in his hands?'

"Yes.'

"You put your pistol to that man's head and forced him to go over a mile to the rear with you to preven、 his giving an alarm?'

"Yes.'

"Stranger, I am that man!'

"It seemed to me, about that time, that he meant business, and intended to settle the old affair there and then. But putting on a bold front, I remarked as unconcernedly as I could:

"Well, you have a mighty good memory.'

"Yes, I remember some things. You bet I knew you the minute I set eyes on you; and I'll remember you as long as I live.'

"Meanwhile his wife had made her appearance, and, lighting her corn-cob pipe, seated herself near the fireplace, prepared to enjoy the fun.

"I hardly knew what would come next; but, after a pause, the man changed his position and manner, and said:

"Now that I've told you who you are I'll tell you more about myself. I staid with Roddy's Cavalry Company for about three months after I saw you, and then my brother and myself deserted and enlisted in the First Alabama Union cavalry regiment, where we staid till the close of the war. After the war we came home; we were obliged to sleep in caves and keep concealed for a long time, as our former com. panions sought to kill us, and hunted us like wolves. lives were in danger every minute-but lately they don't trcuble us much.

"But I say, stranger, how's things up North? Is there

going to be another war? We think there will be soon. there is you may count on me in going in for Union!'

If

"He now brought me out a lunch to which I did ample justice, and then I asked for a blanket that I might go to sleep upon the porch, as agreed.

"No sir,' said he; no blanket for you; I've as good a bed as there is in this part of the country, and you are welcome to it!'

"After sleeping till morning I found a fine breakfast awaiting me, and that my horse had been already taken care of; and when I started off again my landlord accompanied me for several miles to show me the way."

"That's a good story," said Colonel Van Buren, of the 192d New York; "but let me tell an incident that will remind many of you of a hundred similar schemes which the homesick invented to get discharged.

"You all know how the boys tried the insanity dodge. Well, there was one fellow in my regiment who played it most successfully. We were at Fort Grebel in February, 1862. Fort Grebel was on the branch of the Potomac, opposite Arlington Heights.

"One night there was a very heavy rain, and in the morning, before the other soldiers began to stir about the camp, this fellow-I have forgotten his name-tied a string to his bayonet, took a position on the parapet, began fishing in a shallow pool, and to all appearances became entirely unmindful of his surroundings.

"An hour passed. No one interrupted him, and still he could be seen quietly but regularly lifting his gun with the string from the pool, as though the gun were a fishing pole, and that he had a bite. By and by the sun came up, and while the other boys were going about camp preparing for breakfast, the fisherman still kept up his weary stroke, lifting his supposed fishing-tackle from the water almost as regularly as though it were done by a clock.

"The surroundings and occasion were such that it was only necessary for a sane man to look once in order to be convinced that something was lacking about the head-work' of the machine which was fishing in the pool.

"The boys all began to talk about the matter, many of them jesting in a manner wholly amusing. But no cessation in the regular stroke of the fisherman. Finally the matter came to the notice of the captain, who at once proceeded to the interesting scene of operations.

"What are you doing there?' he demanded.

"No response.

The gun and string were lifted with the

same regularity as ever.

"Halt!' commanded the captain.

"Not a single movement of the fisherman. Up went the pretended fishing-tackle again.

"Shoulder arms!' again commanded the captain, thinking that hearing an accustomed order might bring the soldier to his senses.

"But the warrior's countenance was as rigid as ever, and the fixed stare seemed riveted on the string which hung from the point of his bayonet and dropped carelessly down into the small pool before him.

"The captain now concluded to report the matter to the colonel, and started off on the errand at once. He suddenly met the colonel who had also beheld the fisherman, and was coming to investigate. The captain then returned to the scene with the colonel, when the same experience was repeated.

"The colonel concluded to call the surgeon, who came and examined the fisherman,-as well as possible while the incessant raising and lowering of his gun was being carried on, and recommended that the insane fisherman be given a discharge, which was accordingly written out and handed to the captain; but before it was given to the soldier, the colonel asked:

"What are you fishing for?'

"No reply.

"Well, I guess you can give him the document,' continued the colonel, and the captain handed it over to the fisherman, saying loudly:

"Here! take this!'

“That's what I was fishing for, replied the fisherman as he threw down his gun, pocketed the discharge, and immediately left camp, much to the amazement of the colonel, the captain and the surgeon, and very much to the amusement of all others who had heard the conversation."

CAMP-FIRE XXIII.

THE WRONG OX BY THE HORNS-THE TABLES TURNED ON AN OFFICER'S STRICT DISCIPLINE-A DECISION BY MANSFIELD, GENERAL-RIVALRY IN RELIGION.

FEW evenings since," said Mr. S. W. Rodgers, "a reminiscence of General Nelson was given, in which something was said about strict discipline. I remember a similar incident in which an officer was compelled to take a dose of his own medicine. It was in the fall of 1863, after the army had advanced beyond Chattanooga. Fortress Rosecrans, Murfreesboro, was garrisoned by disabled batteries-to man the guns and do guard-duty they kept a picket line around the fortress.

"Some of the officers in command of the post were not liked as well as they might have been, had they been more deserving. One of these, who was officer of the day at one time, and who had not been accustomed to holding office of any kind, much less to commanding soldiers, concluded that he would like to show his authority. So he gave strict official instruction to the pickets, each to halt at twenty paces, dismount, advance, and give the countersign.

"All this passed off well enough, the boys executing the order to the letter. But finally the tables were turned. The officer tried to catch some of the boys asleep at their posts, but of course failed, most ludicrously. On the bank of Stone River, where the line crossed, there happened to be a resolute young fellow who could not be intimidated nor imposed

upon.