"I was hungry all the
time, too. An hour after breakfast I was hungry again, and an hour after
dinner, which we had in the middle of the day, I was hungry once more."
"But you knew where to go for supplies."
"Yes, sir; we had berries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries,
gooseberries, dewberries, cherries, all of them growing wild although
some of them started tame. And then we could forage for pears, peaches,
plums, damsons, all kinds of apples, paw paws, and then later for the
nuts, hickory nuts, walnuts, chestnuts, hazel nuts, chinquapins, and a
lot more. We could have almost lived in the woods and fields from early
spring until late fall."
"We did the same in Virginia," said the commander-in-chief. "I've often
thought that our forest Indians did not develop a higher civilization,
because it was so easy for them to live, save in the depths of a hard
winter. They had most of the berries and fruits and nuts that we white
boys had. The woods were full of game, and the lakes and rivers full
of fish. They were not driven by the hard necessity that creates
civilization."
"Dinner is ready, sir," announced General Stuart, who had been directing
the orderlies. "I can offer you and the others nothing but boxes and
kegs to sit on, but I can assure you that this Northern food, some of
which comes in cans, is excellent.
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