GOING TO THE FRONT.
>59
Cameron; the latter he termed “ a nursery for brigadier-generals.” Anotherfriend hoarded specimens of official signatures and passes issued in Wash-ington , conspicuous among which was a pass with the well-known John-Hancock-like signature of Drake De Kay. (See page 173.)
Before enlisting, and while on a visit to a neighboring town, I was one even-ing at the village store, when the talk turned upon the duration of the war.Jim Tinkham, the clerk of the grocery store, announced his belief in a sixtydays’ war. I modestly asked him for more time. The older ones agreed withJim and argued, as was common at that time, that the Government wouldsoon blockade all the rebel ports and starve them out. Tinkham proposedto wager a supper for those present, if the rebels did not surrender beforesnow came that year. I accepted. Neither of us put up any money, andin the excitement of the weeks which followed I had forgotten the wager.During my first week in Washington , whom should I meet but Jim Tinkham,the apostle of the sixty-day theory. He was brown with sunburn, and cladin a rusty uniform which showed service in the field. He was a veteran, forhe had been at the battle of Bull Run. He confidentially declared thatafter getting the order to retreat at that battle, he should not have stoppedshort of Boston if he had not been halted by a soldier with a musket, aftercrossing Long Bridge.
’aSSSj
Bsgjggg