“We have taken Atlanta: we have taken Savannah, Columbus, Charleston, and now at last, have captured Petersburg, and occupy Richmond: and what remains for us to take?”
An Irishman in the crowd shouted: “Let’s take a drink.”
As he closed the story our genial friend pointed towards the bar of the hotel in a significant way, and we saw the direction of his joke. We declined politely to show our friendship in this way, but we bade him good-night with a warm handshake and best wishes for the good of Ireland.
CHAPTER XVIII
BACK AGAIN TO CORK
We left Wexford the next morning in a misty rain.
“I am glad I put a rain-coat on my aeroplane,” said Mike as the rain came down in a regular pour.
We did not enjoy that morning’s sail from Wexford to Waterford. In an hour’s time we saw Waterford arise out of the mist. Like Wexford, Waterford is an important seaport, built on the banks of the Suir river. The name of this beautiful river is a vile slander. Much agricultural produce, and bacon and live stock are shipped from here to England.
The city was able to defend itself against Cromwell in 1649, and was the only place in Ireland that did not fall before the terrible charge of Cromwell’s Ironsides.