noon
Everything was working splendidly , and we decided to give a party . We hired a band to play in the dance house , ordered refreshments , and invited about forty ladies and gentlemen to attend . The day we were to give the party we sent a recruit down town to draw rations , and he told everybody what a high old time we recruits were having at Carrollton . The commanding officer heard of it , and , probably having forgotten that we were up there waiting to be sent to our regiments he sent a peremptory order for us to report at New Orleans before noon of that day . How could we report at noon , when we were going to give a party at night ? It was simply impossible , and I , as a sort of breast corporal in charge , sent a man down town to tell the commanding officer that we had an engagement that night , and could n't come before the next day . I did not know that it was improper to send regrets to a commanding officer when ordered to do anything .