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On the morning of our arrival, James Fulton (I think was his name) killed John Nolan; stabbed him in the heart, killing him instantly. To show what frivolous things soldiers sometimes fall out about, and over which serious results occur -- I will record that they differed about cooking a beef heart, "only this, and nothing more".In a few days, we moved near the town of Camden. Here Capt. Grimes [Capt. John Gaynes], of 22nd Reg't., was shot to death with musketry. He was an old man, above the conscript age, his hair tinged with gray. His going to the war was a voluntary act. He was charged a year before this, while camped at McNutts Hill, of influencing his Company to desert, and meet him in Journigan Thicket, Tex., and there they would defy all opposition. The Company had deserted at the above named camp. The charge was proven by two ambulance drivers. Others, however, made oath that they would not believe those men upon their oath, but all did no good. The court-martial condemned him to death. Col. T. R. Bonner of Tyler, was President of the court-martial. The officers of the line, got up a petition for his reprieve, (as all thought he was innocent) which was approved all the way up to Gen. McCruder [John B. Magruder], the Commander of the southern district of Ark., who rejected it. I learned with the remark "That he must make an example of someone". He, no doubt, today is reaping his just deserts for the murder of a fellow man.
While in the neighborhood of Camden, we felled a great deal of timber, and threw up some earth works, as an obstruction to the enemy.
From here, we went to _______, with the intention of taking up winter quarters, but from some cause, we remained but a few days, then took up the march for Minden, La. In the neighborhood of the town, we built houses, and spent the winter, or a portion of the winter of 1864 and 1865. Here, on Christmas day, my mess made a sliced potato pie, and invited the Company officers and some other guests to dine with us. They passed many compliments on our dinner. This is evidence that we made some progress in the cullinary department, as well as the military.
While here, we had a man of our Reg't., by the name of Sheppard [Co. B], condemned to be shot for desertion. He stayed there for weeks, with his feet chained together, not permitted to change his clothes, until the lice came near eating him up; and this is only an index to the acts of cruelty, by those who were in authority. The officers of the Reg't. petitioned a pardon, and finally aroused the sympathy of their superiors, and obtained it. When he was liberated, N. A. Seale of our Company, sang "Shepherd Rejoice".
At this camp (Camp Magnoder) [Camp Magruder, east of Minden] a great many big meetings were held by the various denominations, each with some degree of success. We had made a regular camp-meeting shed.
Here also, we had many big drills, reviews and sham battles, which were attended by a great many of the fair sex, after which they would repair to Gen. [John H.] Forney's headquarters, for a party at night. I have since learned from good authority, that the result was quite a number of illegitimate children in that vicinity.
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We left here sometime in Feb. 1865, went to Shreveport, camped on a red hill, southwest of town, a few days, then moved a few miles northwest. Here, Gen. King organized a new Brigade, composed of Randall's old Reg't., [Col. George M.] Flournoy's 17th Inft. and ours -- 18th Inft., and two dismounted Reg'ts.After remaining here a few days, we took up the march in a southerly direction, passing through the towns of Keechi [Keatchie], Mansfield and Pleasant Hill.
On leaving the camp at Shreveport, I found that I was the superior officer of the Company, and had to take command. (I was 3rd Serg't.) I did so, but with a great deal of embarrassment. I was relieved, however, of command that afternoon, by the 1st Serg't. At short distance below Pleasant Hill, we countermarched under command of Gen. King. Why he took command, I never knew. Some said the trip in that direction was contrary to orders, and Gen. [John H.] Forney was placed under arrest, as to the truth of it, I cannot say -- however, we turned back, under command of Gen. King, retracing our steps to the town of Keechi.
Here, I saw the lady whom Gen. King afterward married -- and he and she were standing on the piazza of her father's residence (which were in the suburbs of the town). As the Division marched past, that afternoon, he rode a very handsome horse (a cream color) into camp, said to be a present from her.
Next morning we took up march in the direction of Texas. Our Brigade and Gen. Randall's old Brigade crossed the Sabine River at Grand Bluff, the other two, to wit, Wall's [Benjamin W. Waul's] and Waterhouse's crossed at Logansport - - the two Divisions to form a junction, if I mistake not, at Crocket, Tex. While crossing the river, one of our Company, Clem Clinton, when the 1st Serg't., was about to make a detail, volunteered his services, and when he found out what was wanted, was to ferry the wagon train over, during the entire night.
I will here state that it often occurred, when a detail was called for, some fellow would volunteer, hoping to go to the country with a forage wagon and have a good time, and it frequently resulted as above.
Soon after crossing the Texas line, there were various conjectures as to our objective point -- some said one thing, some another, until one day, two of our men, to wit -- Joe L. Dean and Isaac Newberry, both good hands to make a plausible yarn, visited another Command and returned with news -- "That we were going to Galveston to embark on a French fleet, which was in waiting, and be landed beyond the mouth of the Mississippi River, and reinforce Gen. Joe Johnson [Johnston]". On receiving this news, there were quite a number, who had known it for some time, but would not tell the others, for the reason that they knew no one would believe them, notwithstanding, they knew it so well, they were completely outdone, when they were told that the boys originated it for pastime.
I have found persons all along through life, who were extraordinarily wise, and have known anything a great while, after they concluded it was a certainty.
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In a few days after getting on Texas soil, I sent up my application for a permit, or leave of absence for five days, to visit some relatives living in Cherokee Co. My pass came back approved, and I started from New Salem, Rusk Co. by daylight on one morning in March, 1865 together with a soldier of our Reg't., named Joe Idom. We expected to arrive at our destination at noon, or soon after, but found the distance much greater than we anticipated, and my friend did not arrive at home until an hour before sunset, then I had eight miles farther, which took me till after nightfall, when I came very near being turned off, but finally agreed to take me in for the night. I then made myself known, and was very cordially received. After my uncle found out my starting point, he informed me that the distance was thirty-nine miles, the nearest way I could have traveled, and I had been bothered some on the way. I had, no doubt, walked over forty miles, that day. About a mile before I reached my relatives, I called at a house for directions, where I met the most ignorant old lady whom I have ever met in my travels. When I hailed, she wanted to know if I was white or black (it being dark). When I told her I was white and a soldier, she seemed well pleased and confident I could tell her something of her son. I asked his name, then told her I knew nothing of him, which was very strange to her. She thought I knew everyone in my Company. I told her I did, but did not know all the men in the army. I then urged her to direct me and let me go, whereupon she said: "If the road forked, go that way, (waving her right hand) and if you go this way (waving her left hand) you will go to the Salt Saline". I then bid her good night, and went that way, and soon arrived at my destination, as stated above.I spent a few days so pleasantly -- it was like the desert traveler reaching an oasis, and finding the cool shade and refreshing spring of water. They prepared many nice eatables for me, and I took many pleasant horseback rides with a young lady cousin. But the time soon arrived for me to return. They sent me to the town of Rusk a distance of twenty- five miles. Here I dismounted, and my cousin, Walter Beaty, returned with the horses, and I went on my way afoot. I soon learned that my command had gone by Alto, a town in the extreme southern portion of the county (Cherokee). Before arriving at the town, however, I learned at what point they would cross the Neuches [Neches] River; (and my recollection now is) I took the nearest route for that crossing, hoping to overtake them that night. I pushed along and came to the ferry, about dusk. I called, and was answered from the opposite side. I waited a reasonable time, and no one came. I called and was answered, and so on, for several times, and yet no one came, and by this time, it was very dark. I began casting about, what I had better do. I saw, or imagined I saw, within a few feet of me, a wild bear, or some beast of the kind. It seemed I could hear him snuffing or sniffing the air. I had no weapon, and knowing it was folly to run, I picked up a piece of rain, or pole that the ferryman had used for pushing the boat off, and turned to give him fight, but could see it no more. The reader of this, will perhaps say it was fear, or imagination, but you must remember that I was accustomed to danger -- often on picket service, and was not half so apt to imagine something of the sort, as I would be today, and besides, it was not at all improbable. It was a large river bottom, several miles in width, and no settlements near. When I could not find my enemy