The experiences of our new friends were similar to ours, except they fell among officers who usually showed them favour and rejoiced with them in their release.

13th.—­L.M.M. had quite an adventure yesterday.  He being fireman with another was in the furnace room among three or four others, when the officer of the day, one of the surgeons, passed around on inspection.  “Stand up,” he ordered them, wishing to be saluted.  The others arose; but by no means L. The order was repeated for his benefit, but he sat with his cap on, telling the surgeon he had supposed he was excused from such things as he was one of the Friends.  Thereat the officer flew at him, exclaiming, he would take the Quaker out of him.  He snatched off his cap and seizing him by the collar tried to raise him to his feet; but finding his strength insufficient and that L. was not to be frightened, he changed his purpose in his wrath and calling for the corporal of the guard had him taken to the guard-house.  This was about eleven A.M. and he lay there till about six P.M., when the surgeon in charge, arriving home and hearing of it, ordered the officer of the day to go and take him out, telling him never to put another man into the guard-house while he was in charge here without consulting him.  The manner of his release was very satisfactory to us, and we waited for this rather than effect it by our own efforts.  We are all getting uneasy about remaining here, and if our release do not come soon, we feel we must intercede with the authorities, even if the alternative be imprisonment.

The privations I have endured since leaving home, the great tax upon my nervous strength, and my mind as well, since I have had charge of our extensive correspondence, are beginning to tell upon my health and I long for rest.

20th. We begin to feel we shall have to decline service as heretofore, unless our position is changed.  I shall not say but we submit too much in not declining at once, but it has seemed most prudent at least to make suit with Government rather than provoke the hostility of their subalterns.  We were ordered here with little understanding of the true state of things as they really exist here; and were advised by Friends to come and make no objections, being assured it was but for a very brief time and only a matter of form.  It might not have been wrong; but as we find we do too much fill the places of soldiers (L.M.M.’s fellow fireman has just left for the field, and I am to take his place, for instance), and are clearly doing military service, we are continually oppressed by a sense of guilt, that makes our struggles earnest.

21st.—­I.N. has not called yet; our situation is becoming almost intolerable.  I query if patience is justified under the circumstances.  My distress of mind may be enhanced by my feeble condition of health, for today I am confined to my bed, almost too weak to get downstairs.  This is owing to exposure after being heated over the furnaces.