The village was now a scene of active, noisy, bustling life. I amused myself for a short time by examining in detail the human current that flowed past my office steps. Now passed a pair of country lovers, the girl in the act of biting off a huge piece of mince pie, whilst the “he” was industriously engaged in puffing at a great black cigar, giving his rosy-cheeked sweetheart the benefit of the smoke gratis. Next a little rustic maiden alone, all beflowered and beribboned like a walking milliner shop; then a young woodsman, who had scarcely ever emerged from the forest before, but who had “left the saw-mill to-day to go a trainen,” sauntered past with his rusty old musket (which doubtless did service at Minisink in “granddaddy’s” hands) horizontal upon his shoulder; then a rough-looking check-shirted hunter, with his rifle in his grasp, and then a bumpkin from “Strong’s Settlement,” with his hands deep in his pockets, his “limpsey” hat upon one side of his head, minus half the crown and the whole of the rim, and opening his gray eyes so wide as fairly to pull his mouth open. Succeeding this interesting specimen of humanity, minced along a youthful, undersized soldier, in an old blue artillery coat, made in the Revolution, the red-striped skirts striking his heels, the breast down to his hips, and the sleeves tucked up nearly to the elbows; and next strode a brawny hero, who crowded himself into a gray cavalry jacket, with its shadow of a skirt cocked up behind like the brush of a deer, and the breasts shrinking away nearly under his arms. “I say there, hadn’t you two fellers better swap?” shouted a pedler from his box as the twain passed. “Darn me,” added he, in an under tone, as they went regardless along, “if one of them are chaps don’t look loose enuff to run out of his coat like this ere old woman’s cider, whilst that are other crittur is screwed up so tight that he’ll sartenly bust up afore long. However it’s their business, not mine. HERE’S a lot of fine spoons! no Garman silver about _them_. Come, roll up, tumble up, any way to get up—come, give us a bid!” etc. etc. The rolling of drums now announced that the time for the mustering of the different companies composing the regiment (the bloody 185th) had arrived. Lines of soldiers were soon seen scattered along the street, and the loud voices of the sergeants calling the roll were heard. There were two uniform companies attached to the regiment, beside “the troop,” or light-horse company, viz., the artillery and rifle. The dress of the former was a blue jacket, with red tufts on the shoulders, and caps with red tufts in front, whilst that of the latter was a green hunting shirt fringed with black, with black plumes in their hats. The cavalry company were dressed in red coats faced and cuffed with black velvet. The rest of the regiment were clothed, some in odd uniforms, others in their every-day clothing, and presented a strange and motley array of colors and accoutrements.