A WORD TO THE READER.
I give to you, in the following pages, a simple narrative of facts. I have no motive to misrepresent or conceal. I have an honest desire to describe faithfully and truly what I saw and heard during thirteen months of enforced service in the Rebel army.
If I should seem to you to speak too favorably of individuals or occurrences in the South, I beg you to consider that I give impressions obtained when in the South. If my book has any value it lies in this very fact, that it gives you an interior view of this stupendous rebellion, which can not be obtained by one standing in the North and looking at it only with Northern eyes.
I have confidence in truth; and unwelcome truth, is none the less truth, and none the less valuable. Sure am I, that if the North had known the whole truth as to the power, the unanimity, and the deadly purpose of the leaders in the rebellion, the government would have been far better prepared for promptly meeting the crisis. Look then candidly at facts, and give them their true weight.
As I am under no obligation, from duty or honor, to conceal what I was compelled to see and hear in the South, I tell it frankly; hoping it may be of value to my bleeding country, I tell it plainly. I have no cause to love the Confederate usurpation, as will fully appear, yet I refrain from abusive and denunciatory epithets, because both my taste and judgment enjoin it.
For the accuracy of names, dates, and places, I rely wholly upon memory. I kept memoranda during my whole service, but was compelled to leave every thing when I attempted escape, as such papers then found in my possession would have secured my certain death; but in all material things I can promise the accuracy which a retentive memory secures.
If an apology is needed for the constant recurrence of the personal pronoun in these pages, let it be said that the recital of personal incidents, without circumlocution, necessarily compels it.
With this brief word, I invite you to enter with me upon the Southern service; you can stop when you please, or go with me to the end, and give a huzza as you see me escape and reach the loyal lines.
WILLIAM G. STEVENSON.
New York City, Sept. 15th, 1862.
CONTENTS.
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| HOW I VOLUNTEERED. | |
| Object in going to Arkansas. — Change of Purpose. — YoungAcquaintances. — Questioned on Slavery. — Letter to my Parents.— Unfortunate Clause. — A Midnight Call. — WarlikePreparations. — Good Advice. — Honor among Lynchers. — Arrivalat Court of Judge Lynch. — Character of Jury. — Trialcommenced. — Indictment and Argument. — Excitement increases.— Butler Cavins and his Lariat. — The Crisis. — The Acquittal.— No Safety from it. — First Impulse and subsequent Reflection.— Attempted Escape. — Night Ride. — Helena. — An Uneasy BoatRide. — Memphis. — "A Blue Jacket." — Committee of PublicSafety. — A Surprise. — Dismissal followed by Unwelcome Letterand Policeman. — Recruiting Station. — Volunteering | [15] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| INFANTRY SERVICE. | |
| Character of our Regiment. — No Escape. — A Fixed Resolve. —Randolph. — Camp Life. — Sabbath. — Father Daly. — Washing.— Fort Wright. — Grand Defect. — Rations. — Stolen Waters. —Mutiny. — Sentence. — Fort Pillow. — Slaves. — Aiding theRebellion. — Deep Earnestness of the People. — Strength of theFort. — "Pillow's Trot Line." — No Pay, and the Result. —General Pillow described. — Columbus, Ky. — Hard Work. —Pillow in the Ditch. — The Batteries. — Torpedoes. — Battle ofBelmont. — False Report. — Troops cross. — Untimely Joking. —The Tide of Battle. — A Charge. — Cruelty. — Victory. — Why?— Loss. — Burial of the Dead. — How Not to Kill — Accident.— The Military Bishop | [40] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| ORDNANCE SERVICE. | |
| Transferred to Ordnance. — Camp Beauregard. — Was my Oathbinding? — Resources of the Rebels. — Cannon stolen. —Manufactured. — A Rifling Machine. — Beauregard's Bells. —Imported Cannon. — Running Blockade. — Silence of SouthernPapers. — Small-Arms made. — Altered. — Abundant. —Earnestness of all Classes. — Imported Arms. — England'sNeutrality. — Ammunition imported. — Manufactured. — Smuggled.— A Railroad Episode. — A Deserting Engineer. — A New Hand atthe Throttle. — Caution. — A Smash Up and Pistols. —Reconciliation. — Result of Smash Up. — Bowling Green. — Sizeof Army. — Sickness. — Personal. — Kindness of NashvillePeople. — Moral and Religious Efforts for the Rebel Army. —Vices prevalent. — Seminaries and Schools disbanded | [79] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| CAVALRY SERVICE. | |
| New Field of Action. — Promotion. — Guerrilla Warfare. —Characteristics. — Tendencies. — Captain J.H. Morgan. —Character. — Personal Appearance. — Anecdotes. — Success. —Southern Cavalry superior to Northern. — Advantages. — RidingCourier. — General Johnson evacuates Bowling Green. —Excitement in Nashville. — Preparations for Defense. —Commissary Stores. — Vandalism. — Rear Guard. — Line ofRetreat. — Dreadful Hardships. — Losses. — Forced March. —Desolation. — Cause of Retreat. — Other Counsel. — Accident.— No Union Feeling evident. — Intolerant yet Sincere | [108] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| COURIER SERVICE. | |
| New Duties. — Battle approaching. — Deserters and Scouts. — AProvidence. — Position and Forces of the Confederates. — Ordersto prepare to move. — My New Position. — March to theBattle-field. — Federals off their Guard. — Care of theConfederates against Desertion. — Council of War. — A DrearyNight. — Awfulness of War. — The Fight opened. — Beauregard'sAddress. — The First Dead. — Détour. — Camp of 71st OhioVolunteers. — Failure of Strategy. — General Johnson killed. —Death concealed. — Furious Fighting. — Horse killed. — SadScene. — Rebels gaining. — Struck by a Shell. — Another Horsekilled. — The Wounded Cavalryman and his Horse. — Sleep in theCamp of the 71st Ohio. — Startling Reveille. — Result of FirstDay's Battle. — Victory for the Rebels. — Arrangements forSecond Day. — Bloody Scenes. — Grant's Attack. — Rebels fallback. — Fluctuations of the Day. — General Hindman blown up. —Retreat determined on. — Leaving the Field. — Horrors of theRetreat. — Sleep among the Dying. — Reach Corinth. — Resolve | [138] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| HOSPITAL SERVICE. | |
| Wounded arriving. — Care of my own Men. — Appointment asAssistant-surgeon. — Discharge from Rebel Army. — DreadfulScenes. — Sickness. — Nurses. — Stoicism. — Military Murderof a Deserter. — No Pay. — Go to Mobile. — Spirit of thePeople on the Way. — Met at Depot. — No Means of Escape. — TheStagnant City. — Surveillance of the Press. — Forced Charity.— In charge of a Hospital. — Selma. — Kindness of Ladies. —Piano. — Artesian Wells. — Model Hospital. — Furlough toRichmond. — Rigid Discipline. — Disappointment. — BitterThoughts. — Crinoline and Volunteering. — North asleep | [175] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| MY ESCAPE. | |
| Obstacles in the Way of Escape. — Farewell to Selma. — Goldversus Confederate Scrip. — An unnamed Friend — ConscriptionAct. — Swearing in a Regiment. — Soldier shot. — Chattanoogareached. — Danger of Recognition. — Doff the Military. —Transformation. — A Bivouac. — A Retired Ferryman. —Conscience versus Gold. — Casuistry. — Embarkation andVoyage. — Pistols and Persuasion. — An unwilling Pilot. — ANight-reverie. — My Companion's Pisgah. — Selim. — Secession adestructive Principle. — Practical Illustration. — A thirdNight in the Rocks. — Home and the Welcome. — The DyingDeserter. — One more Move—but how? — My loss and Selim'sGain. — Off for Home. — Federal Officer and Oath of Allegiance.— Plea for Treason. — Sanctity of an Oath. — Résumé.— Home | [196] |