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Page 9
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 the Rebellion. -- Deep Earnestness of the
People. -- Strength of the Fort. -- "Pillow's Trot Line." --
No Pay, and the Result. -- Gen. Pillow described. --
Columbus, Ky. -- Hard Work. -- Pillow in the Ditch. -- The
Batteries. -- Torpedoes. -- Battle of Belmont. -- 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.
The fine horse, which was to have carried me to Nashville and thence
to Kentucky, was kindly disposed of by an auctioneer, and the price,
minus a handsome commission, handed to me, and then I commenced
service in the "Jeff. Davis Invincibles," Co. B, Second Tenn.
Volunteers, under command of J. Knox Walker, of Memphis. I still
entertained some hope of escape, as I had not yet taken the oath;
and I worked hard to obtain information which might aid my purpose.
I could find no one to trust, and dare not be too inquisitive about
roads and distances.
The first regiment raised in Memphis was composed largely of the
upper classes, and represented many millions of property. It was of
the same type as the 7th regiment of New York, whereas the second
contained about 750 Irishmen, chiefly Catholics, in character like
the fine 69th New York. We camped in the Fair Ground, a short
distance from the city, an inclosure of some seven acres, surrounded
by a high board fence, and guarded by thickly stationed sentinels.
As these sentinels were not from our newly-formed regiment, but from
trusted companies of older standing, I was soon convinced there was
no chance of escape, and resigned myself to the necessities of my
lot.
This being once settled, my first resolution was to master all the
details of military duty, and perfect myself in drill, feeling
conscious of ability soon to rise above the station of a private
soldier. This determination saved me from despondency, and was of
signal advantage in subsequent adventures.
On May 6th we received orders to proceed to Randolph, sixty-five
miles above Memphis, on the Tennessee shore of the Mississippi
river, arriving by boat on the 7th. The town of Randolph, which
formerly contained about three hundred inhabitants, is situated
above high-water mark on a narrow strip of land nearly three hundred
yards wide, behind which rises a bluff ninety feet high and very
steep. On this bluff, overlooking the town and the river, we
established our camp, and here commenced our real soldier's life.
The daily routine was as follows: Reveill� at 5 A.M.; drill from 51/2
to 71/2; breakfast, 71/2; fatigue call from 8 to 10; orderly call, 10;
dinner, 12, M.; fatigue from 1 P.M. to 4; drill and dress parade
from 41/2 to 71/2; supper, 8; tattoo, 9 P.M. The fatigue call did not
mean rest, but work.
Thus we toiled for eight weary weeks without rest, except as the
Sabbath--the blessed day of rest--gave us some relaxation. My
observation, even so early in my military life, convinced me that
the observance of the Sabbath is no less a physical necessity than a
religious duty--though I can not say that our regiment kept it with
a very intelligent view of its sacred character. Our chaplain,
Father Daly, celebrated mass in the morning, preached a sermon in
the afternoon, and in the evening settled the drunken rows--which
were entirely too numerous to recommend to a Protestant youth the
religion of which the priest was nevertheless a very favorable
representative. His influence was vastly important as a governing
power, and he wielded it wisely and kindly.
The idleness of the Sabbath was a great evil, as there was nothing
to read, and card-playing and cock-fighting were the chief
amusements. This was also our wash-day, and the ration of soap
issued for six men was only enough to wash one shirt; hence this was
given by lot to one of the mess, and the others were content with
the virtue of water alone. While our regiment was often commended
for its ability in building fortifications, no one ventured to
compliment its cleanliness.
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