“Yes, I do. The fall's work won't last long, and they say they're paying thirteen dollars a month and found for soldiers. That's better'n doing chores for your board.” “If you do go I'll run away and enlist.” “No; you're too young to go to war. You must wait till you're an able-bodied man-that's what the bills call for.” “O, dear! I'm afraid you'll whip all the rebels before I can get there.” I cried myself to sleep that night. How I envied Nat when he came home on a three days' furlough clad in a full suit of cavalry uniform! He enlisted September 20, 1861, in the Second New York cavalry. The regiment was known as the Northern Black-horse cavalry. Nat allowed me to try on his jacket, and I strutted about in it for an hour or so. I felt that even in wearing it for a short time I was doing something toward whipping the Southerners. But Bass's furlough came to an end, and he returned to his regiment. Nat came back in time to help us plant in the spring of 1862. The regiment went as far as Camp Stoneman, near Washington, where it remained in winter quarters. It was not accepted by the United States Government, and was never mounted. The reason given was that the Government had more cavalry than it could handle, and the Northern Black-horse cavalry was disbanded. The regiment was raised by Colonel Andrew J. Morrison, who subsequently served with distinction at the head of a brigade. Nat came home “chock-full” of war stories. He was just as much a hero in my estimation as he would have been if the rebels had shot him all to pieces. I never tired of listening to his yarns about the experiences of the regiment at Camp Stoneman. He had not seen a rebel, dead or alive, but that was not his fault. Nat was something of a singer, and he had a song describing the adventures of his regiment. The soldiers were referred to as “rats.” I recall one verse and the chorus: “The rats they were mustered, And then they were paid; 'And now,' says Col. Morrison, 'We'll have a dress parade.' Lallv boo! Lally boo, oo, oo, Lally bang, bang, bang, Lally boo, oo, oo, Lally bang!” I would join in the chorus, and although I did not understand the sentiment--if there was any in the song--I was ready to adopt it as a national hymn.