Andrew thereupon drew back, and in a few minutes a young lady (Miss Howell) and another person, bent over as with age, wearing a lady's "water-proof," gathered at the waist, with a shawl drawn over the head, and carrying a tin pail, appear and ask to go to "the run" for water. Mrs. Davis also appears and says,—
"For God's sake, let my old mother go to get some water!"
No objections being made, they passed out. But sharp eyes were upon the singular-looking "old mother." Suddenly, Corporal Munyer, of Company C, and others at the same instant, discovered that the "old mother" was wearing very heavy boots for an aged female, and the Corporal exclaimed,—
"That is not a woman! Don't you see the boots?"—and, spurring his horse forward and cocking his carbine, compelled the withdrawal of the shawl, and disclosed Jeff Davis.
As if stung by this discovery of his unmanliness, Jeff struck an attitude, and cried out,—
"Is there a man among you? If there is, let me see him!"
"Yes," said the Corporal, "I am one; and if you stir, I will blow your brains out!"
"I know my fate," said Davis, "and might as well die here."
But his wife threw her arms around his neck, and kept herself between him and the threatening Corporal.
No harm, however, was done him, and he was generally kindly spoken to: he was only stripped of his female attire.