The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-08-20
A letter as is a Letter.

/
Mark Tapley species of letter dated
Camp Gunpowder, Army of the Potomac)
from one of its correspondents :-"DEAR
MEssRs. EDIToRs,-Billy Briggs and I
still remain in the army. The other
morning | was standing by him in our
tent. Hand me them scabbards, JIMMY
ssid ne. 'Scabbardsp said l looking
round Yes, boots, | mean Billy ar
ranged himself in his scabbards-a dilap-
idated pair of fashionable boots-and
stood up in very erect and dignifed
manner. Those boots of mine, I don't
think were any relation to that beef we
had for dinner to-day, jimmy said he.
NO, said |. III they were only as tough
as that beef, and rice uersa, it would have
been better L say, Cradle he called
out where are you?' Cradle was our
contraband, genuine darky, with foot
of extIaordinay length and ezra heels to
match, giving him queer look about
those eztremities What do you call
him Cradle for, Billy?' said l 'that's
queer name What would you call him,
Jimmy? If he amt a cradle, what's he
! put on rockers for" Cradle appeared
with pair of perforated stockings. Its
10 use, said Billy, looking at them.
Them stockings will do to put on sore
throat, but they wont do for feet. It's
| a humiliation for a man like me to be
without stockings; man may be bald
headed, and it's genteel, but to be bare.
footed is ruination. The sleeves is good,
too, be added, tLoughtfuly, but the feet
are gone. There is something about the
heels Of stockings aud the elbows of stove
| pipes in this world, that is all wrong,
Jimmy A supply of stockings had
come that day, and were just being given
out; pair of very large ones fell to Bill
! ly's lot. Billy held them up before him.
Jimmy, said he, those are pretty bags
to give a little fellow like me. Them
stockings was knit for the President or q
young guerrilla, certain; ;; and be was
about to bestow them upon Cradle when
soldier in the opposite predicament
made an exchange. Them stockings
make me think Of the Louisiana volunteer
| scared so the other day SAID Billy
HOw's that? said |. He was among
our prisoners, and saw big pair of red
leggiugs, with feet, hanging up before
tent. He never said word till he saw
the legglngs, and then be asked me what
they were for. Them" said |, "them
is General Banks stockings" He looked
scared, "He's Dig man, Is General
Banks" said [ !; ''but then he ort to be,
the way he lives" "HowF" said he
Why" said |, 'his regular diet is bricks
buttered with mortar The next day
Billy got present Of pair of stockings
from lady; nice soft pair with his
initials in red silk upon them. He was
very happy. Jimmy said be, jpst look
at thom,' AID he smoothed them down
with his marked With my initials,
too ; ''B" for my Christian and "W' for
my heather name. How kind They
came just in the right time, too; I've got
such a sore heel; for it's fact, Jimmy,
that if there's anything in life worse than
unrequitcd love, it's sore heel Orders
came to fall in.' Billy was SO overioyed
with his new stockings he didn't keep
the line very well. Steady, there, growi-
ed the sergeant, 'kcep your place, and
don't be travelling around like the Boston
Post Office We were soon put upon
double quick. After few minutes Billy
gave a groan What is it. Billy p said [.
Its all up With them, said he. | didn't
know what he meant, but his face showed
something very bad had happened -
When we broke ranks Billy hurried to
the tent and when l got there, there he
stood, the very picture of despair, with
his shoes off, and his heels shining thro'
bis stockings Ike crockery door knobs.
Them new stockings of yours is breech-
loading, amt they. Billyi said an un-
feeling volunteer. Better get gour name
on both ends, so you can keep them to-
gether,' said another. 'Shoddv stocking
said third BILLY was silent / saw his
heart was breaking, and | said nothing.
We held a council on them, and Billy,
DOT feeling strong hearted enough for the
task, gave them to Cradle with directions
to sew up the small holes | came into
the tent soon after, and he was drawing
portrait. with piece of charcoai, on n
board. 'Thatsa good portrait of Fremont
said I !; he looks just ike that; that's the
way he parts his hair, in the middle
That isn't a portrait Of Fremont said
Billy; its map of the United States
that line in the middle you thought was
the upper part of his hair, is the Mi>si>
sippi River. oh? said I. l saw hins
again before supper; he came to me-
looking worse than ever, the stockings in
his hand. Jimmy said he, 'yon know
| gave them to Cradle and tod him to-
sew up the small holes, and what do you