| INTRODUCTORY | [3] |
| CHAPTER I.—Organization of the John Gill Shorter Artillery—Change
of Destination—At Island 10—Roll of Company K—Mysteries
of the Cuisine—A Shameful Waste | [5] |
| CHAPTER II.—Bombardment and Capture of Island No. 10—The
Batteries—At Rucker’s Battery—Canal Cutting—A Night Attack—Running
the Gauntlet—An Unfinished Meal—The Attempted
Evacuation—Retreat to Tiptonville—Mackall’s Order—The Surrender—Across
Reel-Foot River | [10] |
| CHAPTER III.—Prison Life in 1862—In the Mud—Bivouac at New
Madrid—A Friendly Irishman—At Camp Butler—Scant Water
Supply—Escape of Prisoners—An Astonished Sentinel—Playing
Guard—Lost on the Prairie—A Prisoner Shot—Health of the Camp—Mortality
Statistics—Curious Phenomena—Death Visits the Company—Col.
Fundy in Command—Practical Jokes—Trinket Making—News
from Comrades—Homeward Bound—Arrival in Dixie | [20] |
| CHAPTER IV.—Capt. Isbell and his Battalion—Arrival at Port Hudson—Battle
of Corinth—The Reunited Regiment—Port Hudson—Land
Defences—Red River Supplies | [37] |
| CHAPTER V.—Incidents in the Winter of 1862-3—An Unexpected
Salute—A Parrott for Co. K—Whitfield’s Legion—Farragut’s Fleet—Running
the Batteries—The Midnight Battle—A Crippled Fleet—Burning
of the “Mississippi”—Comparative Losses—The Land Attack—Incidents
in April, 1863—A Sabbath Morning at Troth’s
Landing—Close Quarters—Skirmishing | [44] |
| CHAPTER VI.—Siege and Surrender of Port Hudson—The Investment—Skirmishing—The
First Grand Assault—Assailed and Assailants—Doubly
Armed—Lieut. Pratt at Battery 11—The “Essex” driven
off—Lieut. Adams Elected—Artillery Practice—Assault of June 14th—Effect
of Buck and Ball—Banks’ Inhumanity—Lead for Water—A
Gallant Corporal—Battery 11 Silenced—Gallant Schurmer’s
Death—The Sunken Battery—Mule and Peas—The Fall of Vicksburg—Unconditional
Surrender—Gen. Gardner’s Sword—Casualties
of the First | [60] |
| CHAPTER VII.—Experiences of Paroled Prisoners of War—A Disorganized
Regiment—A Handsome Turnout—Close Quarters—A
Faithful Servant—Present, or Accounted for—In Camp at Meridian | [82] |
| CHAPTER VIII.—Return of Co. K to Active Duty—Arrival at Mobile—A
Flooded Camp—Short of Ammunition—At Fort Gaines—Fishermen’s
Spoils—Going to School—A Spy in Camp—In North Georgia | [89] |
| CHAPTER IX.—In North Georgia with Johnston and Hood—Retreat
to Kennesaw—A Gallant Deed—Hood’s New Policy—Defending
Atlanta—The Valley of Death—The Gallant First—Fate of the
Wounded—Death of Sergt. Fay—Electing a Lieutenant—Evacuation
of Atlanta—At Lovejoy’s Station | [97] |
| CHAPTER X.—Hood’s Raids on Sherman’s Railroad Communications—Finding
Lost Mountain—Hold the Fort—Tearing up Railroads—In
Alabama—A Dismal Night—Review of the Army—Foraging in
Tennessee—Catching Mud Larks | [108] |
| CHAPTER XI.—Gen. Hood’s Disastrous Campaign in Tennessee—The
Fatal Mistake—Before Franklin—Schofield’s Stronghold—Eating
his Last Rations—The Battle of Franklin—The Rebel Yell—Terrific
Musketry—Locked Bayonets—One-third Hood’s Army Lost—Co.
K Wiped Out—Losses of the “First”—Faithful until Death—The
Retreat from Tennessee—The Last Roll Call | [117] |
| CHAPTER XII.—Prison Life during the Last Year of the War—Searching
the Prisoners—Starvation Rations—True to the South—Home
Again | [131] |
| APPENDIX | [137] |