For instance, the second day after our arrival a line of guards were placed around us, with orders not to allow any of us to go up town without a pass.  The reason of this was that many weak—­even dying-men would persist in wandering about, and would be found exhausted, frequently dead, in various parts of the City.  Andrews and I concluded to go up town.  Approaching a negro sentinel he warned us back with,

“Stand back, dah; don’t come any furder; it’s agin de awdahs; you can’t pass.”

He would not allow us to argue the case, but brought his gun to such a threatening position that we fell back.  Going down the line a little farther, we came to a white sentinel, to whom I said: 

“Comrade, what are your orders:” 

He replied: 

“My orders are not to let any of you fellows pass, but my beat only extends to that out-house there.”

Acting on this plain hint, we walked around the house and went up-town.  The guard simply construed his orders in a liberal spirit.  He reasoned that they hardly applied to us, since we were evidently able to take care of ourselves.

Later we had another illustration of this dog like fidelity of the colored sentinel.  A number of us were quartered in a large and empty warehouse.  On the same floor, and close to us, were a couple of very fine horses belonging to some officer.  We had not been in the warehouse very long until we concluded that the straw with which the horses were bedded would be better used in making couches for ourselves, and this suggestion was instantly acted upon, and so thoroughly that there was not a straw left between the animals and the bare boards.  Presently the owner of the horses came in, and he was greatly incensed at what had been done.  He relieved his mind of a few sulphurous oaths, and going out, came back soon with a man with more straw, and a colored soldier whom he stationed by the horses, saying: 

“Now, look here.  You musn’t let anybody take anything sway from these stalls; d’you understand me?—­not a thing.”

He then went out.  Andrews and I had just finished cooking dinner, and were sitting down to eat it.  Wishing to lend our frying-pan to another mess, I looked around for something to lay our meat upon.  Near the horses I saw a book cover, which would answer the purpose admirably.  Springing up, I skipped across to where it was, snatched it up, and ran back to my place.  As I reached it a yell from the boys made me look around.  The darky was coming at me “full tilt,” with his gun at a “charge bayonets.”  As I turned he said: 

“Put dat right back dah!”

I said: 

“Why, this don’t amount to anything, this is only an old book cover.  It hasn’t anything in the world to do with the horses.”

He only replied: 

“Put dat right back dah!”

I tried another appeal: 

“Now, you woolly-headed son of thunder, haven’t you got sense enough to know that the officer who posted you didn’t mean such a thing as this!  He only meant that we should not be allowed to take any of the horses’ bedding or equipments; don’t you see?”