Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 43.djvu/52

38 white biscuit and the best of pickles. Jim, the general's cook, was altogether successful, and John, our waiting boy, had on a spotless white apron. Lee, in good humor, declared that we were only playing soldiers and invited us to dine with him and see how a soldier ought to live. Stuart was in great glee, ridiculing the white apron and playfully chiding Jackson for his bottle of wine. In the center of the table was a print of butter—a present from the Hayfield farm—on which was a gallant rooster. Stuart pronounced it to be Jackson's coat-of-arms, and old General Pendleton said the grace and ate the dinner and said it was all good.

How many staff people were present I do not recall, but, in addition to our own party, there were Colonel Venable and Colonel Marshall and big Von Borcke and Pelham and John Esten Cooke and Hullihen and George Peterkin, and a lot more. There were not many turkeys left when the day was over!

We younger men were glad when the generals were gone, for we had an evening entertainment before us—an invitation to a veritable old-fashioned party in Mrs. Corbin's beautiful parlors. There was a deal of preparation in the tents, and then a rare sight of beauty and grace, of lights and greenery, holly and mistletoe in the castle halls! And one young man, at least, our Sandy Pendleton, met his fate in a pair of black eyes that night.

About a week later General Jackson had earache, and Dr. McGuire said he had taken cold and must go to a room in the house. The general then consented to occupy an office-building in the grounds. It was a small frame house, a story and a half high, which stood to the left and front of the mansion, under the fine trees. It was a country gentleman's office. There was a little lobby in the front; on the left a wood closet, and on the right a narrow stairway leading to an attic room. An open fireplace was at the opposite end from the door. On either side of the door were book-shelves, on which stood farmers' books, horse and cattle registers, agricultural reports, Virginia codes, and a miscellaneous lot of old-time volumes. On the walls hung framed pictures of famous horses and fine cattle, and over the mantel was a tinted picture of a rat-worry. The general's cot was placed on one side, and a small table on the other. Two or three