The troops did this very well, my boy, the muskets coming down at intervals of three minutes, bringing each man's cap with them, and pointing so regularly toward all points of the compass, that no foe could possibly approach from any direction without running on a bayonet.
"Excellent!" says Captain Bob Shorty, with enthusiasm. "Only, Mr. Rhett, you needn't hold your gun quite so much like a hoe. Carry arms!"
Here Mr. Dana stepped out from the ranks, and says he:
"Carrie who, mars'r?"
"Go to the rear," says Captain Bob Shorty, indignantly. "Present Arms!"
If Present Arms means to stick your bayonet into the next man's side, my boy, the troops did it very well.
"Splendid!" says Captain Bob Shorty. "Shoulder Arms—Eyes Right—Double-quick, March! On to Richmond!"
The troops obeyed the order, my boy, and haven't been seen since. Perhaps they're going yet, my boy.
Company 3, Regiment 5, Mackerel Brigade, started for an advance on Richmond yesterday, and by a forced march got within three miles of it. Another march brought them within five miles of the place; and the last despatch stated that they had but ten miles to go before reaching the rebel capital.
Military travel, my boy, is like the railroad at the West, where they had to make chalk marks on the track to see which way the train was going.