Fellows grumbled and growled and said it was absurd, and threatened to do all sorts of things.

You see, they had all come out to fight, if necessary, but hadn't bargained for such hard work as this.
"However, Jackson had his way, and I don't suppose anyone ever told him the men thought they were too hard worked.

He is not the sort of man one would care about remonstrating with.

I don't know yet whether he is as good at fighting as he is at working and organizing; but I rather expect a fellow who is so earnest about everything else is sure to be earnest about fighting, and I fancy that, when he once gets into the thick of it, he will go through with it.

He had such a reputation as an oddity at Lexington that there were a lot of remarks when he was made colonel and sent here; but there is no doubt that he has proved himself the right man so far, and although his men may grumble they believe in him.
"My regiment is in his brigade, and I will bet any money that we have our share of fighting.