I ask'd him if he did not suffer from the cold, and
if he had no overcoat. No, he did not suffer from cold, and had no
overcoat, but could draw one whenever he wish'd. His father was dead,
and his mother living in some part of East Tennessee; all the men were
from that part of the country. The next forenoon I saw the Tennessee
and Indiana regiments marching down the Avenue. My boy was with the
former, stepping along with the rest. There were many other boys no
older. I stood and watch'd them as they tramp'd along with slow,
strong, heavy, regular steps. There did not appear to be a man over 30
years of age, and a large proportion were from 15 to perhaps 22 or 23.
They had all the look of veterans, worn, stain'd, impassive, and a
certain unbent, lounging gait, carrying in addition to their regular
arms and knapsacks, frequently a frying-pan, broom, &c. They were all
of pleasant physiognomy; no refinement, nor blanch'd with intellect,
but as my eye pick'd them, moving along, rank by rank, there did not
seem to be a single repulsive, brutal or markedly stupid face among
them.
BURIAL OF A LADY NURSE
Here is an incident just occurr'd in one of the hospitals. A lady
named Miss or Mrs. Billings, who has long been a practical friend of
soldiers, and nurse in the army, and had become attached to it in a
way that no one can realize but him or her who has had experience, was
taken sick, early this winter, linger'd some time, and finally died in
the hospital.
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