CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The Gift of NEWTON C. FARR Class of 1909 B^aa^BH^ Camell University Ubrary E605 .A93 The blue and the gra^ UlUlliUilUIII olin 3 1924 030 906 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030906121 The Blue and the Gray ,sketch:es of a portion of the UNWRITTEN HISTORY €REAT AMERICAN CIVIL WAR A TRUTHFUL NARRATIVE OF ADVENTURE WITIJ THRII^UNG REMINISCENCES; OF THE G-REAT STRUGGLE ' LAND AND SEA By J. P. AtfSTIN, ' , ,Of the Ninth Kentucky Cayilry, C. S. A, ,^ Atlanta, Ga.: ,'4:,.'' •.-/. '■ . ''?j T-he Pranklin Printing and.tiiij^lI^MgjCo. , ■: :p ' , ■-■, ' EnWied Aceordin^r to Act of Congress in tlie 'Keii 1898; bjr J. P. AUSTIN, In the OfBce of tbe-UbTarian of ConKress, ac wasmneioni. ■(3- SONS , AND DAUGHTERS ' . • ■ IpF THE ' ' ■ '■ UNION AND CONpEDERA'TE ARMIES "■ THIS r,ITTiyill pass over its defects, and, if the time occupied in its p^rtisal should prove interesting and profitable to the reader,: the author will feel amply compensated for the time spent in its preparation. « ■ J. -p. Austin, 9th Kentucky Cavalry, C. S. A. INDEXi CHAKCEE I. CbfiixBiCtex of Ihe Settlers of the Oblpn^es, North; and South-^Pre^idents" and Issues up to 1861 — The North- ■ 'erh P.eoi^le; tJhe Orig'inal'ilJiB-Unionists— What Led'to the "WariEfetween the.gtateis.'' ..i........ r CHAPTER 11. Texas* Secedes— On to the Eio Grande— Fort Brown— ^ Federal Troops Evaciiate— Authorship of "John- ' 'yBiOWft's Body iips Moldering ifl the Ground" — My First Experience in War .'. . , 7' ■ CHAPTER III. Life &,t Brownsville — An old Friend — A Mes;ican Beauty f \ i-^Jfederals 'Leave — An Affair 6f^ Honor — We Leave, , ■ BrownsvUle. '..'.. .'J' 16^ ' CHAPTER IV. " / - Ei^turn to Galveston — OapturjS of Captain Ghiibto and ' . .his Crew— Their Trial and Death Sentence— Mr. Davis . , ■ Gives K&. Lineoln Ifeijige' and Prepares' for Retaliai-,— - tion— Chtibb and His Men Released^Re(5ruiting-:-0ar-. ' ■. ;ter's;B|ii^^if..^ . ■:,.^. . .■^■. .-'..,.. .r-: /. .\ ...'...... .V .^,^ .:, ■ 25"'' CHAPTER V. Join ithe Army of T'^nnessee — What' I Saw — Concentra- tingjat Corifflth-fi^lsifned to Duty— 'Battle of Shilqh— >,>^r|ifdmey Johnston Killed— The ResbfcfeatfrWhat it Cost. . 30», ^r ■", f '^i**- -'■ ''.''■''■• , , . ,;;.'■'. - ; ■ '/ • ' ~ v- ■ ■ ■::■■ , >. .i,-(vii) -,/ u. . Vjn' ' INDEX., OHAPTEE VI. -join Morgan— Haid into Tennessee— Capture of Pulaski, : ■; — Made a Prisoner at Lebanon— Camp Ohase— John-^ ' son's Island— Incidents of Prison Life— Exchanged— ",' Horrbrs of the Trip Back to Dixie •••■:' 34 ' ' CHAPTEK.VII. .I(find in Vicksburg— Forlorn Condition— My IFaithful, Servjint Meets and Consoles Me— Go to Jackson— Mor- gan Gone to Kentucky — Efforts to Join Him— Porm ■ Part of an Interesting ani Pleasant Party— Colonel Hundley's Diary — Bragg's , Eetreat— rBushwhaokers— ^ ' Midnight Fight— Breaking up an Outlaw Band— Black to Knoxville — Meet Morgan at Black's Shop ; i ..... ... 45 ,' ' CHAijtrEE vni. -Back at Knoxville^-Col. Sti. Ledger Granfel — Morale of - < Bragg's Army — Both Armies Preparing for Battle—^ Ninth Kentucky Cavalry drganized-^Morgan's ~Mar-, riage^Those Pants — Into Kentucky— Capture at ■ . Bardstown — At Muldrough's, Hill — ^At Cynthiana — , Hhat Tejegraph Operator. ;.. 61 CHAPTEE IX., -At McMinnville— On Bragg's Flank— Morgan's Plan for Carrying on the "War — Morgan as a Spy-yCapture on ' th'eLebanon Pike—" The Pathfinder "—5^^ Hear trend-- " ' 'ing Story— -Ordered to Bragg's Headquarters— Go to .Chattanooga — My Friend, the Federal, OfHcer, a , Wpunded Prisoner^I Minister tb-Him^His Exchange 69 GHAI*TER X. Capture and Escape— On Bragg's Flanks — Fourth Ohio Cavalry^Trading — Morgan a Gpod Spy — Lion-Catcher , Cattght^Poor Champ Ferguson — Our Women 82, ,\.; ■-'' '■••' ^ .;, •■- ■ INDEX. ■ , ■■ 1, <■ ■[ tx. ' • ./, / OHAPTEfi Xi: ,;^ragg si;i?.Ohattarioc/ga— Moraiss;©!. &e Aripy— Morgan ', in,01a^— His Capture and J^sGaje'-^Baiil Into. T^n- nessaf— ffil^tgan B§^ra,yesd ati^ Killed— Dufcp in> Oom- maiidJ-' 'Oerro Gordo " Williams Sent into Tennessee^ ■'Figfcli at S'alt-Wqrfes-i^Giif First IntroducMon; to the -.- "Brother in Black "as a Soldier..! ....w. ■..<.'.. ^ 'V , ',v-\ ':■/' .'•■' . - ' .- '■' V ''■, ■ ' < OHAPTIHE XII. At Otia:'ttan0Qga-^ijet,ters--t>^fa6, frorai Mexico -7 Mail Oauriei'sr^'fioseerans' Attempt to Flank Bragg— ^ ' \'He.!5''*9JlatesiOhattanoi3ga%jBattle of Ojiickaiflauga — . Missionary .Bfftgfr^iThei Eetreat^-Battle of l£iii^g9ld, ' ' Gap— In Winter .@W8,rtet's-'-Thouglits,Qn the Condi titfes;:, Northrajid, Soiith . ". ;'.'..:'. . . , .,. ......'.. ,'.:' •. . . .) k, '. .102? ;., ' ' ' '^, . CHAPTEE Xltl. - ~ Jragg ;feelieivqd— Johnston .Sajoeeedfe Him— Eejoioing ^ /' amorig the T*robp^-^I;QaproVement in the ArhjS-^^ojidfiw ■ . tion of the Country.. :. . '. .';;....... 118"- , . ' - ' OHA|'TB,E XIV. Suffering of the Soldiers — Attack.on Tunnel Hill^On _ ;;. .ikill CreefeGa^^Yanks Try'to. Catch the Old Weasel ^ , - ,/ !AWe%p;" l^ut- Fail- Eeptfl§§i|3t: ' .'^■;n"'''■'\V''';,^^f|iI#aV:XY: ,' / ; .'; ' ^ - Hood Takes. ithe.QfEensjve^A-ttacks.'She^ Ee- , ■ pul'i^fl^i'in^emobiuHi EVj;gM in Atlanta— Battle p.f i- ' ' .'.: ■ July ';:i3d'T?.|piti''on BtfCon-nStonemun-r^/aptureiii^A';- ,.' ^ .; iBegiW^iittEsGapgs-^^eir 'Capture— AthejtSs^jAG :' ''Qyaition— Aj^^il(PrJVate.p.ur Orator;. ;."„ii 131. -■X ' '■ '■ INDjEX.;'.:''. CHAPTER XVI. ! Hood's Gduntermaroh— Turns His Back on Sherman and Moves on' Tennessee^Sherman's Desolating March— In Savannah — How "We Subsisted — Wheeler's Last Order— Defense of the Confederate Oayalry — Hood's Disasters ^. .,'■. 137" CHAPTER XVII. •Sherman's Proposal to Hill — Lincoln and the Commis- sioners—Sherman Begins His March from Savannah — Our Cook's. Idea of , Hong-Kong Goose and Rice : . 145 ' CHAPTER XVIII. fSherman'a Devastating March — Ruin in South Caro- . lina — Columbia Evacuated — The "Wounded Teriries- ■ seean — Ladies in Distress — How I Aided Them— ^Colum- bia a Mundane Hell— jA Night of Horrors — My Federal : Friend Cafes for My Lady Friend "and the "Wounded - Soldier ; .....' : \ . . . . 152 CHAPTER XIX. . Dvacqation of Charleston — The City an Indescribable i "■ ' ^ . ■ ' ' "Wreck— jIts Inhat)itants jn the Most Abject Destitu- , tion-^jplihston. Again in Command — His Army bu"t a Skirmish Line^Bentonville— The Surrender — ^Lincoln's " Death '...'/..... .^ 164 CHAPTER XX." Visit to My Federal Friend— He Tells of Columbia-^Mr. Davis and Cabinet — That Specie Trains — The Last Cabinet Meeting— -Mt. Davis Captured— -Reflections . . 170 J CHAPTER XXI. ■ 1 Blockade Running — "What Led to It — ' ' Seminole " Chases the "Susanna" — A Graphic Account — Captain Austin — That Confederate Cotton '. . . ; . ' 178 INDEX. XI CH AFTER. Xt:il. Oapitaifl Austin Captures the TJ. 8. Transport "Fox"-— . The Bam "Manassas" — She Attacks the Blpckading iSquadron — Is Purchased by the Confederate Govern- nient. '■,.:.■'■ ... 188 CHAPTER XXIIi: Sketch of the Life' of G?,p,ta>n Austin — His JSscape from Fort Taylor— His'Death ..i,;. ../.:...; '. 195 /- ' ' ' ' ■ ,-'■■■ " ^ ; CHAPTER, XXIV. ^ "Rjeconstfuction — Qarlkptj^Bagg&rs ' and Scalawags — Their :Infamy-=^8oldiers Gfpod Citizens— Cdndition of the South— The. Negro During the War . .". 201 - .; CHAPTiR XXV. ' ,"■',.' "'■ ' ^ *. The " Bloody 'ghirt"-^Who Bail* It and How— Not the Soldiers -Who Had Been in the Front — ^Longstjeet — Moraliziiri^'V 209 CHAPTER XXVi. -,' '' ' . / ^1 In. New ©rlean^ — The Mexican Beauty — My Federal Friend — ^The Columbian Lady— The Wounded Tfemnfesr ; Jseean 'Left.' in 'Columbia-^Truih Stranger. -than Eiei'' ~ . t'ion^-M^rriage :'. — '.'...: .j.'.". ,',.::'., 215 ..■:■• ■•. ./ , ''','', " "'''"'' ,:• y.i , ' CHAPTER' XXYII. ' ;' tution of,, the. Confederates — Carpet-Baig Rule-f The 06urts a Travesty on Justice^Tbe Cotton Tax— !:lts Effect — Recuperation under Trying Circuinstilhees -*-Lincd^ls*Warnihg^Shyldck for G-pld — Intriguefrof the' Money Kings — ^Natibnal Banks^-Breakers" Ahead , . 222^ Appendix., Jack WiUs's Petition to Congress for Amnesty. 233 Conquered Banjier . . , 236 All Quiet Along the Potomac To-night.. 237 Ninth^of April, 1865 238' The Bivouac of the Dead 240 Morgan's War Song '. 242 A Belie of the War vReturned 243 THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. CHAPTER I. CHARACTER OF SETTLERS OF THE COLONIES, NORTH AND SOUTH— PRESIDENTS AND ISSUES UP TO 1861— THE NORTHERN PEOPLE THE ORIGI- , NAL DtS-UNIONISTS— WHAT LED TO THE WAR ■ BETWEEN THE STATES, New England was settled by the Puritans, who effected the revolution of 1620,| and decapitated Charles I. ' , On the contrary the Southern Colonies were occu- pied by a njore loyal class. To the noble family of Baltimore was granted, by royal charter, the province of Maryland. To other staunch adherents of the crown were ceded grants and privileges in Virginia,, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. George Washington was the first Federal magis- trate. During his term the people divided into two; hostile parties, each striving for office, through the profession of opposite prijiciples, The New England States^ led by John Adams,, advocated the power of the Federal Governnaent,. even to the straining of the Constitution. This was- the Federal party. The Southern States^ led by Thomas Jefferson, maintained the rights of the States against the Federal encroachments. This was the! iDetnpcratic party. In 1797 ^Jphn Adams, of Massachusetts, was 2 , THE BLUE AND THE.' '®]|i4:*J ■,'■■-' /, '■ " * '• ' 'T ^' ■ '' , . I ' ' , \\ ' '' ' . elected President. During his term the " alien and sedition" laws were passed by the Federal Congress. | These enactments were opposed by the statesmen of the South, since, in their opinions, they invested the Executive with powers not conferred by the Consti- tution, inimical to popular rights. The creation of a national bank'was also a subject of keen controversy. The public men of the North sustained it with energy, while those of the South opposed it as unconstitutional and of doubtful expe-i diency. In 1801 Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, was elected President. During his term the New EngT land States showed a bitter animosity toward the South, which arose, chiefly, from the South's having put a limit to the slave-trade,- in which those States were profitably engaged. Therefore, when President Jefferson proposed the purchase of Louisiana froWi France, the Eastern States violently resisted, Ijecause it increased the power and territory of the South. In 1806 Thomas Jefferson was re-elected to the Presidency. His second term was troubled by the war between England and France. The Berlin and Milan decrees of Napoleon, and the orders in council of the British Government, equally assailed American interests. Our vessels, bound either to English or French ports, incurred the danger of capture and confiscation. This left but one alternative, either to abandon our trade with Europe or go to war to pro- tect it. To escape the latter Mr. Jefferson recom- mended an " Embargo Act," to put a temporary stop to all foreign trade. This was vehemently opposed THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. , > S by the New England States, because their interests, being chiefly commercial, were sieriously damaged. The " Embargo Act " was passed by , Congress in December, 1807, whereupon the Eastern States threatened to secede from the Union and form a Northern Confederacy. It will thus be seeii that, they first recognized the right of a State to secede from the Union and to declare their purpose to carry it into practical effect. In 1809 James Madison, of Virginia, was elected ^President. It was during his administration. May, J1812, that Congress, declared war against Gfreat Britain. , ' In 1813 James Madison was re-elected President. During the war the government was supported by direct taxes and requisitions upon the States. The New England States refused, for the most part, to contribute, thus again declaring State sovereignty. In 1817 James Monroe, of Virgiiiia, was elected ' President. During his term the interests of the country prospered ; no struggle occurred between the politicians ^ of New England and those of the South until 1820, when Missouri applied for admis- sion into the Union as a slave-state. The Eastern States oppose(J it violently, on the ground that it would bei extending slave-territory. The Union was in danger of dissolution. ■ In 1821 James Monroe was re-elected President. During this term a new Conflict arose between New England and the Soufh, on the subject of the tariff; New Eilglan,d demanded more protection ; the South opposed it. 4 THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. In 1825 John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts, was elected President. During this term a heated contest was carried on between New England and the South on the tariff policy. In 1829 Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee, became President. "During this term the extreme tariff policy -of New England led to violent remonstrance on the part of South Carolina, whose interests were seriously injured. In 1833 Andrew Jackson was re-elected President. During this term the national bank question was the issue. In 1837 Martin Van Buren, of New York^ was elected President. During this term great financial, disorder prevailed in the country. In 1841 William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, was elected President. He died about a year after his ac- cession to office, and the Presidency was then admin- istered by the Vice-President, John Tyler, of Vir- . ginia. During his term, a new slave-state, Texas, was admitted into the Union. In 1845 James K. Polk, of Tennessee, was inaug- urated President.' During this term, the Mexican war was fought, by which thfe United States acquired a large acquisition to her territory. In 1849 Zachary Taylor, of Mississippi, became President, but died and was succeeded by Millard Fil- more, Vice-President. During this term, the ac- quisition ot new territory afforded the public men of both sections, a fertile field for discussion. In 1853 Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, be- came President. During his term, the discussion of THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. ' 5 the slavery question was renewed. A portion of our Western territory (Nebraslsa) was divided into two territories — one of these Kansas and the other Ner brasJia. The New England Emigrant Aid Society' was organiized in 1854, for the purpose of securing emigrants as settlers in Kansas; these men were all armed with Sharp's rifles and Colt's revolvers. These hostile bands and other bands of armed men Irom the -North and East invaded the territory, forcing the Federal Government finally to interfere. The lead^ ers of the anti-slavery propaganda, having violated the Federal prerogative by adopting a constitution and establishing th6 machinery of a State govern- ment, were indicted for treason and obliged to take flight. ' ' - In 1857, James Buchanan was inaugurated Presi- deilt. The whole of this term was disturbed by a heated contest between the politicians of the North and the South, on the subject of slavery in the terri- tories. ' It is worthy ;of notice in this connection that most of them knew but little of slavery and slave- holders, beyond what they learned from excited, ca* ressed and tempted fugitives, or from a superficial, accidental or priejudicedobservation. From distorted facts, grpss misrepresentation, and frequently ma* , licious caricatures, they had come to regard Southern slave-holders as the most unprincipled men and women in the universe ; with no incentive but avarice ; no feeling but selfishness; and no sentiment but cruelty. ' , ' . In October, 1859, an event occurred which amazed 6 THE BLUE And the geat. ^ the whole country. I allude to the invasion of the State of Virginia by John Brown at the head of an armed force. This man Brown bad figured in " Bleed- ing Kansas, " as a daring ring-leader of an anti-slav- ery band that had contested for the mastery there, ^hen these bloody contests subsided, he was re- duced to inaction, and he chlafed at the loss of the stern excitement congenial to his fierce nature. Whether it was fanaticism or ambition that in- spired him, no one can say. He conceived the horri- ble project of setting on foot a servile insurrection. Followed by a handful of desperate men, he suddenly entered the State of Virginia, seized tbe arsfenal of the Federal Government/at Harper's Ferry, to obtain the arms they needed ; and raised the cry of "Free- dom to Slaves." To his astonishment, no doubt, the afirighted blacks i^n to their masters for protectton. Some were shot while trying to escape. This ne- fa;rious attempt was quelled by the arrest of Brown and his confederates ; and their subsequent trial and executioxi. On the 6th of November, 1860, the* long agitation, on the slavery question, which began in 1803, ended with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the represent- ative of the Abolition, or Republican party, as Presi- dent. Then the dreadful banquet of slaughter began, which ended in the destruction of the most magnifi- cent social fabric the world ever saw. < CHAPTER II. TEXAS SECEDES— ON TO THE RIO GRANDE— FOET BROWN— FEDERAL TROOPS EVACUATE— AUTHOR- SHIP OF " JOHN BROWN'S BODY LIES MOLDERIN G IN THE GROUND"— MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN WAR. ' i When South Carolina went out of the Union I gave up all hope of any compromise or reconciliation , betweeii the North and the Sotith. At that time t was a member of the Galvestop Artillery, a company composed of the first young men of the " Island City." It was commanded by Captain McCloud, an elegant gentleman and a trained soldier. He was a gradu7 ate of,the Military Acadenjy at West Point. Texas, like the rest of the Squthern States, on the inauguration of Mr. Lincolii, in 1861, was thrown into commotion from center to circumference. Seces^- sion was "rampa;nti" War was the cry. , - A convention Was at once called to meet at the capital of the State, with a view to taking the State put of the Union.- At the assembling of the conven- tion the ordinance of secessioii vyas passed, with but one vote in opposition to the measure, and that came from ex-Goverilor' Throgmorton. When the tall form of the ex -governor arose and he had procfeimfSd his vote a tumultuous explosion of hisses greeted him from all parts of the lobby and thronged galleries, where the beauty and chivalry of the State had gathered tp witness the scene of Texas ' , ■ .. •[' • (7) 8 ' THE blue; and the gray. severing her connection with the Federal Union, and assuming her original nationality, under the "Lone Star^" -which flag at that time was floating from the dome of her capitol. After the confusion had somewhat subsided the gallant Texan addressed the chair ; and turning with a withering look in the direction from whence the hisses came, with his arms extended, he proclaimed in a voice that could be distinctly heard to the re-, motest corner of the hall: " When patriots weep' the rabble hiss." He further stated that since his State stood isolated and alone, by the action of that con- ventionj as an independent republic, and war was in- evi,table, he asked how many would join him in her defense ? The ex-governor, to prove his loyalty to his State, at once commenced raising a regiment. A more gallant or heroic soldier never marched be- neath the " Stars and Bars." General Sain Houston, that grand old hero, patriot and statesman, was governor of Texas at the time the convention assembled. He refused to ratify the proceedings of the convention, on the ground that he failed to see that separate State secession would ac- complish the object, sought ; which, after an immense sacrifice of blood and treasure, alas ! proved to be too true. For this act of supposed disloyalty to his State, he was deposed as governor. From my earliest recollections I have entertained an exalted" opinion of General Houston's political views ; and, in justice to the warm •friendship that existed be- tween himself and my family, I deem it just and proper to define, just here, his position in regard to THE BLUE AjND THE GRAY. ,' 9 the question of secession. He loved the old flag, and -was warmly attached to its associations. It was a trying hpiir to the hero of Sanjacinto (the re- sult of which battle- gave an empire to the South), to see the banner he loved so well and followed so snceessfully during the war of 1812, give place to another. He was not alone in his regrets at parting with the old standard, .for many felt on that sad occasion that the last cherished hope of perpetuat- ing the Republic had gpne. General Houston was in favor of calling a convention of all the States, made up of conservative and patriotic men from both sections — .not of demagogues and politicians — then, after a full, fair and open presentation of all matters in dispute, if an amicable adjustment could not be reached, and war was inevitable, let the South take the old flag and the Constitution of the United States and declare for the principles of our fathers. It has been conceded by some of our most thoughtful and sa- gacious statesmen that, had such a policy been adopted, _tbe result would have been far different; but his voice was not heeded. When that venerable statesman saw that a cbllis^on beitween the North and the South could not be f^vert- ed he retired to his plantation, where he remained in •quiet repose until just before the war closed, when he died. His name will go down in song and story as, one of the mpst remarkable men, in many respects, , this country ever produced. After the proceedings of the convention were known Texas was all ablaze, and steps were immedi- ately taken, to place her on a war footing. 10 I THE BLUE AND THE GKAY. About that time an expedition was organized at Galveston with eight hundred State troops, under command of Gen. E. B. Nichols, of Galveston, des-" tined for Brazos Santiago, to capture Fort Browa' and all the other 'military posts along the Rio Grande. The Federal troops were being concentrated at Fort Brown (Brownsville, Texas), by order of Gen. Twiggs. I was a merilber of the Galveston artillery at that time, which company had offered its services to the State and had been accepted; and on the 16th day of March, 1861, the command embarked on board the steamship "General Rusk," of the Morgan line. I will here insert an article which appeared in the Atlanta Constitution several years ago, which was prompted by an incident which occurred on this trip, and will explain, without the shadow of a doubt, the true authorship of the song so . pppular at the North during the war, " John Brown's Body lies MOLDERING IN THE GrOUND ": Judge Robert L. Rogers, the efficient and faithful Secretary of the Fulton County Confederate Vet-^ erans' Association, says the Constitution, is daily acquiring facts that will some day find their way into the history of the late war. The judge was in a reminiscent mood, and among other things said : " You all know that the famous song concerning ' John Brown's body' is generally a familiar air. It used to be sung with gre^t force by the soldiers in our Confederate camps. Since the war it has been a popular song in the South, often sung in theaters by THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. li. minstrel troops to the, cheers of icrowd^d houses. The origiu of the song and tjie name of the author or composer of it have recently come to my own. understanding in a peculiar way. " 4- few days ago I met Colonel J. P. Austin, who: I'elated the ijacisle^ts to me and furnished to me the verifying jnaitter. Colonel Austin was a distin- guished soldier in the Confederate service. He .gierved in the famous Texas Rangers, He is of thaj; celebrated family of Austins, who have made a great name in Texas^ where he formerly lived. The city of . Austin, the capital of Texas^ bears its name in honor of the family name. Col. J. P; Austip lives now in this, Fulton county, about five miles south of At- lanta. He has been hefe a good many years, and has been separated from his regimental comrades ever- si"nce the close of the war. " Advertising may often bring good and pleasant l-esiilts in other Ways, besides the special business tor which - the advertising may be done. A few weeks ago a little piece of 'newspaper used aswrappipg for a small parcel of go6ds came into the hands of Colonel Austin. > Casually looking over it his .eye- Came upon a name which he had not seeji nor heard, since the war, and^yet it seemed, at once to be famil- iar in memory. The name was Theo Noel, and the- advertisement was of his business in Chicago as- assayer, geologist and metallurgist. Taking the address from that, Colonel Austin resolved to write to him to inquire if he was the same Theo NoeL ■who soldiered with him during the war. He remem-, bered one by such name, but had had no tidings of him since the war, . ' , "A few days ago a reply came. With it came a,- • clipping from th^ Chicago Tribune^, Here are both the reply of Mr, Noel to Colonel Austin and the- clipping reciting -the facts concerning , the song of 'John ' Brown's Body. ' " 12 ' THE BLtTE ANI> THE QEAY. The letter from Mr. Noel to Colonel Austin reads : " Chicago, June 1.— Colonel J. P. Austin, South-; Atlanta, Ga. : My Dear Sir and Old Comrade:— Your letter of the 29th ultimo found its way to inyj desk, where, upon an iaverage, only one in a hundredi reach. You have located me aright. I was one of the Davis Guard, and went front Galveston with yoij'^ on the old steamer Eusk, and afterwards served in your company for six monthsas a Texas Ranger. , "I enclose you herewith a letter I wrote to the Chicago Tribune, which will explain itself, but which I want you to return to me,~for it is the only one that I have left. This letter was published in many other papers; "I have been away from Texas for twenty-tv^o years. , My home has been in Chicago. While oper-.i ating in the mines of the Northwest I struck V. O., and I am no longer a miner. I was in Texas last February for the first time in eighteen years. The enclosed will explain all to you on that score, and', show you what I was doing there. " In San Antonio I met old Colonel ' Rip ' Ford, who looks just as he did when he called us up oil our first pa,rade in old Fort Brown, when, as you will remember, the Mexican bands were playing their national tunes on the opposite bank, while we^ poor devils of rebels, were standing under the Lone Star flag, not even dipping our banners or presenting arms to the three steamer loads of United States soldiers passing by to the tune of * Star-spangled Banner.' I often recall this scene and think how the-last one of us devils should have been sunk in* the bottom of the ocean for driving from onr land that band of patriots, and trampling on the old flag our fathers and forefathers made. 't Well, old comrade, now that we have met, so to «peak, I w,ish to hear from you again, and shall sureli^: THE BLUE AND THE GEAY. ., , IS esteem it the greatest pleasure of my life to have you come and see me here in Chicago, as many of my old comradejs have. I know that we could spend a week or more recalling our war experiences,; as I also know it would be a great pleasure to us both. , " When you go to Atlanta again call on my old •friend, jRev. Sam Small, who has -often visited me ia Chicago, and with whom I was connected down ia Texas for some years»; and who is a personal friend of mine. Show, him the enclosed letter which I wri'ote to the Chicago Tribune, and tell him I want it reproduced in the Atlanta Constitution. "On the 30bh ultimo I received Irom the ladies- af Texas sixteen bo^es and baskets of flowers, which were scattered over the graves of. the 7.000 Confed^ erate goldiers buried at Oakwoods, who died at Camp ^ouglass, in this city, and where, with about five or six ex-Confederates in this city,' we have erected a grand monunient. ' "Hoping to hear from you again and ofteni I am, . sir, you'rs trulv, « Theo Noel." Th^ clipping from the Chicago Tribune to which Mr:, Noel re/erred, was : " JOHX brown's body," composed OKIGINALIJY BY 4 REBEL. 'f Chicago, September 21,. — ^Editor Tribune: "The lines, 'Johu Brown's body lies 'moldering ' in the tomb. But his sOul goes marching on,' etc.,. ; were composed, written and ,sung by Charley Eeies, private in the Davis Guard-', on board the steamer Getieral Rusk, on the 16th day of March, 1861, be- tween Galveston and Brazos Santiago. Seven hun- dred and fifty Texas Rangers, made up in Galveston,. , fiprming a part of General MacLeod's expedition ' from Galveston to take the Rio Grande forts and the U4 THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. United States troops that had been concentrated at Fort Brown, Brownsville, Tex., by order of General Twiggs, were placed' on the Harris & Morgan • Steanier, General Eask, While on the way speech- making was the order of the day, and, if I mistake not, it was Captain Austin, a descendant of the orig?- unal Texas Austins, who said in substance : ' Yes, it >is true, we have hung the inciter of insurrection, and > his body lies mol'dering in the ground, but let me tell you his accursed spirit and soul marches on, and ^Unless we meet as becomes brave men, the abo'|lition -hordes will,' etc. Whereupon the lines abo've were -written by Rees. " What has become of Rees I know not, but this I do know, that, after serving with him for six months at Fort Brown, the day we were mustered out, September 10, 1861, by Colonel John S. Ford '('lOld Rip,' as the Rangers called him), Rees showed me the John Brown song, sent to him by a relative, I think in Jersey City, rewritten and paraphrased to -do service in Northern camps, and the words, ' We'll hang Jeff. Davis,' etc., added. If I am not mistaken' Rees went to Matamoras, Mexico, and from there -came North. I write from a personal knowledge of the facts, for 1 was there. Yours truly, "Theo Noel." ' On reaching Brazos Santiago, our command at •once took up its line of march for Brownsville, oppo-s site the city of Matamoras. On the route we passed ', -over the historic battle-fields of " Resaca de la Palma," and " Palo Alto," ■ wh^re American valor :achieyed imperishable renown, in days that were past, under the command of General Taylor, whoge name will ever stand conspicuous on the pages of •our country's history. ' THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. 15 On redctjng Brownsville our command was re-organized, for six months' service, under Colonel John's. Ford—" Old Eip," the boys called him. He was a noted Indian "fighter, and a typical^ fron- tiersman. ', Brownsville is a beautiful little towHj. situated on the banks of the classic Rio Grande, just, opposite the Mexican city, Matamoras. We found the town astir with United States troops, makjng preparations for their departure." They were a jolly set of fellows, and it was indeed lamentable to think that so soon we were to be arrayed agaihst each other in bloody cobflict. CHAPTER III. LIFE AT BKOWNSVILLK— AN OLD FKIEND— A MEX- ICAN BEAUTY— FEDERALS LEAVE— AN AFFAIR OF HONOR— WE LEAVE BROWNSVILLE. I will here relate an incident which may have a §light tinge of romance. It will crop out at inter- ,vals, as these sketches progress. Every feature of it is based upon facts. As the parties most conspicu- ous in this episode are now living, I have deemed it best to withbld their names ;. but they will recognize and acknowledge the correctness. On reaching Brownsville, I chanced to meet with an old friend, a young artillery officer of .the regular army. We had m6t before, in years -past, on the frontier of Texas, and had slept under the same blanket ; toasted our meat by the same camp-fire, and a' warm attachment had sprung up between us. Imag- ine my surprise at meeting him under such circumr stances. As he grasped my hand, he seemed to hesi- tate, as if reflecting on the past. Was it possible- that we were to be ajrayed against each other in the bloo4y strife so near at hand ? He remarked, " Go, do your duty, Captain; I shall try to do mine. It is useless for us to discuss the is- 6u«a that brought on this war. Although Southern born, I can never abandon the old flag." My friend was a native of Kentucky, and a gradu- ate of West Point. He was handsome, brave and courteous. He had the gentlemanly bearing that (16) THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. 17 education, gentle blood and associations alone can furnish. He was tall, graceful, and of commanding^ appearance ; and his genial spirit, affable and courte- ous address, at once reveale(| the thorough mental and physitjal training he bad received at the United States Military Academy. In fact, he was a cultured gentleman, and as magnificent a specimen of Ameri- can manhood as one would meet with in a lifetilne.. My young friend was not long in, choosing which side be wotild take in this great struggle. Coming: from revolutionary stock and cherishing a strong ven- eration for the old flag of our fathers, be cast his for- tunes on the side of the Union, The United States troops remained but a few days; after our arrival in Brownsville, but it was my good fortune to spend much of that time with my friend. ' His natural disposition was lively and cheerful, but at times I could discover what I thought to be a sad expression mantling his manly face. On the evening previpus to his departure, while we were taking a stroll along tb« banks of the river, L noticed an unusual depression in his general bearing,, and requested an explanation. "Yes," said he, "I feel somewhat depressed just at tWbtime ;" and then confided to me his secret. *" Do yoa see yonder villa, on the opposite side of the river, nestling beneath the shade of a beautiful live-oak gr6ve, with long festoons of Spanish moss drooping gracefully from their, branches? Within the walls of that charming abode, dwells the idol of my heart's adoration. 18 THE BLUE AND THE GEAY. " Captain, you wiy please pardon my seeming mel- ancholy, when I suffer my mind to reflect upon the thought that I am so soon to gaze into the liquid depths of those dai;k eyes, perhaps, for the last time." "Lieutenant you excite my curiosity. I must know more about this matter," I replied. " Very well," said he, as he consulted a handsome gold chronometer, which he drew from his fob, and requested me to meet him at the ferry at half-past six, and he would be pleased to have me call with him at the cozy little retreat above mentioned. By this time we had reached our quarters, where we separated to make the necessary preparations for our visit. At the appointed time we met on the river bank. The lieutenant was in full dress uniform, and I thought he was the most graceful and fascinating ' military officer I had ever seen. " We crossed the river on a ferry boat, and wended our way to the charming abode of the fair one, some half a mile in the distance where we presented our cards and were ushered into an elegantly furnished drawing-room, in all the appointments of which was an indication of the refinement and wealth of the occupants. In due time the young beauty presented herself; her gentle courtesy, pleasant and refined de- portment, at once made the impression on my mind that we were in the presence of one of Mexico's fairest atid most cultivated daughters. She was the daugh- ter of a wealthy Spaniard, who held a conspicuous position in the government. She, had received all the advantages that an ample fortune, travel and an indulgent parent could bestow. Her voice,, with its THE BLUE AND THE GEAY. , , 19 - , ' sweet Southern abcent, was as soft and mellow as the wind that sighed through the rich foliage at her lat- ticed window. Her well-developed form and the perfect symmetry of her features at once stamped her as a child of gen- tle birth : "And ne'er did Grecian chisel trace A nymphj a Naiad, or a Grace, Of finer form, or lovelier face." In the liquid '.depths of her dark eyes could be ..traced the fires of, a noble intellect. The evening was spent in a delightful manner, interspersed with music and other amusements incident on such occasions. As the conversation would become anima,ted those melt- ing orbs would send forth Hashes that were in unison with the glittering gem j;hat sparkled at her throat. It did not require a qlose observer, in the presence of -this dark-eyed senorita and the gallant young offi- cer, to discover that there were "two minds with but a single thought ; two hearts that beat as one." Both seemed to avoid alluding to the separation which was so soqu to take place-^ " Which might be for yeacS, and it might-be forever." As we bade the young charnaer adieu for the night I noticed a treacherous tear moistening her glowing ■eheek, unobserved, however, by him whose bosbm '%m heaving with tender emotions. ■ " The rose is fairest when ?ti8,l)udding'new, . And hope is' brightest when it' djawiis from fears ; The rose ii sweetest washed with morning dew, ' And love is loveliest when embalmed in tears." , It took but a few days to make the necessary prepa- 20 • THE BLUE- AND THE GKAY. " j rations for the departure of the Federal troops from- ' Brownsville to Point Isabel, at the month of the Rio- Grande, from whence they wpre to take shipping for the North. It was aboijt noon when I shook hands- with my gallant young friend, as he stepped on board the boat which was to convey him down the river with his fellow officers. As he bade me "good-bye'/" he remarked : " Captain, should w^e chance to meet- on the battle-field and recogpize each other, elevate- your gun, ^nd I will do the same." We both nodded- assent, and the little steamer was soon puffing away down the river. Just then might have been seen a. delicate, white scarf fluttering from the balcony of a. distant hacienda on the opposite side of the river, al- most obscured by the dense foliage of a cluster of live- oaks. The response was given from the pilot-house- of the little steamer, as she rounded the bend of the river, and was lost to view. This la^t exchange of signals had no doubt been previously agreed upon. It is easy to suppose that the withdrawal of the snowy- pennant from the window was accompanied by a sigh from that fair tropical flower, as she took a last look af the fast-receding form of the object upon whom the purest and holiest sentiments of h6r heart were- centered, every throb of which struck a responsive chord in the breast of the young officer of artillery, who, with ' his companions, was hastening afar to- scenes of carnage, blood and strife. The monotonous hum-drum of garrison duty while- at Brownsville would be, at this time, of very little- interest to the general reader. We passed through all the features incident to such -a- life, "such as drawing: THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. 21 xatioDS, drilling, guard mount and dress parade. A little affair of honor took place which relieyed the' monotony while there, which I will relate, as it is ■closely connected with one of the principal characters previously mentioned. . Three or four weeks after the departure of the United States troops a young Englishman arrived in the city of Matamoras. He was a regular dude, with mutton-chofi whiskers and hair parted in the middle. - He represented himself as Duke, Count, or Lord, I •disremember which. He brought letters of introduction to some of the prominent men of the city ; soon made himself quite cfttospjcuous by his extremely JEnglish ways, and movea in the first circles of society. He was not long in forming the acquaintance of our fair young heroine, and as a natural consequence be- ■came desperately smitten, for but few could resist her charms. He pressed his suit with alacrity and vigor, She received his attentions with that refined 4nd gentle courtesy so characteristic of her nature. At the home of the young lady was a young gejit\&T^ man, a cousin, on a visit from the City of Mexico. He was handsome,' refined and intelligent; every move and feature indicated his; pure Castilian blood. He did not take kindly to the Englishman ; he thought his attentions to his fair cousin, at times, assumed the character of rudeness". Upon one occa- sion he remarked, in the presence of a party of gentle- men, that he thought " the English man .was an adven- turer hunting for a fortune." These remarks reached thei^jpgof "John Bull," who was highly 'indignant; so much so that he ' sent the Spaniard, his card. A 22 ' THE BLUE AND THE GEAY. \ challenge passed and was accepted. Pistols at ten paces ( without " coffee " ) was the result. The place of meeting was three miles above the city, on the bank of the river and in a beautiful grove. On the morning designated the principals, with their seconds, drove out in carriages to the ground, where both were promptly on time. The preliminaries were soon arranged, and the two antagonists placed in position. They cast a glance of cool determination at, each other ; th« word was given, and at the discharge of the weapons, which seemed almost simultaneous, the Englishman fell forwajrd and was caught by his second. The surgeon in attendance at once exam- ined the wound. It was very painful, but was not considered fatal. He recovered in a few weeks, and was not long in deciding that the frontier was no place for an " Hinglishman." The border was a lit- tle too rough for his sensitive nature; so the Brit- isher packed his grip and struck out far across the water, carrying with him a substantial reniinder of his eventful career in the " Wild West." His an- tagonist had left some time before for his home in the City of Mexico. Thus ended this affair of honor, with the warm, impulsive blood of the South on the one side, and the stern, inflexible will of the North on the other. After the afiair just narrated I saw but little of th& fair charmer who was the innocent cause of the hos- tile meeting. The vibrations pf her mellow voice, accompanied by her delicate touch on her instrument, could sometimes be heard on a moonlight night, as. THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. / 23 the soft, summer winds wafted the. sweet strains of some favorite song through her latticed window. A few weeks previous to our departure from Brownsville I received a note from the young lady, requesting me to call at her liome, as she had some important information she wished to convey. It was just at dusk wheri;! received the message, and I hastened to make the necessary preparations to coniply with her request. On reaching her home I found her seated in a beautiful-bower, beneath a grove of magnolias, with a cluster of rare tropical flowers in her hand. All were evidences of her refined and ^egant taste. As she arose and extended her hand, and I saw the animated expression of those dark eyes, I thought I had, never seen anything half so lovely, and so expressed myself. With a gentle' bow, a delica'te tinge for a moment mantled her glowing cheek, she offered me a - seat by her side, and at once informed me that she had received a letter^ from Lieutenant = . It had traveled a circuitous route before reaching' her. I did not inquire as to the tender messages it contained j, I was only inter- ested about the locality of my friend. At the time he wrot^ he was in Washington City, but had just been ordered to report to the Army of the Cumber- land. General Grant was Goncentratiftg ?it the time & large force in the vicinity of NaiShville, Tenn., and .letters could only be transmitted to the United States through Mexico at that time. ■I will now bid adieu to my fair young friend until 24 THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. I again make a bow to her under far different circum- stances. Our term of service having expired, we commenced | making preparations to depart for Galveston. We had made many friends while stationed at Browns- ville, and left them with regret. We were paid, off in "Texas Scrip," which we were compelled to dispose of at a heavy discount. Most of the boys returned to their homes in differ- ent parts of the State and enliste,d in the Confederate , service. The writer, With a few friends, went across the country on horseback. ' CHAPTER IV. HETURN TO GALVESTON— OAPTIJEE OF CAPTAIN CHUBB AND HIS CEEW— THEIR TRIAX AND DEATH-SENTENCB— MR. DAVIS GIVES ME. LIN- COIJ!^ NOTICE AND PREPARES' FOE EET^LIATION —CHUBB AND HIS MEN EELEASEIi— RECRUITING ^ —CARTER'S BRIGADE. , i On reayhing our old stamping ground we found that great changes had taken place since we> left^ six months jbefore. The busy raarts'of trade in the Island City had become depositories for army stores ; and the 's6urui of marching squadrpns greeted the ear at every turn. The beatitiful "City by the Sea " was shut out from all > intercourse with the outside world on the water side, a squadron of United ^tates warshij)S hav- ing blockaded her port. Nothing daunted, Texas ,wa8 making preparations for 'whatever might occur. Sumter had fallen, and the first great battle ot the war, which resulted in a complete victory for the South, had been fought. Previous to the attack on Fort Su niter there was a strong Union sentiment in the South, and thousands cherished the hope that war might be averted; but their vague anticipations, lilre the school-boy's dream, was never to be realized. About this time an incident occurred which I have never seen in print, and which will go to show the vigilance of the blockaders. A patrol force, consisting of about thirty men, all experienced seamen, had been torganized at Galveston to watch this movements of the Federal warstips, as. 26 ' 'the blue and the geay. th^ere were strong indications that a night attack might be made on the city. Captain Thomas Chubb, a native of Boston, Mass., a retired sea captain, and for a long tinpie a pilot on Galveston bar, was placed in command of the squad. Every night a boat was stationect just inside the bar to watch the maneuvers, of the fleet. On the pight in question Captain Chubb, with a select crew of seven men, took their station. They were sighted from the deck of one of the ships, and a sbheme was put on foot to capture them. The night was very dark; about 12 o'clock a launch with muffled oars, put off from one of the ships on its silent mission. It pulled alongside the guard-boat unob- served, and succeeded in qapturing the whole party without a struggle. It was discovered early next morning that something had gone wrong with Captain Chubb and his party, and a flag of truce was sent out to ascertain their fate, when it was learned that they had been captured, placed in irons and stowed away in the hold of the vessel. The commander did not see proper to treat them as prisoners of war; to which a strong protest was made by the commander of the Confederate forces at Galveston, The prisoners wete taken to Philadelphia,, where they were placed on trial for their lives, high, treason being the charge. They were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged Vvithin a month; hardly time for an " Old Salt " to shape his matters up for so long a cruise. , , As soon as their fate was made known at Richmond Mr. Davis selected an equal number of prominent prisoners, among whom was a meriaber of Congress THE BLUE AND THE 4r&.Y. , 27 by the name of Cochran, who went out to witness the first battle of Manassas. Mr. Davis sent a communi- cation to President Lincoln informing him that on the very same day and hour that those Confederate prisoners were executed, he would retaliate by having the men he had desigriated "swung." This was some- thing the Federals were nbt prepared for, apd caused a halt. They decided to look a little furthei; into the 'matter; the result of which was the, Confederates were to be held as prisoners of war. It' was a close call, ■ however, and had it not been for the prompt action of, Mr. Davis eight of our gallant heroes might have '.' looked up a rope." .In a 'few weejks after the above our men were exchanged, and all reached their hondes in safet;^ Captain Chubb was the hero of the hour. He was deceived with open arms by .'his friends and with showers of congratulations for the fortunate escape be and his companions had made from the terrible fate that overhung them. Captain Chubb was a "red-hot" secessionist from the. start, and would often afterwards relate to his friend,s in that positive and emphatic manner, so char- acteristic of the man, his feelings on that memorable day when he was ordered to stand up and receive his sentence of death. He would often say that whenever he thought of it it would produce a peculiar , itching sensation about the throat. He was to the 'day of his death a staunch friend of Jefferson Davis. As has been stated^ he was a native of Boston, but was: often -heard to remark, that it was a good place to be born in if you only left it in times. ■ '.^ ', i 28 THE BLUE AND THE GEAY. Recruiting was going on rapidly, all over the State., All classesof people were drifting to the army. Threl^ noted regiments were raised about this time in middle; Texas, which constituted Carter's brigade; a brief account of which I deem not out of place in these sketches. These regiments were composed of gefltle-;' men, mostly planters,, and the best blood of the State. The colonels were George W. Carter, Frank C. AVilkes,' and C. C. Gillespie, all Methodist ministers, who left the sacred desk, to take service under the "Stars and Bars." Carter's brigade d-id gallant service in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, Colonel Carter was a man of versatile talent, having officiated as 'minister, la>wyer, soldier, and journalist, and, withal, he was an accom- plished orator. When the war closed Colonel Carter drifted to New Orleans, where he becamie editor of a "red-hot" Republican paper, and was as enthusiastio . in upholding the Federal Reconstruction measures as he was four years previous in raising his regiment fdr service in the Confederate army. He was soon re- tvarded by being" elected a m'ember of the House of Representatives from Louisiana, and afterwards rose to the speaker's chair. He never again visited Texas, and many of his old comrades believe he died yeaxs ago. Colonel Wilkes was taken prisoner at A;:kansas i Post. ■ A few months before General Lee's surrendet] he wrote a letter to a friend in Texas, in which he stated that the war was certain to result in the success of the Federal arms, and giving his reasons. The letter was. published in all the Texas papers, and ere- THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. 29 a:ted a sensation. The word " tfaitor " was coupled yrith his name, but time showed that his predictions were correct, and the very men who denounced him were his best friends when he returned home. He was an efficient officer and a gallant soldier. He died several years ago. Colonel Gillespie was a "red-hot war man," and commanded a splendid regiment. When the war closed the Colonel became e(iitor of a paper in Hous- ton,, Texas, where he "died in harness," during th& days of recohstrudtion. Thus it was, that Texas, in this famous brigade, furnished as fine a body of men as ever went into- the Confederate army, each regiment being under the- command of a Methodist minister, I am indebted to a published communication in a Texas paper some years ago for the leading features in the above remi- pisGoace. I soon decided there would not be much fighting in Texas, for a while at least, so about twenty- five of us who were anxious for a scrap, started on horseback for the Army of Tennessee. > CHAPTER V. , - 1 ' ■>■ JOIN THE AEMY OF TENNESSEE— WHAT I SAW— OONOENTEATING AT CORINTH — ASSIGNED TO DUTY— BATTLE OE SHILOH — SIDNEY JOHNSTON KILLED — JHE RETEE AT — WH AT IT COST. I carried with me a letter of introduction to the' commanding general, Albert Sidney Johnston, from a, li'fe-long friend of his; I also carried an Episcopal prayer-book, which is now in my possession, and is cherished as a precious relic, as the fa;ir hand that be- stowed it with her blessing has long since been cold in death. We reached the mouth of Red river in due time, when we took passage for Memphis, Tenn., The boat was packed from stem to stern with men on their; way to reinforce the army. On reaching Memphis we found everything in confusion. Nashville had been evacuated, and the army was concentrating at Corinth, Miss., where everything was being shaped up for a great battle. We joined the cavalcade for Corinth. The roads were lined with men, wagons, ' and artillery, all equipped with the necessary para- phernalia of war. Wherr we reached headquarters and I had presented my letter of introduction to Gen. Johnston, we were received with that gallant courtesy, so characteristic of the true soldier. As soon as we were assigned to duty, , we discovered that we had found what we "long had sought" and had "mourned because we found it not " — a battle was close at hand. (30) THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. 31- I - General Grant had massed a force of forty thou- sand men at Pittsburg Landing and Genera;! Johnston had collected a force of thirty-five thousand to meet him. General Buell was on Ws >yay with thirty thou- rjand additional troops, to reinforce Grant. It was the plan of the Confederate commander to engage Grant, defieat him, then fall upon BuelPs £ank and'crush him. On Sunday morning, April 6th, both armies were in line of battle near old Shiloh church; and soon the " dance of death " Commenced.. General Grant's , army heroically held their position for some time, but they could not withstand the impetuous onslaught of the Confederates. Just as General. Johnston saw that he was carrying- everything before him, he fell, mortally, wounded and in a- few minutes died in the arms of One of his staff officers,. Col. Wm. H. Jack. It was -evident, as the day advanced, that Grant's splendid army of forty thousand men was giving away on all parts of the line ; and as the sun went down on that bloody field, the whole army was in full je treat. He tried to rally his shattered forces, under cover of his gunboats, which by this, time iiad opened a terriffic fire on our advancing columns, with but vei'y little effect. The heavens were ablaze with bursting shells and the air was thick with sul- phurous smoke. We pressed them to the river bank and many loSt their lives while trying to cross. Darkness closed the bloody drama. We were ordered pi fall back and camp upon the field, where lay ten thousEind brave Cqnfederates ■dead and dying. We had won the day, and victory 32 ' ^ THE BiUE AND taB GRAY. perched upon our banners. We had captured five- thousand prisoners, forty flags, and an immengj^, amount of army stores. , ,}^ Our falling back that night was a fatal mistakf,;^ It gave Grant a chancfe to rally his terribly shattered and demoralized forces ; and it gave Buell time to- come up with reinforcements. The fight was resumed ' on the next morning with renewed vigor. Notwith- standing the numerical superiority of the Federalsj.; aided by their fleet, the Confederates maintained their position until evening, when Beaui-egard withdrew in good order; he was not " driven from the field,'' as- some writers havp falsely stated. He fell back to- Corinth unmolested, having lost all the substantial fruits of a grand and glorious victory. '' I have no desire to' detract from the fair renowa' of the distinguished general who succeeded to the' Confederate command; there is little doubt, but had General Johnston's plans been carried out, the whole- Federal army would have fallen into our hands, with all the territory we had lost regained ; fifty thousani^ recruits would have been added to our ranks froini Kentucky ; our lines would have been established along the banks of the Ohio, and our own army thun- dering iat the gates of Cincinnati. With thedempralf. izing effect it would have had at the North, and the- successes of our army in Virginia, it is a reasonable supposition that the war would have closed then an4 there. This, I am satisfied, will , be the verdict of posterity when the impartial history of the great "War Between the States" comes to be written. Disaster aft^r disaster followed this great military - THE BLUE ^ND THE GBAY.~ 33 blunder. Beauregard, finding his position no longer tenable, evacuated Corinth. This enabled the Union army to secure the Memphis and Charleston railroad and hold a line funning from Memphis, through Cbritjth, nearly to Chattanooga. The Confederacy, by this great oversight in not following the advan- tages gained at Shiloh, received a blow from which she never recovered. Acts of heroism by conjmands.and individuals were without number. The Eighth Texas regiment, com- manded by Major Harrisoil, went into the fight on txhe morning of the first day eleven hundred strong, and oh the e,vening of the second day only three hundred responded at ^' roll-call." This will give -fiome idea of how desperate was the fighting. A cloud of desponjJency pervaded the entire army. 3bg , CHAPTER VI. iJOTN MORGAN— RAID INTO TENNESSEE— CAPTURE OF piTLASKi- Made a prisoner at Lebanon— CAMP CHASE— JOHNSON'S ISLAND— INCIDENTS OF , PRlsdl^ LIFE-EXCHANGE- HORRORS OF THE ' TRIP BACK TO DIXIE. It was while at Corinth, shortly after' the battle ot -3hiloh,that I first met Captain John H. Morgan, who , ,afterwa,rds became famous as a dashing cavalry officer. At that time he had command of a small battalioa of cavalry from Kentucky, and was making prepara- itipDS ,for a raid into middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky, which territory was at that time occupied by the Federals. He was anxious to augment his force and offered the most flattering inducements for MIS to join and accompany him. Anxious to cut our- ;selves loose from a victorious army on the retreat, thirty or forty of us formed ourselves into a squad ^and joined his command. > Everything being in readiness, on the ■12th day of -April, 1862, we drew six days' rations and started 'for Tennessee, our little band numbering about three Ihundred. They were not cutthroats aud desperadoes, .as the enemy at that time choSe to designate them, but in the main were young men of culture and re- finement, most of whom had come out from Kentucky with Morgan and were from the best families of that State, General Morgan himself being a polished and chivalrous gentleman. (34) THE BLUE 4,Ilt), tlEE GBAY. 35 Nothing occurred worthy of note until we reached thelittlfe town of Pulaski, in Tennessee, which we found igttl*risoned by al^^ijt four hundred Federal sol- diers. A flag of truce ii^l^ sent in, demanding a sur- render, which was refiisipqi Orders w^re at once passed down the lines to recap guns, which we knew meant, "fight." A charge ^as brdired, arid we dashed into the town, where a bHsk fi^ht ensued, which lasted but a short time, yfhen they surrendered. While we Were paroling the prisoners a little episode tbok place, whicli will bear relating. Geh- eral Morgan rode a beai^tiful blooded black mare, with long flow;ing mane and tail., The ladies of the J)lace being extremely aqi||0'itiiSi: for some souvenir of the victory, fell upon thes" little anijoaal and trimmed her mane and tail to the, hide. The little beauty certainly presented a ludicrous appearance and caused a, great dea.1 of merriment ^it the general's expense. . - The Federals soon learned ot our operations a,nd (sent a large force in pursu,\it under the Federal Gen- eral Dupont, who came up with us at Lebanon, Tenn., where a desperate ^^ght took place in the streets of the town, which lasted two hours. Morgan finding hiquself greatly outnumbered, was forced to withdraw. i ,. Apportion of hi^ commarid had, during the fight, taken refuge in the seeond story of a brick building uped as an " Odd Fellows' hall." This portion of the command, consisting of a%put twenty^five men, the writer included, were captured. Thus ended our j.military career for a time at least, and* we entered, upon a new phase of the war. 36 THE BLUE AND THE GEAY. - We were taken to Nashville under guard and had no reason to complain of our treatment on the way. Lieutenant-colonel Wood, a graduate of West Point and a nephew of the surge'on-general of the United States army, was one of the captured. We were assigned to quarters in the penitentiary building, where we remained for a week. Every day we were visited by ladies from the city, who always brought us some kind of delicacy, which was greatly appre- ciated by all. From Nashville we were sent to Camp Chase^ Ohio. Camp Chase was by no means a model hotel. It was overcrowded with prisoners, and the accom- modations so limited that our stay there was by no means pleasant. After remaining at Camp Chase for three weeks, mixed up with dirt, filth and vermin, the officers were separated from the privates and sent to John- son's Island. Johnson's Island is in the bay of San- dusky, where a prison had been located exclusively , for officers. In passing through the country we re- ceived many demonstrations of sympathy from the " Copper-heads," as those having Southern proclivi- ties were termed. This element was much stronger in the Western States than many might suppose. We saw no evidence along the route of a terrible war being waged so close at hand ; in fact the only . pressure they ever felt was in the loss of friends, who had fallen in battle. When we reached the prison we were subjected to another search, this being the third time we had passed through this ordeal; but they failed each time ■ / • THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. 37 to find a pair of single-barrel pistols I ha,d concealed in my bootlegs. "We found on our arrival at the Island eleven hun- dred Confederate officers, who had been captured in different parts of the South. They were a jolly set of fellows. ' The quarters were very well arranged, consisting of two-story wooden buildings, located on either side of a broad street, running the whole length of the grounds, the whole enclosed by a high plank fence, with a walk on top, where sentinels could command a view of all that was going on inside. The rooms were arranged with tiers of bunks^ ong above the other, which would accommodate two persons with a " tight squeeze." Captain Hooper Harris, a warm- hearted, genial gentleman of Nashville, was my bunk- . mate. I would like to dwell upon the peculiar traits of some of my fellow prisoners, for there were men con- fined within those walh of recognized culture and . ability ; but details of men and their actions become tjre'some to the reader, especially as there are so many men of genius and note in the country who have suf-^ fered (Similarly . I will make mention, however, of a little circumstance which occurred to one of our number shortly after his capture. He related it to me himself. Colonel Joel E. Battle, of Tennessee, Was one of our most distinguished fellow prisoners. He was & true Southern gentleman in every sense of the term. He was captured at Shiloh, and was first taken to St. Louis. While on the boat ascending the river he was anxiously hunted by the curious passeu- 38 THE BLUE AND IHE BRAY. ■ ge'rs, who had never seen a "seeesh," and were as- tonished at the handsome and veteranlike appearance of the gallant colonel. Colotiel Battle attempted to avoid them, but, finding it impossible, retreated to the pilot-house of the boat.. The eager crowd soon discovered and followed him, among whom was a min- ister of the gospel, who, instead of preaching" Christj ' and him crucified," was stimulating volunteers to enlist and fight their SoutTiern brethren. This ^' wolt in sheep's clothing " walked into the pilot-house, and," with that indelicacy' ,and effrontery which could only emanate from a bad man or a fool, asked Colonel Battle if he had any objection to kneeling with, hia\ in prayer. " Of course not," the colonel repU^. J Then the so-called saint offered a prayer for the United States and for the destruction of all her ene- mies, rebels in particular. When he had finished the colonel thanked him, and asked if he and the others would join him in prayer, to which they readily agreed. It was something, I am confident, thatColo^ nel Battle had never undertaken before in public. At it the colonel went, praying with a will for the Southern Confederacy, and the destruction of all her enemies, Yankees in particular. Rising from his knees, he exclaimed, with an air, as those only who knew Colonel Battle as we did, can appreciate: " Nowj I'll bet you, or any other man, a hundred dollars that my prayer reached heaven first." The colonel assured us that he was not troubled by vulgar curiosity during the rest of the trip. One of the most courtly gentlemen in prison was THE BLUE AND THE UKiY. 39^ Lieutenant Legiendre. He was a young creole of New Orleans,, and a cousin of General Beauregard's; His conipanion, Lieutenant D'Aubigne, from the same city ,#as a descendent of the writer of that name. These young Frenchmen were disinterested patriots^ having left affluence and position Behind them to face disease, death and imprisonment for the cause they had espoused. They felt that it was no disgrace to be a prisoner. LaFayette languished in prison, and so had some of the grpat and good, of all ages. Colonel Olmstead, of the First Volunteer Regiment , of Georgia, was Confined with us on the bleak shores of that far-away inland sea. He was a gentleman in or out of prison. His gallant defense of Fort Pu- laski is a matter of history. Few circles were ever adorned with a brighter so- cial element than, by the. fortunes of war, were thrown ■ together on Johnson's Island in the summer of .1862. Eleven hundred men, representing different States, and of peculiar characteristics, thrown together in a ' mass, furnished 3 fine field for moral and intellectual dissection. The monotony of prison life was relieved iii vari- ous way^. A number of games were instituted. Quite a mechanical genius was developed by many in carving rings from bone, shirt buttons, breastpins and numerous other trinkets fro in beautiful shells which we picked up on the beach of the lake while yl^thing. (We were allowed to take a bath in th^ lake every evening.) Our rations were the same as issued to the soldiers in the army, and were all of a substantial character. 40 THE BLUE AND THE GKAYi The sick were well cared for by the surgeon in charge. The Sabbath was well observed. Every Sunday ser- vice was held by some one of the niany ministers confined in the prison. Several deaths occurred dur- ing our stay on the island. A funeral at sea is a melancholy spectacle. The gloomy looks of the crew, the dejected expression of weeping relatives, seem to fill the imagination with all that is distress- ing and heartrending. Yet the freshness of the ocean breeze, new and changing scenes, the excite- ment of storm, with the whirl of life 'midst the hun- dreds on shipboard, softens, if not effaces, the shad- ows of death at sea, biit 'tis not so in prison. The soldier dies, and his body is placed in a common pine coffin, a little wagon is sent in, and the coffin is placed in it; the driver cracks his whip, and the vehicle rattles' away over the ruts and clods of the campus to a little spot outside, where he is laid to I'est beside his comrades with no living hand to place a garland on his lonely grave. It is to be hoped that steps will be' taken to remove the remains of those who died at Johnson,'s Island, and deposit their bones somewhere in the South, the land they loved so welLand for which they gave their lives. Many ladies visited the prison during the summer, and it was through the kindness of our post-surgeon. Dr. Woodbridge, to whom their admittance was due. Most of them were from the South, and had trveled long distances to communicate with friends and rela- tives. Quite a patriotic incident occurred in this con- nection, of which I will make brief mention, showing a mother's undying devotion to, the honor of her child. iTffiE BLUE AND THE GEAT. 41 A ybung lieutenant, a native of Boston, Mass., but Who had resiided in the South prior .i;o the war, arid had east his fortunes with the Southern Confederacy, ^as captured in one of the engagements and sent to Johnson's Island. Shortly after reaching prison, he was taken with a fever which he had contracted while soldiering in th^ swamps of the Mississippi. He requested that his mother, who still lived in Bos- ton, be written to. His request was complied with, ■and his nfbther arrived in a iew days. She was at once conducted to his bedsidei Her general deport- ment indicated a lady of intelligence, wealth and re- finement. Under her gentle and affectionate niirsing her son was soon convalescent. She was quite, anx- aous for him to return home with her. There was but one way, however, by which this desire could be igratified, and that was to take the oath of allegiance to the United Staites Government. When she ascer- tained that fact, her eyes moistened and she said : ■"However much I would lilse to have my son with me, where he could live in comfort and ease, far away from the pains of this cruel war, I had rather see him brought home a corpse than come home dishon-. ■ored." No Spartan mother ever evinced a nobler spirit. The ybung gentleman had considered the matter well before taking the step which made him' a •Confederate soldier and an alien from the United .States. He soon recovered and when exchanged,, re- jjoiiied his command and was twice promoted for gal- lantry on the fiield.' ' , I met him.just after the war closed at Memphis, Tenn., on his way to pay his mother a visit. He had / ■ - 42 THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. been wounded twice, which cadsed a slight limp. He I afterwards became a prosperous merchant in one of i our Southern cities. I Hundreds of Northern young men, who were liv- ing in the South .when the war broke out, joined the^ Southern army, and made brave and gallant soldiers. Many of them occupied distinguished positions, and were regarded by all as loyal to the cause they had espoused. Our custodians at Johnson's Island would, at times, try their hand at arbitrary measures, and how well they succeeded in carrying them ' out the following incident Avi 11 show: An order had been published that all prisoners should retire to their quarters at retreat (sundown), the only period of the day when i,t was possible to be comfortable. Lieutenant Gib- son had been spending the afternoon with a comrade, about twenty steps from his quarters. On hearing the signal, he hastily I'eturned to his room, and had one foot on the threshold when the sentinel,^ without any warning, stot him down m cold blood. The entire charge entered his body, and he died in a few moments. It was a dastardly act. What was ever done, if anything, with the perpetrator of this d^a^ bolical outrage we never learned. It is a cowardly act to maltreat a prisoner, and I never knew an old soldier to be guilty of it. On the first day of September, 1862, we took our departure from Johnson's Island. A cartel had been agreed upon for an exchange of prisoners. We were again to taste the fresh air of freedom ; to bid fare- well to Johnson's Island, where we had been confined THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. 43- £01* four months as, prisoners of war. There was great re|,oioing when the announcement was made^ and we left the place with very little regret, sis was- evidenced ,by the following lines, copied frtim, the- wall of one of our prison buildings, penciled by an unknown' hand ; " Hoarse sounding billows of the white-capped lake. That 'gainst the barriers of our hated prison break, Farewell ! farewell I thou giant inland sea ; , Thou, too;, subservest the modes of tyranny; — ' Grirding this isle^ washing its lotiely sh^re^ 1 With moaning echoes of thy melancholy roar ; Farewell, thou lake ! Farewell, thou inhospitable land F. Thou hast the cjarses of thi^ patriot band — All, save the spot, the holy sacred bed. Where rest in peace our Southern warriors, dead." We were not long in making the necessary prepa- rations for a start. Our baggage was not at all bur- densome ; what few effects we had we wrapped in' an old army blanket and swung it about our necks. We were transported by boat to Sandusky; then huddled into box-cars like so many cattle, and started' on our run for the South, Cairo, 111., being our ob- jective point. We were on the cars thirty-six hours-- in that packed condition. Our suffering was ex- treme. , , ' I had learned enough while in prison and during: Our transfer to the Southern border, to know that thesabjugatipn of -the South was but a question of time. The armies of the North were splendidly equipped, with any amount of the finest guns and, munitiohs of war from the workshops of Europe, while the Confederates, cut off" from the world, had Ai THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. to rely solely upon the hastily constructed factories' they had set up, and the guns and stores they cap- tured from the enemy. The Federal Government , had every facility for drawing from the surplus pop- ulation of Europe in countless numbers to fill up the shattered ranks of their armies. The people of our homes were kept in a fever of excitement by |:he newspaper accounts of the operations at the front. ' The Northern papers would exaggerate their successes and conceal their defeats. At Cairo, at that time a city of filth and bad smells, we were stowed away on board an old tug, sometimes called a steamboat (by those who had an elastic veracity), with but one small stove on which eleven hundred men were to cook their meals. We were conveyed down the river by two Federal gun- boats, one in front and one in the rear. Wp only traveled in the day-time, which made our sufferings much more severe, as we were eleven days on the river from Cairo to Vicksburg, when the trip should hsve been made in five days. Our treatment by some of the subordinates was frightfully cruel ; for this, however, we could not hold the government responsible. We would frequently receive encour- aging demonstrations from the shores as we passed along, *! CHAPTER VII. LAJSTD IN VIOKSBUBG— OUR FORLORN CONDITION— MY FAITHFUL SERVANT^ MEETS AND CONSOLES ME-r-GO TO JACKSON— MORGAN GONE TO KEN- TUCKY— EFFORTS TO JOIN HIM— FORM PART OF AN INTERESTING AND PLEASANT PARTY— COL. HUNDLEY'S DIARY VBRAGG'S RETREAT— BUSH- WHACKERS— MIDNIGHT FJGHT— BREAKING UP - AN OUTLAW BAND— BACK TO KNOXVILLE— MEET MORGAN AT BLACK'S SHOP. On the seventeenth day of September, 1862, ever memorable to the Confederate soldiers who formed that human cargo from Johnson's Island, we stepped on, shore in Dixie. Hoyy different from a few months before ! No demonstra,tion of friendly feel- ing ; not a flag unfurled; not even a handkerchief waved ! The rain was pouring down in torrents as we passed out into the muddy streets of the " Hill City." , We were a pitiable sight, drenched to the skin. JChe first friendly face to greet the writer as I stepped from the boat was that of my pegro boy, Bob, whb Was captured with me and taken as far as Camp Chase, Ohio, where he, with the rest of the servants, was turned loose among strangers. This was their jfirst taste of freedom,. but they had no relish for it, and all worked their way back to the command. When Bob found that I was to be exchanged, he