reluctance, and for the first time in their lives were obliged to accommodate themselves to a new order of things, and practice the free-labor system.

Before the arrival of the regiment at this place, society in this vicinity was in very bad condition, there being neither civil nor military law in operation. Colonel Blanden applied himself diligently to the work of ferreting out certain criminals who had been disturbing the peace of society in the neighborhood, and forwarded several of them to Montgomery for trial and punishment.

During the time the regiment encamped here, Opelika was designated as a Post for paroling rebel soldiers. At the close of the war many of these were absent from their commands on furloughs and sick, and came in now willingly to obtain their paroles. Between two and three hundred were paroled, only one of which number expressed himself in favor of a continuance of the rebellion. The great majority of them seemed perfectly satisfied with the result of the war, and claimed that they had never been in favor of it, from the beginning. Many of these soldiers were honest in such assertions, and had been forced into the ranks. by that reign of terror which the leading traitors instituted and carried out to advance their base schemes and sustain their rotten Confederacy.

William L. Yancey had been one of those prominent characters, who had precipitated his own State, and hastened others, headlong into the rebellion, and had incited the youth of the South to take up arms, for the accomplishment of his traitorous purposes. Though his body now lay entombed in the cemetery at Montgomery, no Alabamian was heard to speak well of his character as a politician or a man. He was never referred to by the citizens or paroled soldiers except in terms of reproach and hatred, and they looked upon him as the instigator of all their troubles, the prime mover in hurrying Alabama out of the Union. They claimed that the doctrine of secession, at the. outset, would have been condemned by an overwhelming majority, had Yancey and his fanatical clique submitted the question to a fair vote of the people.

This was not done, and after the ordinance of secession had once been passed, the citizens excused their subsequent action in the war, on the false ground that their allegiance could no longer be claimed by the United States; that thenceforward it was due alone to the State; that the State was their country, and that their only alternative was to aid her in asserting the great Southern heresy of State Rights.

The results of the war had now taught these people a different doctrine, and from the sad and ruinous ex

perience of four years' rebellion, they had learned the true strength and indivisibility of the American government. It is a lesson which will long remain fresh in their memories, and will descend to their posterity as a fearful warning against future attempts to dissolve and destroy the perpetual Union of States established by the fathers.

The summer of 1865 was passed pleasantly by the regiment, in the performance of their easy duties at Opelika. The locality was very healthy for the men ; good water was abundant, and fruit, vegetables and all necessary eatables were easily obtained. Never before during the service had the command been so well provided for, and so free from sickness. The inhabitants, after recovering from the sulky disposition manifested on our arrival, and from the dissatisfaction which followed the enforcement of the policy in reference to the negroes, became resigned to existing affairs, appeared more affable, and made frequent visits to the encampment, to see and converse with the soldiers.

The Fourth of July was observed by the soldiers of the Ninety-fifth, at Opelika, in the old-fashioned manner. They had no artillery with which to arouse the inhabitants at an early hour; but long before sunrise. of that day, the various companies formed at the

It

camp, without reference to officers, and commenced firing a National salute with their muskets. sounded like very heavy skirmishing in the rear of the town, and in war times would have indicated an immediate attack. Some of the citizens, awakened from their slumbers, knew not what to make of this unusual procedure, and feared that their lives and property were in jeopardy for some offense they had recently committed. Their apprehensions were allayed, however, on learning that it was only the opening exercise of the celebration of the Nation's birthday -a day which had long been disregarded and lost sight of by the people of this section.

The firing of the National salute continued vigorously until breakfast time, after which a large delegation from the regiment, in command of Quartermaster Sergeant Early, formed in procession at the encampment, and paraded through the principal streets of the village, bearing the American flag, and keeping step to patriotic music furnished by the regimental band. Brief speeches were made to the men by Col. Blanden, Major Loop, Quartermaster Southworth and Adjutant Wood, and the day was passed joyously and with enthusiasm, by all concerned. In the afternoon, a novel dress-parade was held at the usual place, in which none of the commissioned officers were allowed

to take part. Sergeant Early, who had been chosen as leader of the boys that day, commanded the parade, while the positions of the different commissioned officers were filled from the non-commissioned grade, and other enlisted men. The whole affair was laughable to behold, yet all the movements were executed with great precision, and reflected much credit upon the temporary commander and his men.

The guns on this occasion were loaded with blank cartridges, unbeknown to the large number of spectators, white and black, who had assembled in front of the battalion to witness the exercise. At the command,

ready — aim — fire!" the pieces were all leveled and discharged in unison, making a terrible report, and scattering the crowd in front in various directions. The promiscuous assemblage of white people and negroes were badly frightened, but suffered no injury from the harmless firing of the blank cartridges. At the conclusion of the parade, Col. Blanden presented the sergeant in command with twenty dollars, which was well used in closing up the festivities of the day, and all felt satisfied with the manner in which it had been celebrated.

The officers and men of the regiment were now becoming uneasy on account of being detained in the service, as they deemed, unnecessarily. There was