Before reaching Cincinnati, the boat supplies became so nearly exhausted that it became necessary to issue an order forbidding any but commissioned officers and their _attachés_ being furnished with meals by the boat. There were so many to eat that it generally required the table to be set three times before all would be supplied. The first time the table was set after the order was issued, I called at the clerk's office to buy a ticket for dinner for myself and a friend, and was refused on the plea that the order forbid furnishing meals to _enlisted men_. My friend and I then seated ourselves at the table, but were ordered away by the steward. On our refusing to go, he reported us to the clerk, who came and ordered us away. I told him that we were _entitled_ to get our meals there, and if he couldn't furnish us a waiter, I'd get a commissioned officer to wait on us. I then ordered a waiter to serve us, but the clerk countermanded it. Just then Captain Bostwick, of the 20th Ohio Infantry, was passing by us. "Here, Captain," said I; "these men have got above their business. They won't wait on us because we ha'n't got on shoulder-straps. Can't you wait on a poor soldier?" "Certainly, gentlemen; what will you have, roast beef or boiled ham?" "Some of the beef, if you please, Captain." Away went the Captain with our plates. General Force, having heard our words, now made his appearance. "General," said I, "this man and I fare rather slim; they won't give us any thing to eat on this boat unless we have a man with shoulder-straps to wait upon us." "Clerk," said the General, "let these men have what they want to eat. That man there (pointing to my friend) is a commissioned officer, and the other man is a great deal more deserving of his meals than I am." "I beg your pardon, gentlemen," said the clerk. "Waiter, serve these men." "Never mind the waiter, clerk. We don't want any of your _trash_ around us; we have _commissioned officers to serve us_." The Captain served us till we had finished our meal, very much to the amusement of those looking on. On my arrival in Ohio, I found that my reputation as a scout and spy had preceded me, and where-ever I went I could scarcely make my appearance on the street without having a crowd gather around me, eager to hear my experience in Dixie. I was pressed with invitations to call upon people whom I had never seen or heard of before. Circumstances, beyond my control, rendered my position an embarrassing one. We were to have been paid our bounty, back pay, and veteran bounty at Columbus, O., but, by the carelessness of the commissary of musters that mustered me, my veteran papers were lost, so that I drew no pay, and, consequently, my clothes were ragged and my pocket empty. Embarrassing as this was to me, it seemed to have very little influence with others, and ladies in silk would listen with intense interest to the narratives of the ragged soldier.