One day a blizzard came along, and devastated things generally. Among
the calamities was the destruction of our sutlers' shebang. It was in
panels, built of thin boards. It was scuttled very promiscuous, and
his stock of goods were distributed to all points. The boys were
watching with pleased expressions on their countenances. They could
stand the temptation no longer, and they went to gathering the spoils
in. The sutler howled and ordered them off. They paid no attention. He
said he would see about it, and started to see the Colonel. While he
was gone, everything in sight was gobbled, and he could not find hide
nor hair of any article. I found two boxes cigars, some figs, a jack
knife, and a few other articles, thrust under my tent. I did not
hesitate to appropriate, notwithstanding my religious proclivities. It
was a clean sweep--a dead loss--to the old boodler. He got my first
pay, more than half, and old sledge got the balance. He soon had
another invoice of goods, and proceeded to lay up an account against
the boys.
[Illustration: {The sutler tries to keep the men away.}]