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[James H.] Orr, who was one of the most rigid officers I ever knew. Late in the night, I thought I would play out a little. I climbed away up on top of a large corn pile nearby, and went to sleep; soon, however, I was aroused by someone pulling me about, and asking if I belonged to the detail. I roused up a little, and recognized Lieut. Orr. After all the wagons were aboard, we began to lead the mules, one by one, aboard over the stage plank, and very soon, one seemed a little scared, and the boys began a Texas yell, which caused it to fall a distance of twenty feet into the river. He swam down about two hundred yards and landed on the opposite side. We took a yawl, and went and swam him back. Next morning, we went aboard, and launched our boats for Alexandria. We landed here with less welcome than we received a few months before; no enemy now being in their country, they feared for their commissaries and forage of their fruitful farms. We soon, however, took up line of march for the piny woods, twenty miles southwest of the town, and went into camp, which we called Camp Texas.On the way to this place, from Alexandria, I saw the prettiest farms and residences, and the most beautiful shrubbery in the yards, I ever beheld. The shrubs were trained to grow in almost every imaginable shape.
Camp Texas was a beautiful pine slope, with the prettiest clear creek in rear of the camp that I ever saw. We cleared off a large drill ground in front, and spent a great deal of our time in drilling, and in addition to our Reg't drill, we were marched to the woods, and drilled in Brigades, and the entire Division occasionally.
Here, John McGee, who deserted at Camp Bayou Meter [Meto], returned -- rode up as though he commanded the army, inquired after our health, also our spirits in regard to our success in the war, and told us he had been very anxious about our welfare, during his entire absence. He immediately went to see the Regimental Commander, who ordered him out on fatigue duty, such as clear up the drill ground, for sixty days. He turned his watch over to Capt., and went to work, apparently, very willingly. Very soon, however, he got news that he would be court-martialed. He asked permission to visit Gen. Polignac's Command, [Gen. Camille Armand Jules Marie Prince de Polignac] from which he never returned.
While on post at this place, the officer of the guard came to me, and in a rather reproachful manner, asked me why I did not salute that officer correctly, who had passed. I told him no one had passed. He smiled, and went to my next neighbor, R. Purcell, and said the same and proposed to show him how to salute an officer, whereupon Purcell gave him his gun, and the Lieut. started to the guard houses, with the greatest glee, and Purcell after him. After he had teased him awhile, he gave it back to him.
While here, Col. [Wilburn Hill] King was thrown from a horse on the drill field. Here, also, to the great amusement of the Reg't., while on the drill field, he stepped into a hole (where a pine stump had burned out) almost to his armpits.
We left here, in the direction of Alexandria, marched part of the night, and while resting in the dark, someone said "Look out", at which the Reg't.
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was panic stricken, and ran over each other like a drove of beef cattle. After order was resumed, we marched on toward Alexandria, and camped until daylight, when we resumed our march; crossed Red River, marched in the direction of Little River, camped in the piny woods, on what was called Clear Creek. Here occurred an incident that I will relate -- a turbulent fellow, James Franks, came off duty in a fret, found no water at his mess, picked up the bucket and swore that he would go and bring a bucket of water, and the first man who took a drink, he would knock him down. A little fellow, named Jesse Steelman, ran up, told him "to go, hurry, that he wanted a drink"; which provoked Franks, and turned around, and shelled the bucket to staves over Steelman's head, knocked him down in a pile of guns, which had fixed bayonets, but he never resented it.From this place, we went to Pineville, a little town, opposite Alexandria, on the other side of the river. This place was filled with a great many low characters of the fair sex, and it was a difficult matter for the officers to keep the men in camp. One of these women struck one of our men on the arm, with a large knife, and inflicted a very serious wound. Many others suffered the penalties of military law, for being caught in their company by the patrol.
Here we drew a lot of shoes, but as I was out on guard, I got none, although I had been barefooted for months; however, they afterward got me a pair of no. elevens, which I wore until the spring of 1864, (this was the summer of 1863) my number being eights.
From here, we again crossed the river, and went to McNutt's Hill, which place is twenty miles a little south of west from Alexandria.
From this place, after spending about a month, we took up the march in a southeasterly direction. During the first day's march, I suffered greatly from Neuralgia. I procured a slow pass, which was a slip of paper with just these words "Slow Pass", signed by the surgeon of the Reg't. This was something unusual for me, as a general rule, I had fine health, regardless of the hardships incident to soldier life.
The next place that I remember on the march was Evergreen, where we spent a day or two. Next we came to Big Cane, a village situated on a stream of the same name.
While here, it rained a tremendous flood. We had anticipated it, however, and the evening before had cut palmetto, (which growth abounds there) and filled our tent half full, then made our bed upon it; supposing that we were above high water mark, but before day, to our astonishment, the water reached us, causing us to rise, and seek a drier place. I rolled a large, short log into the tent, rolled my bedding up, placed it upon it, and flew up to roost the remainder of the night -- such is an index to soldier life.
From here, I think we retraced our steps about three miles, to an elevation of land, containing a thousand acres, more or less, about six feet
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above the common level, which mound, we named Magnolia Hill, on account of that growth covering it. Some towering Poplar trees also grow here, all that I ever saw.Our object, in this expedition, was to be near enough for a reserve for Gen. [Thomas] Green's Command, which was going to attack a Federal force across the Atchafalya [Atchafalaya] Bayou, which attack was successful without our assistance; capturing several hundred prisoners, who passed at this place.
From here, we again passed the village of Big Cane, progressed in a southerly direction several miles, then filing to the right, we intersected the road leading from Cherryville [Cheneyville] to Washington, on Bayou Beoff [Boeuf]. Our object being to intercept Gen. Franklin, U.S.A., in his progress in that direction. We camped several days, a short distance above Washington, on the bayou, daily expecting an engagement. The Cavalry were skirmishing continually, but to our surprise, after the expiration of a week, we took up the line of march in retreat in the direction of Cherryville. We stopped, however, some distance before reaching that place, and sent a Reg't back, as picket, toward our old camp on the bayou.
On Oct. 26th 1863, if I am not mistaken, our Reg't was on the outpost, and not apprehending much danger, as soldiers generally are -- a few of us were off at a sugar mill, a short way from camp, when some were suddenly impressed that we should return to camp; on returning, we found Col. King in the saddle, watching in the direction of the enemy. We were very soon ordered into line, and placed across the road. Very soon, Gen. Walker came at full speed, and in a short time, the entire army came, and from all appearances, it seemed that we soon would be engaged in battle, but to our utter astonishment, at 2:00 o'clock, we again took up the march in retreat, in the direction of Cherryville [Cheneyville], in such haste, that when we met our rations which were cooked, and started to us on a wagon, we were not allowed to stop to eat, but snatched up something in haste, and resumed the march again, which was continuous, until 11:00 o'clock that night, when we halted for the remainder of the night, upon the bank of Bayou Beoff [Boeuf]. Here, an incident occurred that was amusing -- in these bayous, there is a weed grows, called Yankipin, (if I am not mistaken in the name). They grow in the bottom, or bed of the creek, and it matters not the depth, the stalk will grow in proportion, and put forth one leaf, which lies flat upon the sufface of the water. It resembles a gourd leaf. These frequently cover the entire surface of the water. After halting, as stated above, John Freeman, a member of our Company, went to the bayou for water, and seeing a place he supposed to be a second bank or bench, he leaped off, and to his astonishment, he found himself in water neck deep. The night was cold and frosty, and ever after that, he did not believe in immersion. Another soldier, Jimmy Knox, Co. A, I afterwards learned, happened to the same accident.
Next morning, we resumed the march, and continued it to Cherryville [Cheneyville].
Our Reg't., the 18th, the 11th Infantry and 15th dismounted Cavalry, however, did not remain there but one night, but retraced our steps down the bayou, a distance of twenty five or thirty miles, as picket.