The Four Parties—Their Candidates—Freedom of Speech Abridged—Secession Decreed—Lincoln Elected—Oh, for Andrew Jackson! Exit Buchanan—“Long-heeled Abolitionists” and “Black Republicans”—“Wide-awakes” and “Rail-splitters”—“Copperheads”—The Misunderstanding—Northern Doughfaces—Loyal Men of All Parties Unite—The First Rally—Preparation in the Bay State and in Other States—Her War Governor—Showing the White Feather—The Memorable Fifteenth of April—“The Sweet Little Man”—Parting Scenes—The Three-Months’ Men 15 CHAPTER II. ENLISTING. The President’s Error—“Three Years Unless Sooner Discharged”—How Volunteer Companies were Raised—Filling the Quotas—What General Sherman Says—Recruiting Offices—Advertisements for Recruits—A War Meeting in Roxbury—A Typical War Meeting in the Country—A Small-Sized Patriot—Signing the Roll—The Medical Examination—Off for Camp—The Red, White, and Blue 34 CHAPTER III. HOW THE SOLDIERS WERE SHELTERED. The Distinction Noted Between the Militia and the U. S. Volunteers—The Oath of Muster—Barracks Described—Sibley or Bell Tents—A or Wedge Tents—Spooning—Stockading—Hospital or Wall Tents—Dog or Shelter Tent Described—Chumming—Pitching Shelters—Stockaded Shelters—Fireplaces—Chimneys—Door Plates—“Willard’s Hotel”—“Hole in the Wall”—Mortars and Mortar Shelling before Petersburg 43 CHAPTER IV. LIFE IN TENTS. Life in a Sibley—The Stove—The Pastimes—Postage Stamps as Money—Soldier’s Letter—“Nary Red”—Illustrated Envelopes—Army Reading—The Recluse—Evenings of Sociability—Pipe and Ring Making—Home Gossip—Music and the Contrabands—War Song Revived—The “Mud March” Prayer 61 CHAPTER V. LIFE IN LOG HUTS. The Plan of a Camp—Inside a Stockade—The Bunks—The Arrangement of the Furniture—Æsthetic Dish-washing—Lighting by Candles and Slush Lamps—Candlesticks—Night-Gowns and Night-Caps—The Shelters in a Rain—“I. C.” Insect Life—_Pediculus Vestimenti_, the Old-time Grayback—Not a Respecter of Rank—The First Grayback Found—(K)nitting Work—“Skirmishing”—Boiling Water the Sovereign Balm—Cleanliness—The Versatile Mess-Kettles—No Magee Ranges Supplied the Soldiers—Washerwomen—No “Boiled Shirts”—Darning and Mending—Government Socks—Cooks—Green Pine as Fuel—Camp Barbers—Future Tacticians 73 CHAPTER VI. JONAHS AND BEATS.