Near the spot on which they fixed for an encampment was a large house, which had been abandoned by its owner and occupant on the morning that the Union troops marched into Alexandria. So hasty had been the flight that even the breakfast-table, with the dishes upon it, was left standing in the centre of the dining-room. Not an article of furniture, so far as could be seen, had been removed. The house had been well furnished, and, among other things, had a piano, about half worn. This had doubtless been played upon by daughters of the family as well as by the wife, as there were articles lying about the parlor which plainly indicated recent occupancy by young ladies. The piano stood open when the colonel, doctor, and other of his officers first entered the house, and that most exquisite of all musical compositions, "Home, Sweet Home," was open on the music-holder. This house the colonel at once appropriated for the headquarters of his regiment, and not only he, but his lieutenant-colonel, major, doctor, and adjutant slept and messed there. They slept in the beds, lounged on the sofas, ate from the table, drank from the sideboard, and used nearly everything about the house except the piano. No one of the officers played, and erelong the piano became one of the neglected, if not one of the useless, articles about the house. One day, when they were all lounging in the parlor, the doctor said to the colonel: "What a world of pleasure that piano would give my wife and daughters if I only had it at my own home!" "Well," replied the colonel, "why then don't you send it to your own home? The owner, or once owner--for I hold, you know, that rebels forfeit everything, even their lives--is not here to object, and I am sure I won't." This led to a general conversation on the subject among all the officers present, the conclusion of which was that the doctor should have the piano boxed, and sent to his family as soon as he could conveniently. This, of course, pleased the doctor greatly, and on the following day he got together boards, and a carpenter, had a suitable box made, the piano carefully packed, and on the day following sent it to Alexandria, with orders to have it forwarded to his home, in New England, as speedily as possible. When it was being unloaded at the shipping warehouse, one of the provost-guard chanced to be present, and inquired of' those who brought it where it came from, who sent it, and where it was being sent to? Those who brought it answered all these questions without hesitancy, nor did they see any wrong in all that was being done; but the provost-guard, knowing what the orders in the city were upon that subject, felt it to be his duty to inform the Provost-Marshal of what he had seen, and no sooner did the Marshal learn of it, than he informed the Provost-judge.