“I wonder why Jones never gets any letters,” said Stokes.

“Have you noticed that?” asked Davis.

“Yes; haven’t you?”

“Yes; but I thought it was none of my business.”

“Have you ever seen him write any letters?”

“No; I haven’t, except for somebody else; he writes letters for Limus and Peagler.”

Limus was a negro, Lieutenant Barnwell’s servant.  Peagler was one of Company H, and a valuable member of the infirmary corps, but he could not write.

The talk of the men had made me gloomy.  I sought Captain Haskell, and unburdened to him.  The Captain’s manner toward me had undergone a modification that was very welcome to me; his previous reserve, indicated by formal politeness, had given place to a friendly interest, yet he was always courteous.

“I would do anything to relieve you,” said he, “but of course you do not wish me to speak to the men about you.”

“Certainly not, sir” said I; “that would only make matters worse.”

“Have you ever yet heard from the hotel at Aiken?”

“Not a word, sir.”

“I suppose the hotel has changed hands; or perhaps it has ceased to exist.”

“Possibly so, Captain.  Has anything been learned as to the Fourth South Carolina?”

“Only that it is yet in this army—­in Jenkins’s brigade.  I think nothing further has resulted.  Aleck will ask very prudently if such a man as Jones Berwick, or Berwick Jones, is missing from that regiment.  We shall know In a few days.”

“I suppose we shall know before we march again,” said I.

“Probably.  We shall hardly move before the Federals do.  McClellan is giving us another display of caution, sir.”

“I think he ought to have advanced on the 18th of last month,” said I.

“True,” said Captain Haskell; “he missed his chance.”

“Why does he not advance now?” I asked.

“He takes time to get ready, I judge.  There is one thing to be said for McClellan:  he will do nothing rashly; and he has considerable nerve, as is shown by his resistance to popular clamour, and even to the urgency of the Washington authorities.  The last papers that we have got hold of, show that Lincoln is displeased with his general’s inactivity.  By the way, the war now assumes a new aspect.”

“In what respect, Captain?”

“Lincoln’s emancipation order will make it impossible for the North to compromise.  He is a stronger man than I thought him, sir.  He burns his bridges.”

“But will not the proclamation cause the South to put forth greater effort?”

“Pardon me,” said he.  “It will cause the slaveholders to feel more strongly; but it will cause also many non-slaveholding men, such as are in our mountain districts and elsewhere, to believe, after a while, that the South is at war principally to maintain slavery, and in slavery they feel no interest at stake.  In such conditions the South can do no more than she is now doing.  She may continue to hold her present strength for a year or two more, but to increase it greatly seems to me beyond our ability.  The proclamation will effectually prevent any European power from recognizing us.  We must look for no help, and must prepare to endure a long war.”