"At West Point," he replied, "some of us were reprimanded for expressing a doubt of its justice. I was one of them. After we were in we had to fight it out and as it must be done I wanted to do my share."
It was while my Soldier was stationed at Petersburg that the expedition to North Carolina was projected, involving Newbern and Plymouth. The military history of the movement is given in "Pickett and His Men," but there are certain personal features of the expedition which have been recorded in my memory, for I would not be left behind when the journey to the old North State was made. I went as far as the house of a friend on the Newbern road.
The night was bleak and frigid; we were nearing our stopping place. My Soldier, always solicitous for his men, was discussing with his staff the discomfort to which they would be subjected and the impossibility of alleviating their suffering.
"Poor fellows!" he said. "They will be almost frozen and no wood, and General Lee will not allow us to burn even a single rail. There will be the devil to pay and I powerless to help."
Observing that I had awakened and heard his last remark he turned reprovingly to Captain Bright, saying:
"Bright, how dare you use that gentleman's name in the presence of my wife?"
"Beg your pardon, Sister," said Captain Bright, "I thought you were asleep."
Whatever relation my Soldier might bear to his staff officers, I was always "Sister."
"Don't you think I know your voice, my dear, from Captain Bright's?" I inquired.