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] |
THIRTEEN MONTHS IN THE REBEL ARMY
CHAPTER I.
HOW I VOLUNTEERED.
Object in going to Arkansas. — Change of Purpose. — Young Acquaintances. — Questioned on Slavery. — Letter to my Parents. — Unfortunate Clause. — A Midnight Call. — Warlike Preparations. — Good Advice. — Honor among Lynchers. — Arrival at Court of Judge Lynch. — Character of Jury. — Trial commenced. — 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 Boat Bide. — Memphis. — "A Blue Jacket." — Committee of Public Safety. — A Surprise. — Dismissal followed by Unwelcome Letter and Policeman. — Recruiting Station. — Volunteering.
Having spent my boyhood near Louisville, Kentucky, and falling in love with the character of the young men of that chivalric State, I found my way back to that region in the beginning of the year 1861, from my home in the city of New York. In March, I went down the Mississippi river to seek a school, and stopped in Arkansas, where I hoped to find a relative who was engaged in teaching. Failing to find either my kinsman or a remunerative school, I entered into partnership with a young man from Memphis named George Davis, for the purpose of getting out wine-cask staves, to be shipped to New Orleans and from thence to France. We located in Phillips county, Arkansas, bordering on the St. Francis river, more than 100 miles from Memphis. The venture proved profitable, and with five hired hands—Frenchmen—we were making money fast enough to satisfy a moderate ambition, and I had time to look about me and study the various phases of Arkansas society.