part of the time to myself, which I employed reading, Army books being the chief object of interest with me. A few weeks passed, when one day Lieutenant Poynton threw a pair of dirty boots at me, under the fly of the tent, where I was standing, ordering me to clean and black them. I informed him that I did not enlist for that kind of service. He then threatened to tie me up if I did not obey at once, when I started on the run for the Colonel's tent, a sergeant after me. The Colonel listened to my complaint, and just then the Lieutenant coming up, the Colonel asked him how he dared to order a soldier of his regiment to perform such menial duty, at the same time notifying him that if he ever heard of his being guilty of such an act again he would take official notice of it. The next morning I received an order to report to the Adjutant's office, and was made a mounted orderly, my principal duty being to carry reports to Brigade and Division Headquarters.

I shall never forget my first meeting with General Abercrombie, who was then in command at Arlington Heights. The General was sitting at his desk writing, when I walked up to him, with my cap on, without my belt or anything to indicate that I was on duty, and said, "Good morning, General," in a familiar way. He at once flew into a rage, and exclaimed, "Who are you? Take off your cap! Stand at attention!"

I handed him a dispatch; he acknowledged its receipt on the envelope, and then informed me that whenever I entered an officer's quarters again, unless I had my side-arms or belt on, to show that I was on duty, to uncover and stand at attention until recognized. His words and manner made an impression upon me that I shall never forget, and it proved of value, as I had not then discovered the relation between enlisted men and officers.

Having, when not on duty, spent most of my time in studying military tactics, reading Army regulations, etc., in a few weeks I requested that I be returned to my company. There I was made a lance-corporal, then sergeant, and daily drilled the company, when not on picket duty, around Fall's Church and Munson's Hill, where quite a number of skirmishes took place. I had served about four months as an enlisted man, when our Colonel, with some ladies, came out to where we were drilling. After watching the maneuvers awhile, he ordered me to report to him. Leaving my men at "Place, rest," I appeared before the Colonel. Drawing

from his pocket a large envelope, he said, as he handed it to me: "Sergeant, the officer who ordered you to clean his boots has been found guilty of drunkenness on picket duty, and dismissed the service; it being the first vacancy in the regiment, I have decided to fill it by handing you this commission as Second Lieutenant. You may have four days' leave in which to visit Washington, in order to procure your uniform.”

I was so surprised that I hardly knew how to reply, and at last declined the honor, on the ground that I was not old enough to accept such a commission, but the Colonel advised its acceptance, saying that he was the best judge of that.

I thanked him, and returned to my company, and was heartily greeted by the boys, who seemed even more delighted than myself. The fact that I was now an Army officer, and would have command of men old enough to be my father or grandfather was certainly enough to inflate the vanity of any youth.

Going to Washington, I had a full-dress uniform made by Wall & Stevens, on Pennsylvania avenue, and dressed up in it and strutted around the hotels and up to the State Department, exhibiting myself to my friends, who had not heard from me for months. I attended President Lincoln's reception. He halted me, shook hands, and asked when I had entered the Army, my rank, etc.

Returning to my regiment, I served a few weeks on picket duty, and was then ordered on patrol duty at Alexandria. There I was obliged to stop every soldier I met, and require him to show his pass if he had one, and if he had none, place him under arrest, and take him to the old slave pen, which, before the war, was used as an enclosure for negroes, where they were bought and sold like animals. After we had gathered in a large number, an examination would be held, when those found to be deserters would be returned to their regiments, to be court-martialed, and likely shot.

Sixteenth Virginia Regiment, October 22, 1862.
Headquarters Camp Close,

Lieut. Geo. A. Armes, Company F. has authority to arrest and bring to camp any man belonging to this regiment.

By order of

JAMES T. CLOse,

Col. Commanding.

In addition to my duties as Assistant Provost Marshal, I was assigned to duty as a recruiting officer, and furnished the following pass:

Guards and Patrols:

Alexandria, Va., September 23, 1862.
Headquarters Mil. Gov.

Pass Lieut. Geo. A. Armes of Company B, Sixteenth Virginia Vols., freely in and out of Alexandria for recruiting purposes. (Signed) JNO. P. CLOUGH,

Brig.-Gen., Mil. Gov., Alexandria, Va.

While on recruiting service I asked my Lieutenant-Colonel for a letter of recommendation, as I desired to be transferred to the cavalry, and the following is a copy of the letter he gave me in support of my application, the original being still in my possession:

Laut Armes

has for some time, been attached, the 16 ° Va Vols. He has always proved himself active

Cavalry

offiew. He is desirous Service in, which tactics

Comes will recommended as a
wel!

and efficient of entering the (

as aw

forward

you

hope that
his low, may
voleus.

good officer

your

power

I have the honor to be

Ott Deist..

to

Soon after, my regiment being required to perform outpost duty, I returned to it, and for several days thereafter had some lively experiences. It was a difficult matter for an officer to get away, even for a few hours, but I procured a pass, which I still have in my possession. The following is a copy:

Headquarters Sixteenth Virginia Vols.,

Guards and Patrols:

December 29, 1862.

Pass Lieut. George A. Armes to Washington and return at 2 o'clock, December 30, 1862.

CAPT. F. M. MALONE,

Commanding Co. A.

S. W. SNYDER, Lieut.-Col.

As the original orders will be of interest to look over as the years roll on, we reproduce a few of them to remind our soldier readers of the days of old on the tented field. The following is a copy, in my possession, of a privileged pass just before going on outpost duty with my regiment:

Headquarters Sumner's Division,

Camp California, December 1, 1862. Lieut. George A. Armes, the bearer of this, is acting under the authority of the General Commanding the "Division."

to be molested by anyone or interfered with.

By order of

He is not

GENERAL HEINTZLEMAN.

J. W. TAYLOR, Capt., U. S. A., A. Adg.

CHAPTER III.

To those on duty there during the winter of 1863 it is not necessary to describe the way soldiers lived in and around the city of Washington, but as thirty-eight years have rolled by, the new generation will no doubt read with interest a brief description of the soldier boys, who, ragged and dirty, grew fat and hearty and appeared to enjoy life.

Every day there were detailed from each company from four to fifteen men, according to the numerical strength fitted for duty. These were provided with from one to three days' rations, and marched to Brigade or Division headquarters, inspected, then marched to the front line, and placed from six to ten yards apart, where they dug holes in the ground in which to remain for protection. Some fifty or 100 yards in front of this line would be the vidette line of pickets, hid behind anything that would afford shelter from the enemies' bullets, and the "Johnnies" were always lcoking for a chance to slip between the pickets and surprise those in camp, who were resting and waiting their turn to go to the front.

There was a reserve detachment of from fifty to 100 men between the camp and picket line, ready to deploy to the right or left, if necessary, in case the two lines in front were driven back; so those in camp were not liable to be surprised. While on this duty neither officers nor men were allowed to close their eyes day or night, the penalty being death if caught asleep.

Hard tack, a little coffee and fat bacon constituted the rations. As the men on this duty were compelled to stand, walk or sit, often in the mud or snow, for twenty-four hours, and as each one had to perform this duty every two or three days, the reader will perceive that there was not much fun in doing outpost duty.

Soon after the Sixteenth Virginia was mustered out, and July 1, 1863, I was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Invalid Corps. This Corps was composed of men who had been wounded or par