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from the sutler.
The entertainment was to be “minstrels” ; and, to be sure, in walked an excellent counterpart of Morris, Pell, and Trowbridge, who immediately began an excellent overture, in which the tambourine gentleman, in particular, was most brilliant and quite convulsed the assembled engineers.
The performances were, indeed, most creditable, and there was not a word of any sort of coarseness throughout.
A grand speech on the state of the country, by a brother in a pair of gunny-bag trousers, was quite a gem. He had an umbrella, of extraordinary pattern, with which he emphasized his periods by huge whacks on the table.
I think the jokes were as ingeniously ridiculous as could be got up, and that, you know, is the great thing in minstrels.
Brudder Bones came a little of the professional by asking his friend: “What can yer play on dat banjo?”
“Anyting,” says the unwary friend.
“Well, den, play a game oa billiards!”
“Can't play no billiards!
kin play a tune,” cries the indignant friend.
“Well den, if yer kin play a tune, jis play a pon-toon!”
All to the inextinguishable delight of the engineers.
After the play the good Colonel, who is one of the salt of the earth, insisted on my taking pigs' feet as a supper.
March 6, 1865
I think I must relate to you a small story which they have as a joke against Major-General Crawford.
As the story will indicate, the Major-General has some reputation for possessing a decided admiration of the looks and figure of his own self.
There came to the army a young artist, who was under a certain monied person.
The young artist was to make models for bronze medallions, and the monied person was to sell the same and take the profits, if any. He proposed to model the commander of the army, and 