Funny thing, we'll all wear blue coats
just alike. Think you'd find room for us?"
"Plenty of it. What was it the feller said--we welcome you with bloody
hands to hospitable graves--but we ain't feelin' that way to-night.
Got a plug of terbacker?"
The sergeant took out a square of tobacco, cut it in exact halves with
his pocket knife, and tossed one-half across the Antietam, where it was
deftly caught by the Mississippian.
"Thanks mightily," said Henderson. "Mr. Commissary Banks used to supply
us with good things, then it was Mr. Commissary Pope, and now I reckon
it'll be Mr. Commissary McClellan. Say, how many fellers have you got
over thar, anyway?"
"When I counted 'em last night," replied the sergeant calmly, "there was
five hundred and twelve thousand two hundred and fifty-three infantry,
sixty-four thousand two hundred and nineteen cavalry an' three thousand
one hundred and seventy-five cannon, but I reckon we'll receive
reinforcements of three hundred thousand before mornin'."
"Then we'll have more prisoners than I thought. Are you shore them three
hundred thousand reinforcements will get up in time?"
"Quite shore.
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