Tom's eyes glowed with delight as he gazed upon this rich feast, and, without waiting to say grace or consider the circumstances under which he obtained the materials for his feast, he began to eat.

Ash-cake was a new institution to him.

It was an Indian cake baked in the ashes, probably at the camp-fires of the rebels at Manassas.
It tasted very much like his mother's johnny-cake, only he missed the fresh butter with which he had been wont to cover the article at home.
The soldier boy ate the bacon, and ate both of the cakes, though each of the latter was about the size of a saucer.

It was a large meal, even for a growing boy; but every mouthful seemed to put a new sinew into his frame.
While he was eating, he drew the cork from the bottle.

It contained whiskey.