he tells me some wonderful things about this city. Suddenly he starts away in a hurry, and dives in among the hundreds of vehicles, which are so blocked that not one in the whole street, as far as the eye can reach, can move either way, for their is a perfect jam. Those near cross streets are made to go on either side, to make a start in the jam and all commence to move again, like one vast machine. When the policeman gets back he tells me that the sight I saw was a very frequent occurrence. The next place of amusement I visit, is Wallack's Theater, situated on the corner of Broadway and Twelfth Street, and is one of the nicest in the city. There is a beautiful drama on the boards, and every one is delighted with the play, which is well rendered. But I must hustle through, for this book is not large enough to contain descriptions of a twentieth part of this great metropolis. The next place is Niblo's Garden, a cozy theater in the rear of the Metropolitan Hotel. Here the great sensational play of the Ghost, is on the boards, which is having a great run. After leaving this beautiful place, next I enter 444 Broadway a a great variety theater; next I visit Bryant's Minstrels, and see the great Dan himself. There is a very funny little fellow here who goes by the name of Little Mac. The performance is first-class, and some of the best people in the city visit the burnt cork professionals. Next I visit the old Bowery Theater, run by Mr. Fox. A pantomime is on the boards, Mr. Fox taking part, and is a clever fellow, indeed. If one wants a hearty laugh, this is the place to get it. The time for the draft is drawing near; the men are all cautioned to be around. The day of the draft has come, and every man is at his post, crowded together in the large room. With anxious faces the wheel commences to revolve, and those who are drafted have their names announced. Once in a while a poor fellow, when he hears his name, staggers to the door and makes his way to his humble home, that is soon to be left fatherless, to inform his loving wife and darling children of his bad luck in the wheel. They fall on his neck and weep as though their hearts would break at the loss of their only mainstay in this life. Oh, what misery this cruel war has spread all over the land. But we must try and bear up, for if it takes every man in the country, this nation must be saved, and treason wiped out. The day of the draft has closed. No disturbance occurred, and it is well, for there are now nearly 30,000 veteran soldiers from the Army of the Potomac ready to put down any riot which might be made. The crowds disperse, but the poor unfortunates that cannot raise the requisite $300 go home to their families and there we leave them to their sad reflections while we lie down with the assurance that all is quiet in our part of the Potomac army. CHAPTER XXXI. A TRIP UP THE HUDSON-A LOVELY NIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY-ARRIVAL IN TROY-PITCH OUR TENTSANNIE BESIEGED WITH VISITORS-HOTEL LIFE GAY TIMES-THE DRAFT IN TROY. Our work now in the great city is ended, we pack up and march to the river and get aboard the Vanderbilt, a Hudson River steamer for Troy, our new field of labor. We leave the great city with its gaiety and misery, and are soon on the bosom of the broad and romantic Hudson. Twilight approaches, and we can see in the distance the innumerable gas lights of New York. The moon shines out in all her fullness and glory. We group upon the deck and watch the beautiful scenery along the shores, which are dotted with opulent mansions, hidden away among the stately trees. On we go, the noble steamer bowed forward like a duck in the water, sometimes so close to shore that a jump would bring one on terra firma, and then, in a few minutes more, out in the middle of the stream. At last nature needs repose, and all that can find room on the spacious cabin floor, lie down to sleep. In the morning we are awakened by the loud whistle of the steamer as she nears Albany, the Capital of the Empire State. She draws near to the wharf to let off passengers, and then strikes out into the middle of the stream again, and after a ride of about five miles further we arrive at our destination in the city of Troy. Disembarked, we draw up in line on the main street, The people all flock around and don't know what to make of it, to see so many soldiers land on their shores. Our two regiments, the Third and Fifth Michigan, make quite a formidable appearance. Our regiment march up the street and we pitch our tents in the Court House Square. The Fifth go out to the fair grounds to camp. The people gather around and eye us curiously, watching our every move. We lie down in our little tents to take a snooze aud are awakened for dinner. Of course, we must be more than usually particular about our toilets, for we are now going to board in a hotel. We are seated at the tables, and everything seems very strange to us, not being used to hotel life. Reaching over we seize the pies and cake, and eat all the dessert on the table. Then we are ready to give our order to the waiters for our favorite dish of pork and beans. Coffee, too, we get, but do not relish it like that we cook in the field ourselves, in our burnt tin cups, which serve to cook our meat, beans, soup, coffee, tea, and everything else we get to cook. We make the waiters fly around, and, after our first meal, the hotel must be pretty well cleaned out of provisions, and the tablecloths will need washing before using again. After dinner we file back to camp, and find our tents occupied by the curious crowds to see what they can. We find that the people are as green about soldiering matters as we are in the hotels. Annie's tent is besieged with visitors. People come from far in the rural districts to get a sight of the great heroine of so many campaigns and battles. We do not blame them much, for, indeed, she is a curiosity, as she is one woman in a million who would leave a home of luxury and cast her lot with the soldiers in the field, who are all proud of her, and any man in the regiment would die in her defense, should any one cast a reproach on her fair name and character. All believe her to be one of the truest of women. A few days in Troy makes us used to civilized life, and we get so we commence to eat our meals as other people do, leaving the dessert for the last. We are having nice times, and the people all think a good deal of us, when they find that the veterans of the old Army of the Potomac can be gentlemen as well as soldiers. Each evening we have a parade, and long before the time comes thousands gather and occupy the most prominent places to witness the parade, which we go through in fine style, to please our auditors. The day of the draft is drawing nigh, and every one is anxious to know how it will come out. Some citizens anticipate trouble, and think that some will resist the draft, but it don't trouble our appetite or break our rest in the least. I have a bet of a twenty dollar greenback with a citizen that there won't be a gun fired on either side, and that the draft will take place. At last the drafting day has come and every man is in his place. We have a section of Uncle Sam's barkers looking down Main street, and the powder monkeys are around to play mischief with any one who will be foolish enough to resist the law, even if it is a hard one. For the soldier must obey orders, no matter whether he likes it or not. The wheel revolves, and the unlucky ones go home to tell their families of their ill-luck. Everything passed off quietly. The draft is ended, no disturbance, and I win my twenty dollar note. The men who were drafted deserve great praise, for they behaved like men, and deserve to be taken by the hand of the soldier and be called comrades. They paraded the streets, carrying the starry flag, headed by a band of music, all having a gay time in general, thus ending our work in Troy. CHAPTER XXXII. A MILITARY BALL-FAREWELL ΤΟ TROY-ABOARD THE Our work is done in the North now, and before we go back to fight secesh we must have a shake of the light, fantastic toe. So we get up a military ball, and are favored with the presence of the elite of the city. Everything goes |