Mrs.  Livermore  and  myself  met  with  an  affecting  caae^
that  represented  a  large  class  of  the  army  at  the  time.  As
we  were  journeying  to  Washington,  between  Harrisburg  and
Baltimore,  the  cars  ran  off  the  track,  and  we  were  detained
some  hours.  About  8  o'clock  p.m.,  we  heard  a  strange  and
perplexing  noise,  that  sounded  like  the  bellowing  of  an  ani-
mal, and  yet  somewhat  human.  As  the  conductor  passed,  we
asked  for  an  explanation.  He  said  it  was  a  drunken  soldier
on  the  platform  of  the  car.  There  was  a  driving  snow-storm
at  the  time.  We  said,  ^^Bring  him  in;  drunk  or  sober,  he  is  a
soldier^  and  must  not  be  left  ilwreP  lie  said  there  was  no
room.  We  offered  our  seat.  He  refused  gruffly,  said  he  was
no  company  for  this  car,  and  pushed  on.  We  told  the  story
to  two  gentlemen  in  front  of  us,  saying  he  must  come  in,  and
asking  them  to  use  their  manly  strength  to  bring  him.    They


90  THE  BOTS  IN  BLUE.
rose  at  once,  opened  the  car  door,  and  carried  in  the  soldier.
