The house was built with a porch extending across its entire front. As we approached, we saw a Federal guard standing on the porch, near the main entrance to the house, and two Federal officers, one of them a Captain and the other a Major. The officers were engaged in conversation with a lady belonging to the house. We halted in front of the steps leading on to the porch, when Levi, addressing the lady, said: "Madam, have you got any corn or fodder here?" "Yes, I expect there _is some_ out there," she replied, pointing to an outhouse; "go out and get it. Take it _all_, if you can; don't leave any. I shall be glad when it is _gone_; then you won't _bother_ me." We rode to the outhouse and procured what fodder we wanted, and, having fed our mules in a yard in front of the house, we repaired to the porch, where the officers and lady were still engaged in conversation. They were talking about the burning of Holly Springs, and as I came near, I heard the lady say: "If General Van Dorn and General Price can't _thrash_ you out of Mississippi, they can _starve_ you out, or get you out in some way; _you are going out, anyhow_." "Yes," said I, "that's one of General Van Dorn's capers; he is just the man to do such tricks as that." The officers left as soon as I came up, and the lady turned her conversation to me: "Do you know General Van Dorn?" "Yes, I know _all of our_ Generals; and I know you, too." "Where did you ever see me?" "A'n't you the lady that sent Colonel Slemmens the boquet last summer, when he was on outpost duty, with his regiment, at Cold Water?" "Why, yes, I believe I was; where was you?" "I was sent from Lumpkins' Mills, by General Villipique to Colonel Slemmens, with orders." "Where do you belong?" "I belong to the 17th Mississippi Zouaves, the pride of the Confederacy." "Who is the Colonel?" "Colonel Hanner." "Yes, yes! that's a fact! I thought that you was fooling me, at first, but I don't think you are now. How in the world did you come to be up here?" "I was captured near Grenada." "You was? That's too bad! Oh, tell me, have you received your new guns yet?" "Yes; we received them on the 18th day of last August." "They were so long coming, that I was afraid they never would get through the Federal lines. How do you like them?" "Very much, indeed. They are Colt's six-shooters, and are a most excellent gun." "Well, I am glad of it; they ought to be a _good_ gun, for they cost the Confederacy sixty dollars apiece. You are really a prisoner, then, are you?" "Yes." "Well, come into the house." "I would if I could; but that man is my guard, and I don't think he'll let me." "Oh, no!" said Levi, "I can't; I am instructed not to let him go into any houses nor out of my sight." "Well, you can see him at the end of the porch; let him go there. He won't run away. Come this way, soldier." She led the way and I followed. "Now," said she, speaking low, "_do tell_ me how the Yankees like the burning of Holly Springs."