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The Major soon set out a fresh bottle of whiskey
and invited him to drink, which he did with
the air of a gentleman, who felt himself
perfectly at home. The Maj. soon had him
cornered, and engaged in a tete a tete conversation -
presently Dinner was announced, & the
Maj. took him by the arm, & seated him by
his side - was particularly polite & attentive.
The dinner was a good one and my soldier
did ample justice to it. I was at the same
table, but did not catch his eye during the
repast. He told me afterwards, he was
afraid to look at me; if he had done so, he
would have been certain to laugh outright.
Dinner over, the Major armed him to the courthouse,
up to the place to the voting. His name
being announced, he was asked who he voted
for Congress - "Who are the candidates, gentlemen"
said he. The officers of the election
particularly the Sheriff was opposed to me
& they had a noisy set of strikers surrounding
the polls, ready to call out in a loud
tone, the name of Montgomery - a dozen
voices said Montgomery. My friends were
present & equally ready. A dozen other voices
said "Taul". He seemed to be amazed - and
asked if that was his "Old Colonel" that he
served under on the campaign to Canada
last year. The same said two dozen voices.
He turned to Maj. Fox, who still had him
by the arm and said to him "Major you
must excuse me this time. I can't vote against
my old Colonel." At the very top of his
voice, he bawled out, "I vote for Col. Taul".
The Maj. dropped his arm & [?]