13

13
would indicate.

I took my company to relieve the advanced
pickets, composed of men of the 23^d Wisconsin of our
brigade, The orderly ^of my company^ was a man of such
proportions as to make me appear ludicrously
small, and excited comments to which I took
exceptions, and as a consequence measured
my length in the mud On my feet in an
instant I struck the officer ^who had tapped me^ with the flat of
my sword, and The men of our respective
companies took a hand and ^we^ came near having
a battle there and then then and there

I had just finished posting the pickets
when an orderly summoned me to division
headquarters; covered with mud and smarting
at the indignity I had received, my feelings can
better be imagined than described. After making
myself as presentable as the soft mud would
allow admit. I repaired to the Generals office in a
plantation house near the levee, expecting to
court martialed, and possibly sent home in
disgrace. To my astonishment ^however:^ I was informed
that a friend had just sent in a pair of
fine Mallard ducks, that dinner would
be served shortly and after the meal I
would be informed what was required of
me, General Smith was a peculiar man,
some thought him a martinet, Certainly his