Page 19 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

the proceeds of his year’s pay, and these he soon handed over

a counter to a jeweller, who gave him a small packagc in
* exchange*
AH during the remainder of thg. campaign Colonel Stafford
carried a package carefully sealed, and strapped on behind
his saddle. His care of it and his secrecy about it were
the subjects of many jests among; his friends in the brigade,
and when in an engagement his horse was shot, and the Col­

onel, under a hot fire, stopped and calmly unbuckled his bun­
dle, and during the rest of the fight carried it in his hand,
there was a clamor that he should disclose the contents.
Even an offer to sing them a song would not appease them.

The brigade officers were gathered around a camp-fire that
night on the edge of the bloody field. A Federal officer,
Colonel Denby, who had been slightly wounded and captured
in the fight, and who now sat somewhat grim and moody
before the fire, was their guest.
" Now, Stafford, open the bundle and let us into the

secret,” they all said. The Colonel, without a word, rose and
brought the parcel up to the fire. Kneeling down, he took
out his knife and carefully ripped open the outer cover.
Many a jest was levelled at him across the blazing logs as he

did so.
One said the Colonel had turned peddler, and was trying
to eke out a living by running the blockade on Lilliputian
principles ; another wagered that he had it full of Confeder­
ate bills ; a third, that it was a talisman against bullets, and