linarian. Colonel Marsh Walker, on releiving Colonel Bonham, with that good judgment for which he was always celebrated, ordered me to give up the battery and remove my command to Germantown, a village about fifteen miles from Memphis, on the M. & C. R. R.; at this point we attempted the organization of a regiment which was to assist in forming a brigade, to be commanded by General W. H. Carroll. The Thirty-seventh Tennessee, already formed, commanded by Colonel Moses White, one of the most perfect specimens of manliness and chivalry to be found throughout the world of humanity. The Thirty-eighth Tennessee, commanded by Colonel Robert Looney, a personal friend of years standing, and whose many genial qualities and splendid oratorical powers has earned him a host of friends in the social and political circles of his section. My own regiment not forming rapidly enough for the emergency, the brigade left for East Tennessee, and we were left out of it. In a few days I was ordered to move my battalion to Fort Pillow, 80 miles above Memphis, on the Mississippi river; we were two days in making the trip, and only had one day's rations; this soured the men, who had obtained whiskey and were very hard to manage. We reached the Fort, mud a foot deep, and the weather excessively cold; this was the initiative of genuine soldiering. I immediately reported to the colonel-commanding's head-quarters; had on blue coat, staff buttons, blue pants with gold stripe an inch wide, broad-brimmed hat with gold band, and a sweeping feather; in fact, Brummel never felt better dressed, nor Wellington more grand.

I had known the commandant from boyhood—yet approached him deferentially, he remarked:

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Captain, what is that feather in your hat for ?" ""Tis the style in Tennessee," colonel."

"I was not aware of it captain, I thought you wore it possibly to keep the rain off"

The next day the hat and feather went up-then the gold stripes and in a few weeks I became a respectable looking soldier. We were ordered to consolidate our

battalion with two Mississippi and four Alabama companies, which we did. I was defeated for a field office, and resolved into my old position of senior captain, after the election. I dropped into surgeons' head-quarters-the two chiefs of this department being Messrs. Cobb and Benjamin, whose pleasant attentions to their friends made their mess the centre of attraction at the post. Colonel Walker, who was present, remarked to me:

"Captain, you are looking dull to day!"

"I hope your defeat has not given you the hypo." "Oh, no, colonel, not at all."

At this moment Lieutenant. McCall, a bluff old U.S. A. officer, addressed me.

"Never mind, captain, a major is nothing but a d-d stick."

Colonel Walker, interrupting, "Let me introduce Major Minter, of the Fortieth."

"Oh, I beg pardon, major," exclaims the waggish McCall. "but you must admit he is nothing but a d file-closer."

Minter being an amiable man accepted the apology. I was appeased-consoled for my defeat, which is an event common to all men.

After charging around in the mud at Fort Pillow for three months, amused by drills and false alarms, stopping boats unnecessarily, very much to the annoyance and disgust of their officers, the only boat that attempted to run the batteries of the fort, was one with despatches from General Polk, and she was successful, as the officer at the gun rammed his ball in before his cartridge, greatly to his discomfiture and the amusement of his brother officers. I've tried stopping boats, and find it a very difficult matter, even if you load regular, having attempted it with Commodore Walke, at "Island Ten."

I had been promised a leave of absence for some time, and to kill two birds with one stone, the commanding officer gave me leave and an order at the same time, authorizing me to take charge of the steamboat "Winchester," said boat being employed to carry surplus war material and extra baggage of the fort, the command

being ordered to New Madrid, Missouri, as well to convey the families of several of the officers to Memphis.

It was a trying period, and the first time the stern. realities of war were realized by devoted wives and innocent children, the latter, of whom there were several, seeming as if their little hearts would break.

DEDICATED TO MY LITTLE FRIEND WINNY JAMES, SON OF A. R. JAMES, DOYLESTOWN, PA.

There is nothing so softening, so humanizing, as the influence of the innocent child upon the coarser nature of the man, next to woman's love, it has no equal in the physical world in paving the rough elements of our nature with the flowers of innocence. Who that dandles the little prattler upon his knee, but feels that he imbibes that spirit that tells us we must "become as a little child" before we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven," and has the better feelings of his heart invoked to think of soothing sentences, and to devise artless tales to please the child he descends to, as the Great Federick ever did.

The man who will amuse the little ones with "cherries are ripe, O give the baby one," "sing a song of six-pence," and little Jack Horner," even, if a bad man, will feel most beneficially the modifying influence of "baby talk" in his household. He who loves children may be unfortunately constituted as regards passion and impulse, but he cannot be a very bad man. God bless the little ones, and don't be cross to them, as for every word so spoken there will be many an after pang, should the little eyes cease to wink and blink, the little mouth to prattle, and the tiny shoe of the little toddler of the household be placed carefully away in the bureau drawer, when the little one's spirit has gone to the God who gave it. Yes, be kind to the children. The author will never forget the friends of his childhood, and can hardly forgive that man who insulted him, while a child.

We reached Memphis in safety, I delivered my precious charge of living freight, remained in the city for a few

days, when it was rumored they were fighting at New Madrid. I immediately left to join my command; reached Tiptonville, found the river blocked by the enemy's batteries at Point Pleasant, walked through to Island Ten, thence by boat to New Madrid, in time to participate in the engagement.

As historians will speak of these engagements, I deem it due the officers, now my fellow prisoners, to give a synopsis of the two engagements, as I witnessed them. They were not bloody affairs, but were evidences of the powers of endurance of a soldiery, taken fresh from the plow, loom, and anvil, the office and bar, when engaged in a cause holy to them, and to which they had pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor." The force in front of us at New Madrid, was reported thirty-two regiments of infantry, seven of cavalry, two of engineers, twelve light batteries, and some heavy siege guns. Our force aggregated not exceeding thirty-five hundred effective men. For the first few days after our occupation, nothing of moment transpired excepting picket firing, and a skirmish of the Fortieth Tennessee, under Colonel Henderson, with some of the enemy's cavalry, driving them back, and the unfortunate killing of the gallant Captain West, (Billy West, as his comrades called him.) He had been provost marshal of New Madrid, and was acting as a scout, reconnoitering the enemy's picket lines, when killed by mistake by one of our own pickets. West was a noble fellow, and died as he had lived, cool and unflinching. His effects were taken charge of by Drake McDowell, his old friend and companion in arms.

Dr. Drake McDowell is the son of the famous doctor of the same name in St. Louis, Missouri, after whom the college is named, now used for imprisoning "Southern sympathizers." McDowell acted the scout for us at New Madrid, penetrated beyond the enemy's lines, discovered their strength and intentions, and predicted all that afterwards occurred.

The morning of the 13th of March, 1862, found us enveloped in a heavy fog, under cover of which the enemy advanced their columns, in three divisions, under Schuy

ler Hamilton, Stanley, and Payne, with Pope at his head-quarters "in his saddle," at the rear-with the reserve. We were in a miserable condition. Our camps in the upper fort were immediately on the bank of the river, ditches from one to three feet deep through our camp, as it was the rainy season, and they were usually full of water. The sinks were about ten steps from the writer's tent; no protection for our wounded or sick; one-third of our number ill-cause, fresh pork and Mississippi water; all of which the enemy were aware of, and deemed us easy prey. We were supported_by_five gun-boats, among the most prominent being the Ponchartrain, commanded by that polished officer, Captain John Dunington. It was the look-out on this boat that discovered the advancing columns of the enemy, who' were preparing to form, for the purpose of storming our position. We immediately opened on them, with a fire so destructive, as to drive them back, and, as per their official report, a hasty council of division officers was called, at the suggestion of their superior, decided to withdraw their forces an act of cowardice, only equalled by our disgraceful evacuation of the place. They could have driven us into the river at any time, had they stormed us, rather than amused themselves by desultory firing; one of their balls striking our medical director, Dr. Bell, a most accomplished surgeon and estimable gentleman. He was conversing with General McCown, when a solid shot, passing between the legs of the General, shattered the feet of Dr. Bell. They were amputated above the ankle, and he died the next day.

On the morning of the 13th of March, Charlie Logan lost his life. He was a member of Captain Frank A. Ragsdale's company, Company B, Fortieth Tennessee. He was a brave, courageous fellow, and died regretted by his command. His death was accidental and instantaneWe could not bury him in the lines, and it was impossible do be done outside, so he was cleanly dressed and shaved, under the supervision of his captain, and left with evidence in writing who he was. The report of our leaving our dead unburied, originated in this single case.

ous.