p.

we were now invited into the parlor a room
very comfortably furnished with mahogany
mask sofa chairs center table Pianno and
what attracted my attention more particularly was
a very elegant chandelier suspended in the
center of the room - a truly beautiful + costly one
also the large cheerful fire place with its brightly
polished trappings + ornaments
I cannot undertake to report the conversation
as it would prolong my story to a length far
beyond my present limit for I assure you we
talked fast as all restraint was soon removed
and they were free + easy social + chatty as one could
wish- I afterward learned that this had been the
picket ground of our regiment all winter and
that the colonel had made this his head quarters
and judging from appearances that he had made
rapid strides into the affections of the beauty
The status of the war was discussed freely and we
gave it to them as our firm conviction that they
would be forced to sue for peace before another winter
- they frankly confessed they were sorry they had rebelled
but doubted our ability to whip them
They were ladies of good minds and ^of liberal educations but
so free + social that in a half hours time you would
have supposed us intimate friends and two hours
passed rapidly away but I noticed that the colonel
was somewhat uneasy for he would make frequent
trips to the window and scan with an anxious