During that heavy snowfall in the winter of 1858, the passenger train on the then called Virginia Central Railroad—now named the Chesapeake and Ohio—was stalled and completely held-up by a tremendous drift just opposite the well known farm, “Strawberry Hill,” which is about six miles from Richmond. On the train, as a passenger, was a Mrs. Jones, a distinguished actress of that time, and there was also aboard the cars a Mr. Hugh Fry, of Richmond. The passengers all decided to leave the train and go up to the house for diversion or entertainment.

Mrs. Jones found herself involved in a dilemma, as she had on but a very thin pair of shoes, whereupon Mr. Fry, with the gallantry of a Sir Walter Raleigh, came to her relief and took off the boots he was wearing and insisted on her using them. Then came up an unforeseen difficulty to be overcome; the legs of his boots were too small for the fair lady’s understandings, whereupon Mr. Fry with his pen-knife slit the tops so that they went on smoothly and thus kept the feet of the fair wearer dry and quite comfortable.

This incident of the antebellum days was regarded as one of the best displays of knight-errantry in the annals of the Old Dominion.

One of the most pleasant and entertaining clubs in the 1st Company of the Richmond Howitzers was the card club. Nearly every game in Hoyle was played, but the most popular one was draw poker. We used corn grains for chips, and the antes were not very large in amount,
 
as we were then receiving as pay only twelve dollars per month, and that at long intervals. When a player had not the cash to settle up with the game, he would give an order on next forthcoming pay, which was always honored. Some of the men became good poker players. Many of those who were then participants in the game of cards, as well as of “grim war,” have passed away to the other side of the great river of life.

I recall some of the most pleasant times of army life, while we were encamped in winter quarters, in the enjoyment incident to a good game of “poker.” They were as a rule genial, bright fellows, and good cannoneers as well, but always ready for the call to arms. We were then all young and hopeful; the survivors are now old and quite “unsteady on their ............