Year: 1863

| or not so tnat the simple iact that we are put


ting up houses on scale not warranted by the
prospect OF remaining quiet, is poor argument
that we are not going to move, and it would be
impossible to prove that We are not going to
move from the opposite conditions, for we do not
allow any such conditions 10 exist. As another
argument that we are not going to move, was
mentioned the building Of the corduroy road
along side the railroad, which was noticed in a
former letter 1t certainly would be runous
policy to rob the forests in this vicinity Of all


their small trees, to say nothing Of the labor of
building these roads, and our Generals would
hardly think of undertaking SO heavy job if they
contemplated retteating to the other side of the
river So the importan. question whether we be
allowed to remain in our quiet camp or compelled
to torsake this place for the woodless region
near Warrenton, must remain unknown to US un-
til the lapse Of time shall prove the events.


Speaking Of building corduroy roads, reminds
me OF little incident, which, though of no great
importance iu ITSELF viii do to mention for want
of something better, and which saows how we
sometimes treat non-combaAnts, or rather how
we treat their property. Near by where we were
at work, lived an inofeusive citizen, who happened
to be the lucky possessor Of a grindstone, which,
for aught know is the only one outside of the
army in Culpepper County. Sunday afternoon
We laid by our axes and quit work, either because


it was the Lords day, or for some other reason
that might have been considered more valid


Our axes had become dull from some cause that
no one could dyius, and ii was proposed by some
to confscate this grindstone, and impress it into
the service of Uncle Sam by the most practicable
method, whether strictly constitutional, or not.
The captain sent corporal with a squad Of men,
and a team, to capture the article and bring it to
our camp. Arriving at the house we walked
boldly into the mans docr-yard, took bis grind
stone and loaded it on to the wagon. We wasn't
quite sly enough to get off without attracting the
attention Of the provost guard, and of course it
was his business TO object to our proceedings, ard
demand by what authority We presumed to sp.
ropriate citizens property We explained our
case to him very mnutely, but We had nothing to
show,and our predcament in a more august pres
ence would have been extremel ely ridiculous With
an air of injured impotence, to settle the parley
and satisfy the guard, the corporal told him that
he would get him written order from the cap
tain, which, if the guard had known it, he had no
more business to recognize than if it had been
made out by the writer of this letter. Of course
Nr Shaw, who regarded his grindstone as we do
diamonds, more on account Of the scarcity of the
article, than It's intrinsic worth, was loth to part
with his property without some guaranty that he
should get some compensation for it, or be as
sured of its return. He had allowed it to be


used by everybody, and charged no one a cent,
and now he was willing to let the boys come there


and grind as much as they pleased, and be welcome


to the privilege, but he thought very ungracous
in US to force him to part with his property in a


manner SO obviously unjust. The man appeared


so consciously upright, and so gentlemanly in bis


manner, that really wished, as talked with him,


that Uncle Sam had grndstone of his own, and
thus precluded the necessity OF our roo6lng TINS


citizen. The corporal returned with the order
duly written, which the guard handed to Mr..


Shaw as if he had done his duty in the true spiri,
of military law, and he ought to be satisfied. Mr.


Shaw took the order for be didn't know wha


else to do, though he had no more idea Of how il
could avail him anything than an Australian


would have of ten cent Confederate shinpaster


" Well" he said, for lie must say something
don't destroy my grindstone, boys; bring i
back when YOU are done with it," 1t was very


easy to lie, under the circumstances, so we told
> him we would, and drove off with our prize, feel
ing as if we had captured-not Richmond-bu
! gr,ndstone. ANTI REBEL
n The CAPITOL AT WASHINGTON All the mar
Y BILE thus far used in furnishing the interior ha
. cost the government $l85 600. of this amou n
. nearly $40 900 was spent for Massachusetts


-. l.