Owing to the lateness of the hour of our departure, when night came on we had made but about seven miles. Stopping at the gate in front of a farm-house, just before dark, and, addressing the man of the house, who was standing on the porch, I said: "Halloo, mister, can we get a little supper here, and stay all night?" "Well, no, sir; the Yankees have done taken all that I had; you can't get any supper here." "Partner," said I to the Sergeant, "let us go on. Blast that man's picture! he'll hear from me some day to pay for treating his _own soldiers_ in that way!" "Hold on, soldiers!" said the man; "where do you belong?" "I am Orderly Sergeant of Price's 1st Battery of Artillery," I replied, "and this man with me belongs to the same battery. We were captured by the Yankees, and have succeeded in getting away from them; we have been without any thing to eat for twenty-four hours." "Yes, yes!" said the man's wife, who had heard what had been said; "you _can_ have something to eat, and you can have the best bed in the house! Come in, boys, come in." We went in and sat down. "You were in the fight on the Hatchee, the other day, were you?" said the man. "Yes, till we got captured." "Well, how did the fight come off?" "I can't tell you very much about it. When we had fired only three rounds, some Lincoln cavalry charged right up to us, and captured us and our battery, and immediately sent us to the rear; consequently, I don't know much about it." "I declare!" said he; "I _would like to hear_ from the fight!" "Have you lived in these parts long?" "Yes, I was raised in this county." "You have taken the _oath_ to the Lincoln Government, I suppose?" "Yes, we _all_ do that. I was obliged to do it, but I don't consider it binding at all. I have been in the Confederate army fifteen months! You didn't know that, did you, boys?" "No; you had better keep that thing to yourself, for if the Yankees find it out they'll hang you." "Pshaw! I am not afraid of their finding it out. But, come boys, I see that supper is ready; sit up and eat some supper." The lady of the house had prepared us a meal worthy of veterans in a nobler cause than we feigned to represent. The table was bountifully supplied. In times of peace a better table would rarely have been set. It had been a long time since our eyes had rested upon such a meal. I think, however, that we did the subject justice. Having finished our supper and shoved back, the Sergeant began to show signs of drowsiness, and in a few minutes was asleep in his chair. "That's a _brave, gallant soldier_," said I. "Very few men have the _daring_ and the _courage_ that he possesses; but I see that the _poor fellow is tired out with his hardships, and has gone to sleep_." "_Poor soldier!_" exclaimed the lady. "_How the poor soldiers do have to suffer!_" "Yes, and there are very few persons, outside of the army, that realize the hardships and sufferings that the soldiers have to endure."