maintain the proposition, "that all men are created equal." Was there ever a cause more worthy of patriots? And the armies of the North and the South were composed of men who looked upon the conflict from these different standpoints. Partisan writers have claimed all the courage, chivalry, and humanity displayed during our struggle for one side, while assigning all the cowardice, cruelty, and depravity to the other. I do not agree with them. Jackson's men were equal to those of "The Iron Brigade." I would be just; but more, justice cannot admit. That there were skulks and plunderers in the contending armies of '61 is undoubtedly true; but they were few. And with rare exceptions the officers in command, on both sides, were honourable, humane men, who would not tolerate lawless deeds. Certainly no such acts had been perpetrated when Beauregard issued his offensive manifesto. Even the opportunity of committing the crimes insinuated by the fire-eating advocate of the "black flag" and "the garrote" had not been afforded us when, on the 5th of June, 1861, the proclamation from which I quote was issued to the people of Virginia.

General Beauregard said :—

"A reckless and unprincipled tyrant has invaded your soil. Abraham Lincoln, regardless of all moral, legal, and constitutional restraints, has thrown his abolition hosts among you, who are murdering and imprisoning your citizens, confiscating and destroying

your property, and committing other acts of violence and outrage too shocking and revolting to humanity to be enumerated.

"All rules of civilised warfare are abandoned, and they proclaim by their acts, if not on their banners, that their war-cry is, 'beauty and booty.' All that is dear to man—your honour, and that of your wives and daughters-your fortunes and your lives, are involved in this momentous contest.

"In the name, therefore, of the constituted authorities of the Confederate States-in the sacred cause of constitutional liberty and self-government, for which we are contending-in behalf of civilisation itself—I, G. T. Beauregard, Brigadier-General of the Confederate States, commanding at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, do make this my proclamation, and invite and enjoin you by every consideration dear to the hearts of freemen and patriots, by the name and memory of your revolutionary fathers, and by the purity and sanctity of your domestic firesides, to rally to the standard of your State and country."

After the battle of Bull's Run, General Winfield Scott felt that his age and physical infirmities rendered him an incompetent match in warfare to Johnston, Jackson, and Lee; and General McClellan was called from Western Virginia to assume the supreme command on the Potomac. The policy of the Government regarding non-combatants, and private property, had been made known to us before the

advent of McClellan to the Army of the Potomac, in an order issued by his predecessor in active command, General McDowell. We have seen the allegations made by Beauregard on the fifth of June; let us now read an extract from General Order No. 4, issued by the Union Commander on the third of that month :

"Statements of the amount, kind, and value of all private property taken and used for Government purposes, and of the damage done in any way to private property by reason of the occupation of this section of the country by the United States troops, will, as soon as practicable, be made out and transmitted to department headquarters by the commanders of brigades and officers in charge of the several fortifications. These statements will exhibit :

"First. The quantity of land taken possession of for the several field-works, and the kind and value of the crops growing thereon, if any.

"Second. The quantity of land used for the several encampments, and the kind and value of the growing crops, if any.

"Third. The number, size, and character of the buildings appropriated to public purposes.

"Fourth. The quantity and value of trees cut down. "Fifth. The kind and extent of fencing, etc., destroyed.

"These statements will, as far as possible, give the value of the property taken, or of the damage sustained, and the name or names of the owners

thereof. Citizens who have sustained any damage or loss as above will make their claims upon the commanding officers of the troops by whom it was done, or, in cases where these troops have moved away, upon the commander nearest them."

This order was continued in force under McClellan. Authorities differ concerning the military genius of this officer. But, as the guardian of the enemy's property, he will stand out upon the canvas of military history of all time, peerless and without a rival. And the men of the army were sandwiched, between the calumny of Bombast Beauregard on one side, and military etiquette run mad on the other, while it was "all quiet on the Potomac" under the fastidious régime of "Little Mac."

During these sentimental days, fugitive slaves were not permitted to escape into the atmosphere of liberty. To be an abolitionist was not respectable in high places; and to guard the fence rails of Virginia constituted the highest duty of the Federal Volunteer. A premium was set upon dishonesty, and the rails were stolen at every opportunity. William McGans, a private of the Sixth Main Infantry, and a wellknown character in our brigade, was hurrying towards the regimental camp one day, with two rails upon his shoulder, when overtaken by our Commanding General, who emphatically said :—

"Where are you going with those rails, sir? Don't you know that it's contrary to orders to take them?"

William dropped his heavy burden, saluted the officer, and, pointing to the stolen property, exclaimed: "And does your honour call thim rails!"

The cool audacity of the soldier completely baffled the Commander. General Hancock looked significantly at William, and then at the rails, and rode away-out-generaled. Whenever an advance was made, which was not often, the first great duty to be performed by staff-officers was to post safe-guards far and wide over the enemy's property. No time was allowed for the soldier to partake of his humble fare of coffee, hard bread, and pork: he must away, on the "double quick," and vigilance keep over the pigs and poultry of the surrounding district. During the Franco-Prussian war requisitions were made by the Invader for champagne and cigars for the troops. We did things differently on the Potomac and the James. "I don't smoke, but I swear a little sometimes," said Admiral Farragut to an eminent divine who offered him a cigar upon one occasion. And during this etiquette period we "swore a little sometimes."

The terms Free Speech and Free Trade are delusive, and the uninitiated are liable to be deceived thereby. However, when Lincoln took the reins of Government, and Washington became filled with glistening bayonets, "free speech" was no longer the mere stock-in-trade of politicians. Under this new dispensation, and by the consent of the Secretary of War, the musical Hutchinson Family of New England came down to