He had volunteered in the infantry, and at the
battle of Cold Harbor received a wound in the leg which disqualified
him for a foot-soldier thenceforward. His friends succeeded in
procuring for him the commission of lieutenant, and he was assigned to
duty as drill-master at a camp of instruction near Richmond.
"Here I was really in clover, old fellow," said Tom, laughingly "no
more toils, no more hardships, no bullets, or hard tack, or want of
soap. A snowy shirt every day--kid gloves if I wanted them--and the
sound of cannon at a very remote distance to lull me to repose, my boy.
Things had changed, they had indeed! I looked back with scorn on the
heavy musket and cartridge-box. I rode a splendidly groomed horse, wore
a new uniform shining with gold braid, a new cap covered with ditto,
boots which you could see your face in, a magnificent sash, and spurs
so long and martial that they made the pavement resound, and announced
my approach at the distance of a quarter of a mile! I say the pavement;
I was a good deal on the pavement--that of the fashionable Franklin
street being my favorite haunt. And as the Scripture says, it is not
good for man to be alone, I had young ladies for companions. My life
was grand, superb--none of your low military exposure, like that borne
by the miserable privates and officers in the field! I slept in town,
lived at a hotel, mounted my horse after breakfast, at the Government
stables near my lodgings and went gallantly at a gallop, to drill
infantry for an hour or two at the camp of instruction.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81