something to do with giving prestige to the regiment, whose jolly good nature, their almost unparallel reciprocal love of officers and men, helped to give tone and recognition to it, their buoyancy of spirits, their respect for superiors and kindness and indulgence to their inferiors, endeared them to all—­the whole command seemed to embibe of their spirit of fun, mischief and frolic.”  Captains L.W.  Gary, John W. Watts, John K. Nance, Lieutenants Farley and Wofford, Adjutant Pope and others, whom it may be improper to mention here, (and I hope I will not be considered egotistical or self praise, to include myself), were a gay set.  Their temperatures and habits, in some instances, were as wide as the poles, but there was a kind of affinity, a congeniality of spirits between them, that they were more like brothers in reality than brothers in arms, and all might be considered a “chip of the old block.”  Nor would our dearly beloved, kind, generous hearted Colonel Rutherford, when off duty, feel himself too much exalted to take a “spin with the boys” when occasions and circumstances admitted.  Many, many have been the jolly carousals these jolly knights enjoyed while passing through some town or city.  The confinement and restrictions of camp life induced them, when off duty and in some city, to long for a “loosening of the bit” and an ebullition of their youthful spirits.

Judge Pope, continuing, says:  “In the spring of 1864 Longstreet’s soldiers were ordered from East Tennessee, to join Lee in Virginia, and it follows that there was joy in the camp among the soldiers, for who does not love Virginia?  In route the command was halted in Lynchburg, and what was more natural for the fun-loving, jovial members of the old brigade, after being isolated so long, cut off from civilization as it seemed to them, shut up in the gorges of the mountains, than to long for a breath of fresh air—­to wish for the society and enjoy the hospitality of the fair ladies of old Virginia, especially the quaint old city of Lynchburg.  With such feelings, two handsome and gallant Captains of the Third Regiment applied for and obtained leave of absence for the day.  I will call this jolly couple John and Gus.  To say that these two young Captains—­one of the right and the other of the left color company—­were birds rare, would scarce express it.  They were both in their ‘teens,’ and small of statue withal.  They were two of the youngest, as well as the smallest, officers in the brigade.  Notwithstanding their age and build, they would not hesitate to take a ‘bout’ with the strongest and the largest.  As one would say to the other, ’When your wind fails you, I will leg him.’  Now, these two knights, out on a lark and lookout for adventure, did not hesitate to shie their castors in the ring and cross lances the first opportunity presented.  No doubt, after being a while with the famous Sancho Panza at the wine skins, they could see as many objects, changed through enchantment, as the Master Dan Quixote