Page:1861 vs 1882. "Co. Aytch," Maury grays, First Tennessee regiment; or, A side show of the show (IA 1861vs1882coaytc00watk).pdf/131

Rh a little stauza of schottische, a with a big flourish of his pen, writes the Major-General's name in small letters, and his ownthe Adjutant'sin very large letters, bringing the pen under it with tremendous flourishes, and writes approved and forwarded. You feel relieved. You feel that the anaconda's coicoil [sic] had been suddenly relaxed. Then you start out to the Lieutenant-General; you find him. He is in a very learned and dignified conversation about the war in Chili. Well, you get very anxious for the war in Chili to get to an end. The General pulls his side-whiskers, look wise, and tells his Adjutant to look over it, and, if correct, sign it. The Adjutant does not deign to condescend to notice you. He seems to be full of gumbo or calf-tail soup, and does not wish his equanimity disturbed. He takes hold of the document, and writes the Lieutenant General's name, and finishes his own name while looking in another directionapproved and forwarded. Then you take it up to the General; the guard stops you in a very formal way, and asks, "What do you want?" You tell him. He calls for the Orderly; the Orderly gives if to the Adjutant, and you are informed that it will be sent to your Colonel to-night, and given to you at roll-call in the morning. Now, reader the above is a pretty true picture of how I got my furlough.

After going through all the formality of red-tapeism, and being snubbed with tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee, I got my furlough. When it started out, it was on the cleanest piece of paper that could be found in Buck Lanier's suttler's store. After it came back, it was pretty well used up, and looked as if it had gone through a very dark place, and been beat with a soot-bag. But, any how, I know that I did not appreciate my furlough half as much as I thought I would. I felt like returning it to the gentlemen with my compliments, declining their kind favors. I felt that it was unwillingly given, and, as like begets like, it was very unwillingly received. Honestly, I felt as if I had made a bad bargain, and was keen to rue the trade. I did