Hauling cotton.
"Yes. We all expect our side to be victorious, though we are sometimes disappointed, as was the case at Bull Run."
"Then you were at Bull Run? I take it that you belong to the army?"
"I was there and saw the fight, although I was not connected with the army."
"I am glad you were defeated. It was a good lesson to you. The Northerners have had some respect for the Southerners since then. The Southerners fought against great odds."
"Indeed, I think it was the reverse."
"No indeed, sir. The Federals numbered over sixty thousand, while Beauregard had less than thirty thousand. He did not have more than twelve thousand in the fight."
"I can assure you it is a grave mistake. General McDowell had less than thirty thousand men, and not more than half were engaged."
"Well, I wonder what he was thinking of when he carried out those forty thousand handcuffs?"
"I did not suppose any one gave credence to that absurd story."