THE Sutler was an institution of the army. It is useless to describe
him. Every old soldier knows him. There were two of “him” here, Patrick
and Keene by name, who kept a store in a small room adjoining the hotel;
in fact, it was built against it and a step from the veranda led into
the store. How clear and familiar it all is to me today, the counter on
one side of the room, the little stove and bench on the other. I made
many visits to the little store and was always kindly received by its
gentlemanly proprietors. Mr. Patrick wore a cap and always had it on
whether indoors or out, and when not busy, mostly sat on the counter. On
New Year’s Day, 1863, Mr. Keene gave me a pocket handkerchief. I have
owned since then many dainty creations of lace and embroidery, called by
courtesy handkerchiefs, but none that ever gave me such real pleasure as
did that large square of coarse cotton cloth, with a border of blue
stars all around it, and in each corner an eagle with shield and stars.
But in coming home I left it on the train, much to my regret. While in
Jackson we secured a 64-pound cannon ball which we were very anxious to
bring home with us, but finding it impossible to do so my mother left it
in care of Messrs. Patrick and Keene, expecting my father to send it
another time, but after leaving Jackson he never returned, and thus we
lost our much prized relic.