The soldiers had rather a good time at Flint Hill, doing a little drilling and occasional picket duty out in the direction of Munson and Mason Hill.  The Commanding General wished to advance his pickets to Munson Hill, a few miles from Washington, and to do this it was necessary to dislodge the enemy, who had possession there.  The Second Regiment, under Colonel Kershaw, was sent out, and after a considerable brush he succeeded in driving the enemy away.  After this one regiment at a time was sent out to do picket duty.  When our South Carolina regiments would go out orders were given to be quiet, and during our stay at Mason and Munson Hill the utmost secrecy prevailed, but when Wheat’s Louisiana Battalion had to relieve a regiment we could hear the beating of their drums, the loud shouts of the men on their way out, and all would rush to the side of the road to see the “tigers” pass.  Down the road they would come, banners waving, the swinging step of the men keeping time to the shrill notes of the fife and the rattle of the drums.  Their large flowing pants, their gaudy striped long hose, made quite an imposing spectacle.  This was a noted band of men for a time, but their brave commander, Wheat, and almost all of his men, were killed in the battles that followed around Richmond.  Major Wheat had been in the Turkish Army when that nation was at war with Russia, and in several other foreign wars, as well as the Mexican War.  When his State seceded he returned to Louisiana and raised a battalion of the hardest set of men in New Orleans.  The soldiers called them “wharf rats,” “sailors,” “longshoremen,” “cutthroats,” and “gutter snipes.”  They knew no subordination and defied law and military discipline.  While in camp here several of them were shot at the stake.  Major Wheat had asked to be allowed to manage his men as he saw best, and had a law unto himself.  For some mutiny and insubordination he had several of them shot.  Afterwards, when the soldiers heard a volley fired, the word would go out, “Wheat is having another tiger shot.”

The fields were green with the great waving corn, just in roasting ears, and it was a sight to see hundreds of men in these fields early in the morning plucking the fine ears for breakfast.  In most cases the owners had abandoned their fields and homes, taking what was movable to other places in Virginia.  What was left the soldiers were at liberty to “slay and eat.”  At first it was determined to protect the stock, but the soldiers agreed that what the Southern soldiers left the enemy would be sure to take.  I remember the first theft I was engaged in during the war.  I say “first” advisedly.  Now soldiers have different views as to rights of property to that of the average citizen.  What he finds that will add to his comfort or welfare, or his wants dictate, or a liability of the property falling into the hands of the enemy, he takes without compunction or disposition to rob—­and more often he robs in a spirit of mischief.  A few fine