ended by 4 o'clock, and would have done so but for the unfortunate absence of discipline and experience.

When the Confederates passed through the enemy's encampments and found such quantities of provisions and booty, they halted and began to help themselves. Good men left the ranks and returned to the rear with bundles of plunder, in some cases sufficient to stock a small store. Then it was the officers failed to do their duty. They should have checked the confusion and kept the men in ranks.

General Buell, in his report of his arrival at Pittsburg Landing, said:

"The banks swarmed with a confused mass of men of various regiments; these could not have been less than four or five thousand, and later in the day it became much greater. The throng of demoralized troops increased continually by fresh fugitives from the battle, which steadily closed nearer the landing, and these were intermingled with teams, striving to get as near the river as possible. With few exceptions, all efforts to form the troops and move them forward to the fight utterly failed."

Assuredly the Confederates were at fault for not pressing on, not that it was General Beaureguard's fault, he who urged that movement, but his officers, who allowed the lines to halt in the Yankee camps.

In ending this criticism of Shiloh, and in closing the Confederate column, which we have endeavored to make as interesting to the old boys as we were able to do, we close our work with a reference to a subject not associated with Shiloh alone, but which has become a source of so much ill-feeling and contention on the part of our late enemies, that we deem it of use and as appropriate as a finale to these stories about the war, to place on record the following statement from a Federal newspaper correspondent at Shiloh to the Cincinnati Commercial.

Said he: "I am glad to be able to say something good of an army of traitors. *** No instance came to my knowledge in which our dead or wounded were treated in so diabolical a manner as they were reported to be at Manassas and Pea Ridge. They were invariably, whenever practicable, kindly cared for. *** A. Heckenlooper tells me that one of his corporals, who was wounded, received many attentions. An officer handed him a rubber blanket, saying that he needed it bad enough, but a wounded man needed it more.

Others brought him food and water, and wrapped him in woolen blankets. Such instances were common, and among the hundreds of dead and wounded not one showed signs of barbarity, of which the Rebels are accused." Certainly this easily refutes the outrageous slanders made about the treatment of prisoners by the Confed

erates.

In taking leave of the work in which I have sought to interest my comrades, I can not too warmly express my appreciation for the generous aid which the Picayune has given, and for the liberality in donating a page, and often more, to the stories of the war, which, doubtless, has no interest for a large class of its readers.

If we have contributed anything to the pleasure of the old boys, or stated any facts during the life of the Confederate column, which will give a fair and just conception of the distinctive traits of the Confederate soldier, we are happy to have done so.

We are indebted to the Hon. W. H. Seymour for the following very interesting story:

"There was a great stir and intense excitementat one time during General Banks' administration. A number of 'Rebels' were to leave for the Confederacy. Their friends, amounting to some 20,000 persons, women and children principally, wended their way down to the levee to see them off and to take their last farewell.

"Such a quantity of women frightened the officials; they were exasperated at their waving of handkerchiefs, their loud calling to their friends, and their going on to vessels in the vicinity.

"Order were given to 'Stand back,' but no heed was given; the bayonets were pointed at the ladies, but they were not to be scared. A lady ran across to get a nearer view. An officer seized her by the arm, but she escaped, leaving a scarf in his possession. At last the military received orders to do its duty.

"The affair was called the 'Pocket Handkerchief War,' and has been put in verse, which is quite comical.

THE GREATEST VICTORY OF THE WAR.

"LA BATAILLE DES MOUCHOIRS."

Fought Friday, February 20, 1863, at the head of Gravier street.

Of all the battles, modern or old,

By poet sung or historian told;

Of all the routs that ever was seen

From the days of Saladin to Marshall Tourrenne,

Or all the victories later yet won,

From Waterloo's field to that of Bull Run;
All, all, must hide their fading light,

In the radiant glow of the handkerchief fight;
And a pæan of joy must thrill the land,
When they hear of the deeds of Banks' band.

'Twas on the levee, where the tide
Of" Father Mississippi" flows,
Our gallant lads, their country's pride,
Won this great vict'ry o'er her foes.
Four hundred Rebels were to leave

That morning for Secessia shades,

When down there came (you'd scarce believe),
A troop of children, wives and maids,
To wave farewells, to bid Godspeed,
To shed for them the parting tear,

To waft them kisses as the meed

Of praise to soldiers' hearts most dear, They came in hundreds-thousands lined The streets, the roofs, the shipping, too, Their ribbons dancing in the wind,

Their bright eyes flashing love's adieu. 'Twas then to danger we awoke,

But nobly faced the unarmed throng,
And beat them back with hearty stroke,
'Till re-enforcements came along.
We waited long, our aching sight

Was strained in eager, anxious gaze.

At last we saw the bayonets bright
Flash in the sunlight's welcome blaze.

The cannon's dull and heavy roll,

Fell greeting on our gladdened ear,
Then fired each eye, then glowed each soul,
For well we knew the strife was near.

Charge! rang the cry, and on we dashed
Upon our female foes,

As seas in stormy fury lashed,
When'er the tempest blows.

Like chaff their parasols went down,
As our gallants rushed;

And many a bonnet, robe and gown
Was torn to shreds or crushed,
Though well we plied the bayonet,
Still some our efforts braved,
Defiant both of blow and threat,

Their handkerchiefs still waved.
Thick grew the fight, loud rolled the din,
When, charge! rang out again,
And then the cannon thundered in,

And scoured o'er the plain

Down, 'neath th' unpitying iron heels

Of horses children sank,

While through the crowd the cannon wheels
Mowed roads on either flank,
One startled shriek, one hollow groan,

One headlong rush, and then
Huzza! the field was all our own,

For we were Banks' men.

That night, released from all our toils,
Our dangers passed and gone;

We gladly gathered up the spoils

Our chivalry had won!

Five hundred 'kerchiefs we had snatched

From Rebel ladies' hands,

Ten parasols, two shoes (not matched)

Some ribbons, belts and bands,

And other things that I forgot;
But then you'll find them all
As trophies in that hallowed spot-
The cradle-Faneuil Hall!

And long on Massachusetts shore,
And on Green Mountains' side,
Or where Long Island's breakers roar,
And by the Hudson's tide,

In times to come, when lamps are lit,
And fires brightly blaze,

While round the knees of heroes sit

The young of happier days,

Who listen to their storied deeds,
To them sublimely grand-
Then glory shall award its meed

Of praise to Banks' band,

And fame proclaim that they alone
(In triumph's loudest note)
May wear henceforth, for valor shown,
A woman's petticoat!

[From the Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch, February 14, 1904.]

CITY BATTALION, RICHMOND, VA.

Roster of Officers of the Twenty-fiifth Battalion of

Infantry.

Editor of the Times-Dispatch:

Sir,-Will you kindly tell me what company Captain Cocke commanded during the latter part of the Confederate war? I think it was a city battalion, of Richmond.

P. C. W.

See the roster following, which we give as a matter of general in

terest:

OFFICERS OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH BATTALION VIRGINIA

INFANTRY.

Wyatt M. Elliott, Major and Lieutenant-Colonel.

Louis J. Bossieux, Major.

Thomas L. Bondurant, Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon.

Oscar R. Hough, Adjutant.

Jesse P. Hope, Surgeon.

Joseph A. Baden, Assistant Surgeon.

Henry C. Shent, Assistant Surgeon.

Thaddeus B. Starke, Assistant Quartermaster.

Benjamin F. Cocke, Acting Adjutant.

John E. Bradley, Ensign.