AugustinetoFortPierce。Ashlocklefthiswifeandhersisterstandingonthebeachnearthepilot—hut，andstartedbackwithhiswhale—boatacrossthebar。Ialsotookthemailandstarteduptothefort，andhadhardlyreachedthewharfwhenIobservedanotherboatfollowingme。AssoonasthisreachedthewharfthemenreportedthatAshlockandallhiscrew，withtheexceptionofoneman，hadbeendrownedafewminutesafterIhadleftthebeach。
Theysaidhissurf—boathadreachedthesteamer，hadtakenonboardaloadofsoldiers，someeightorten，andhadstartedbackthroughthesurf，whenonthebaraheavybreakerupsettheboat，andallwerelostexcepttheboywhopulledthebow—oar，whoclungtotheropeorpainter，hauledhimselftotheupsetboat，heldon，driftedwithitoutsidethebreakers，andwasfinallybeachednearamiledownthecoaSt。Theyreportedalsothatthesteamerhadgotupanchor，runinasclosetothebarasshecould，pausedawhile，andthenhadstarteddownthecoast。
Iinstantlytookafreshcrewofsoldiersandreturnedtothebar;
theresatpoorMrs。Ashlockonherchestofclothes，aweepingwidow，whohadseenherhusbandperishamidsharksandwaves;sheclungtothehopethatthesteamerhadpickedhimup，but，strangetosay，hecouldnotswim，althoughhehadbeenemployedonthewaterallhislife。
Hersisterwasmoredemonstrative，andwailedasonelosttoallhopeandlife。Sheappealedtousalltodomiraclestosavethestrugglingmeninthewaves，thoughtwohourshadalreadypassed，andtohavegoneoutthenamongthoseheavybreakers，withaninexperiencedcrew，wouldhavebeenworsethansuicide。AllI
coulddowastoreorganizetheguardatthebeach，takethetwodesolatefemalesuptothefort，andgivethemtheuseofmyownquarters。Verysoontheiranguishwasquieted，andtheybegantolook，forthereturnoftheirsteamerwithAshlockandhisrescuedcrew。ThenextdayIwentagaintothebeachwithLieutenantOrd，andwefoundthatoneortwobodieshadbeenwashedashore，tornalltopiecesbythesharks，whichliterallyswarmedtheinletateverynewtide。Inafewdaystheweathermoderated，andthesteamerreturnedfromthesouth，butthesurfwassohighthatsheanchoredamileoff。Iwentoutmyself，inthewhaleorsurfboat，overthatterriblebarwithacrewof，soldiers，boardedthesteamer，andlearnedthatnoneotherofAshlock’screwexcepttheonebeforementionedhadbeensaved;but，onthecontrary，thecaptainofthesteamerhadsentoneofhisownboatstotheirrescue，whichwaslikewiseupsetinthesurf，and，outofthethreemeninher，onehaddriftedbackoutsidethebreakers，clingingtotheupturnedboat，andwaspickedup。Thissadandfatalcatastrophemadeusallafraidofthatbar，andinreturningtotheshoreIadoptedthemoreprudentcourseofbeachingtheboatbelowtheinlet，whichinsuredusagoodducking，butwasattendedwithlessrisktolife。
IhadtoreturntothefortandbeartoMrs。Ashlocktheabsolutetruth，thatherhusbandwaslostforever。
Meantimehersisterhadentirelyrecoveredherequilibrium，andbeingtheguestoftheofficers，whowereextremelycourteoustoher，shedidnotlamentsoloudlythecalamitythatsavedthemalonglifeofbanishmentonthebeachofIndianRiver。BythefirstopportunitytheyweresentbacktoSt。Augustine，thepossessorsofallofAshlock’sworldlygoodsandeffects，consistingofagoodrifle，severalcast—nets，hand—lines，etc。，etc。，besidessomethreehundreddollarsinmoney，whichwasduehimbythequartermasterforhisservicesaspilot。IafterwardsawtheseladiesatSt。Augustine，andyearsafterwardtheyoungeronecametoCharleston，SouthCarolina，thewifeofthesomewhatfamousCaptainThistle，agentfortheUnitedStatesforlive—oakinFlorida，whowasnotedasthefirstofthetroublesomeclassofinventorsofmodernartillery。Hewastheinventorofagunthat\"didnotrecoilatall，\"or\"ifanythingitrecoiledalittleforward。\"
Oneday，inthesummerof1841，thesentinelonthehousetopatFortPiercecalledout，\"Indians！Indians！\"Everybodysprangtohisgun，thecompaniesformedpromptlyontheparade—ground，andsoonwerereportedasapproachingthepost，fromthepine—woodsinrear，fourIndiansonhorseback。Theyrodestraightuptothegateway，dismounted，andcamein。Theywereconductedbytheofficerofthedaytothecommandingofficer，MajorChilds，whosatontheporchinfrontofhisownroom。Aftertheusualpause，oneofthem，ablackmannamedJoe，whospokeEnglish，saidtheyhadbeensentinbyCoacoochee（WildCat），oneofthemostnotedoftheSeminolechiefs，toseethebigchiefofthepost。Hegraduallyunwrappedapieceofpaper，whichwaspassedovertoMajorChilds，whoreadit，anditwasinthenatureofa\"SafeGuard\"for\"WildCat\"tocomeintoFortPiercetoreceiveprovisionsandassistancewhilecollectinghistribe，withthepurposeofemigratingtotheirreservationwestofArkansas。ThepaperwassignedbyGeneralWorth，whohadsucceededGeneralTaylor，atTampaBay，incommandofallthetroopsinFlorida。MajorChildsinquired，\"WhereisCoacoochee？\"andwasanswered，\"Closeby，\"whenJoeexplainedthathehadbeensentinbyhischieftoseeifthepaperwasallright。
MajorChildssaiditwas\"allright，\"andthatCoacoocheeoughttocomeinhimself。Joeofferedtogooutandbringhimin，whenMajorChildsorderedmetotakeeightortenmountedmenandgoouttoescorthimin。Detailingtenmentosaddleup，andtakingJoeandoneIndianboyalongontheirownponies，Istartedoutundertheirguidance。
Wecontinuedtoridefiveorsixmiles，whenIbegantosuspecttreachery，ofwhichIhadheardsomuchinformeryears，andhadbeenspeciallycautionedagainstbytheolderofficers;butJoealwaysanswered，\"Onlyalittleway。\"Atlastweapproachedoneofthoseclosehammocks，sowellknowninFlorida，standinglikeanislandintheinterminablepine—forest，withapondofwaternearit。OnitsedgeInoticedafewIndiansloitering，whichJoepointedoutastheplace。Apprehensiveoftreachery，Ihaltedtheguard，gaveorderstothesergeanttowatchmeclosely，androdeforwardalonewiththetwoIndianguides。Aswenearedthehammock，aboutadozenIndianwarriorsroseupandwaitedforus。
WhenintheirmidstIinquiredforthechief，Coacoochee。Heapproachedmyhorseand，slappinghisbreast，said，\"MeCoacoochee。\"HewasaveryhandsomeyoungIndianwarrior，notmorethantwenty—fiveyearsold，butinhisthendresscouldhardlybedistinguishedfromtherest。Ithenexplainedtohim，throughJoe，thatIhadbeensentbymy\"chief\"toescorthimintothefort。Hewantedmetogetdownand\"talk\"ItoldhimthatIhadno\"talk\"inme，butthat，onhisreachingthepost，hecouldtalkasmuchashepleasedwiththe\"bigchief，\"MajorChilds。Theyallseemedtobeindifferent，andinnohurry;andInoticedthatalltheirgunswereleaningagainstatree。Ibeckonedtothesergeant，whoadvancedrapidlywithhisescort，andtoldhimtosecuretherifles，whichheproceededtodo。Coacoocheepretendedtobeveryangry，butIexplainedtohimthathiswarriorsweretiredandminewerenot，andthatthesoldierswouldcarrythegunsontheirhorses。ItoldhimIwouldprovidehimahorsetoride，andthesoonerhewasreadythebetterforall。Hethenstripped，washedhimselfinthepond，andbegantodressinallhisIndianfinery，whichconsistedofbuckskinleggins，moccasins，andseveralshirts。
Hethenbegantoputonvests，oneafteranother，andoneofthemhadthemarksofabullet，justabovethepocket，withthestainofblood。Inthepocketwasaone—dollarTallahasseeBanknote，andtherascalhadtheimpudencetoaskmetogivehimsilvercoinforthatdollar。Hehadevidentlykilledthewearer，andwasdisappointedbecausethepocketcontainedapaperdollarinsteadofoneinsilver。Induetimehewasdressedwithturbanandostrich—feathers，andmountedthehorsereservedforhim，andthuswerodebacktogethertoFortPierce。MajorChildsandalltheofficersreceivedhimontheporch，andtherewehadaregular\"talk。\"Coacoochee\"wastiredofthewar。\"\"Hispeoplewerescatteredanditwouldtakea’moon’tocollectthemforemigration，\"andhe\"wantedrationsforthattime，\"etc。，etc。
Allthiswasagreedto，andamonthwasallowedforhimtogetreadywithhiswholeband（numberingsomeonehundredandfiftyoronehundredandsixty）tomigrate。The\"talk\"thenceased，andCoacoocheeandhisenvoysproceededtogetregularlydrunk，whichwaseasilydonebytheagencyofcommissarywhiskey。TheystaidatFortPiercedaringthenight，andthenextdaydeparted。SeveraltimesduringthemonththerecameintotheposttwoormoreofthesesameIndians，alwaystobegforsomethingtoeatordrink，andafterafullmonthCoacoocheeandabouttwentyofhiswarriorscameinwithseveralponies，butwithnoneoftheirwomenorchildren。MajorChildshadnotfromthebeginningtheleastfaithinhissincerity;hadmadeuphismindtoseizethewholepartyandcompelthemtoemigrate。Hearrangedfortheusualcouncil，andinstructedLieutenantTaylortoinviteCoacoocheeandhisuncle（whowasheldtobeaprincipalchief）tohisroomtotakesomegoodbrandy，insteadofthecommoncommissarywhiskey。AtasignalagreedonIwastogotothequartersofCompanyA，todispatchthefirst—sergeantandanothermantoLieutenantTaylor’sroom，theretoseizethetwochiefsandsecurethem;andwiththecompanyIwastoenterMajorChilds’sroomandsecuretheremainderoftheparty。
MeantimeLieutenantVanVlietwasorderedtogotothequartersofhiscompany，F，andatthesamesignaltomarchrapidlytotherearoftheofficers’quarters，soastocatchanywhomightattempttoescapebytheopenwindowstotherear。
Allresultedexactlyasprearranged，andinafewminutesthewholepartywasinirons。Atfirsttheyclaimedthatwehadactedtreacherously，butverysoontheyadmittedthatforamonthCoacoocheehadbeenquietlyremovinghiswomenandchildrentowardLakeOkeechobeeandtheEverglades;andthatthisvisittoourpostwastohavebeentheirlast。ItsohappenedthatalmostattheinstantofourseizingtheseIndiansavesselarrivedoffthebarwithreenforcementsfromSt。Augustine。ThesewerebroughtuptoFortPierce，andwemarchedthatnightandnextdayrapidly，somefiftymiles，toLakeOkeechobee，inhopestocapturethebalanceofthetribe，especiallythefamilies，buttheyhadtakenthealarmandescaped。CoacoocheeandhiswarriorsweresentbyMajorChildsinaschoonertoNewOrleansenroutetotheirreservation，butGeneralWorthrecalledthemtoTampaBay，andbysendingoutCoacoocheehimselfthewomenandchildrencameinvoluntarily，andthenallwereshippedtotheirdestination。ThiswasaheavylosstotheSeminoles，buttherestillremainedinthePeninsulaafewhundredwarriorswiththeirfamiliesscatteredintoverysmallparcels，whowereconcealedinthemostinaccessiblehammocksandswamps。Thesehadnodifficultyinfindingplentyoffoodanywhereandeverywhere。Deerandwildturkeywereabundant，andasforfishtherewasnoendtothem。Indeed，FloridawastheIndian’sparadise，wasoflittlevaluetous，anditwasagreatpitytoremovetheSeminolesatall，forwecouldhavecollectedtherealltheChoctaws，Creeks，Cherokees，andChickasaws，inadditiontotheSeminoles。TheywouldhavethrivedinthePeninsula，whereastheynowoccupylandsthatareveryvaluable，whicharecovetedbytheirwhiteneighborsonallsides，whilethePeninsula，ofFloridastillremainswithapopulationlessthanshouldmakeagoodState。
DuringthatandprecedingyearsGeneralW。S。HarneyhadpenetratedandcrossedthroughtheEverglades，capturingandhangingChekikaandhisband，andhadbroughtinmanyprisoners，whowerealsoshippedWest。WeatFortPiercemadeseveralotherexcursionstoJupiter，LakeWorth，Lauderdale，andintotheEverglades，pickinguphereandthereafamily，sothatitwasabsurdanylongertocallita\"war。\"Theseexcursions，however，possessedtousapeculiarcharm，forthefragranceoftheair，theabundanceofgameandfish，andjustenoughofadventure，gavetolifearelish。I
hadjustreturnedtoLauderdalefromoneofthesescoutswithLieutenantsRankin，Ord，GeorgeH。Thomas，Field，VanVliet，andothers，whenIreceivednoticeofmypromotiontobefirstlieutenantofCompanyG，whichoccurredNovember30，1841，andI
wasorderedtoreturntoFortPierce，turnoverthepublicpropertyforwhichIwasaccountabletoLieutenantH。S。Burton，andthentojoinmynewcompanyatSt。Augustine。
IreachedSt。AugustinebeforeChristmas，andwasassignedtocommandadetachmentoftwentymenstationedatPicolata，ontheSt。John’sRiver，eighteenmilesdistant。AtSt。Augustinewerestilltheheadquartersoftheregiment，ColonelWilliamGates，withCompanyE，LieutenantBragg，andCompanyG，LieutenantH。B。Judd。
TheonlybuildingsatPicolataweretheoneoccupiedbymydetachment，whichhadbeenbuiltforahospital，andthedwellingofafamilynamedWilliams，withwhomIboarded。Ontheotherhand，St。Augustinehadmanypleasantfamilies，amongwhomwasprominentthatofUnitedStatesJudgeBronson。IwashalfmytimeinSt。Augustineorontheroad，andremembertheoldplacewithpleasure。InFebruarywereceivedorderstransferringthewholeregimenttotheGulfposts，andourcompany，G，wasorderedtoescortColonelGatesandhisfamilyacrosstotheSuwaneeRiver，enrouteforPensacola。Thecompany，withthecolonelandhisfamily，reachedPicolata（wheremydetachmentjoined），andweembarkedinasteamboatforPilatka。HereLieutenantJudddiscoveredthathehadforgottensomethingandhadtoreturntoSt。Augustine，sothatI
commandedthecompanyonthemarch，havingwithmeSecond—
LieutenantGeorgeB。Ayres。OurfirstmarchwastoFortRussell，thenMicanopy，Wacahoota，andWacasassee，allwhichpostsweregarrisonedbytheSecondorSeventhInfantry。AtWacasasseewemetGeneralWorthandhisstaff，enrouteforPilatka。LieutenantJuddovertookusabouttheSuwanee，whereweembarkedonasmallboatforCedarKeys，andtheretookalargeroneforPensacola，wherethecolonelandhisfamilylanded，andourcompanyproceededoninthesamevesseltoourpost——FortMorgan，MobilePoint。
Thisforthadnotbeenoccupiedbytroopsformanyyears，wasverydirty，andwefoundlittleornostoresthere。MajorOgden，oftheengineers，occupiedahouseoutsidethefort。Iwasquartermasterandcommissary，and，takingadvantageofoneoftheengineerschoonersengagedinbringingmaterialsforthefort，IwentuptoMobilecity，and，throughtheagencyofMessrs。Deshon，Taylor，andMyers，merchants，procuredallessentialsforthetroops，andreturnedtothepost。Inthecoarseofaweekortendaysarrivedanothercompany，H，commandedbyLieutenantJamesKetchum，withLieutenantsRankinandSewallL。Fish，andanassistantsurgeon（Wells。）Ketchumbecamethecommandingofficer，andLieutenantRankinquartermaster。Weproceededtoputthepostinasgoodorderaspossible;hadregularguard—mountingandparades，butlittledrill。Wefoundmagnificentfishingwiththeseineontheouterbeach，andsometimesinasinglehaulwewouldtaketenorfifteenbarrelsofthebestkindoffish，embracingpompinos，red—fish，snappers，etc。
WeremainedtheretillJune，whentheregimentwasorderedtoexchangefromtheGulfpoststothoseontheAtlantic，extendingfromSavannahtoNorthCarolina。ThebrigWetumpkawaschartered，andourcompany（G）embarkedandsailedtoPensacola，wherewetookonboardanothercompany（D）（Burke’s），commandedbyLieutenantH。
S。Burton，withColonelGates，theregimentalheadquarters，andsomefamilies。FromPensacolawesailedforCharleston，SouthCarolina。Theweatherwashot，thewindslight，andwemadealongpassagebutatlastreachedCharlestonHarbor，disembarked，andtookpostinFortMoultrie。
Soonaftertwoothercompaniesarrived，Bragg’s（B）andKeyes’s（K）。ThetwoformercompanieswerealreadyquarteredinsideofFortMoultrie，andtheselatterwereplacedingun—sheds，outside，whichwerealteredintobarracks。WeremainedatFortMoultrienearlyfiveyears，untiltheMexicanWarscatteredusforever。Ourlifetherewasofstrictgarrisonduty，withplentyofleisureforhuntingandsocialentertainments。WesoonformedmanyandmostpleasantacquaintancesinthecityofCharleston;anditsohappenedthatmanyofthefamiliesresidedatSullivan’sIslandinthesummerseason，wherewecouldreciprocatethehospitalitiesextendedtousinthewinter。
Duringthesummerof1843，havingbeencontinuouslyondutyforthreeyears，Iappliedforandreceivedaleaveofabsenceforthreemonths，whichIspentmostlyinOhio。InNovemberIstartedtoreturntomypostatCharlestonbywayofNewOrleans;tookthestagetoChillicothe，Ohio，November16th，havingHenryStanberry，Esq。，andwife，astravellingcompanions，Wecontinuedbystage。
nextdaytoPortsmouth，Ohio。
AtPortsmouthMr。Stanberrytookaboatuptheriver，andIonedowntoCincinnati。ThereIfoundmybrothersLampsonandHoytemployedinthe\"Gazette\"printing—office，andspentmuchtimewiththemandCharlesAnderson，Esq。，visitinghisbrotherLarz，Mr。
Longworth，someofhisartistfriends，andespeciallyMissSallieCarneal，thenquiteabelle，andnotedforherfinevoice，Onthe20thItookpassageonthesteamboatManhattanforSt。
Louis;reachedLouisville，whereDr。Conrad，ofthearmy，joinedme，andintheManhattanwecontinuedontoSt。Louis，withamixedcrowd。WereachedtheMississippiatCairothe23d，andSt。Louis，Friday，November24，1843。AtSt。LouiswecalledonColonelS。W。
KearneyandMajorCooper，hisadjutant—general，andfoundmyclassmate，LieutenantMcNutt，oftheordnance，stationedatthearsenal;alsoMr。Deas，anartist，andPacificusOrd，whowasstudyinglaw。IspentaweekatSt。Louis，visitingthearsenal，JeffersonBarracks，andmostplacesofinterest，andthenbecameimpressedwithitsgreatfuture。Itthencontainedaboutfortythousandpeople，andmynotesdescribethirty—sixgoodsteamboatsreceivinganddischargingcargoatthelevee。
ItookpassageDecember4thinthesteamerJohnAullforNewOrleans。AswepassedCairothesnowwasfalling，andthecountrywaswinteryanddevoidofverdure。Gradually，however，asweproceededsouth，thegreencolorcame;grassandtreesshowedthechangeoflatitude，andwheninthecourseofaweekwehadreachedNewOrleans，theroseswereinfullbloom，thesugar—canejustripe，andatropicalairprevalent。WereachedNewOrleansDecember11，1843，whereIspentaboutaweekvisitingthebarracks，thenoccupiedbytheSeventhInfantry;thetheatres，hotels，andalltheusualplacesofinterestofthatday。
Onthe16thofDecemberIcontinuedontoMobileinthesteamerFashionbywayofLakePontchartrain;sawtheremostofmypersonalfriends，Mr。andMrs。Bull，JudgeBraggandhisbrotherDunbar，Deshon，Taylor，andMyers，etc。，andonthe19thofDecembertookpassageinthesteamboatBourbonforMontgomery，Alabama，bywayoftheAlabamaRiver。WereachedMontgomeryatnoon，December23d，andtookcarsat1p。m。forFranklin，fortymiles，whichwereachedat7p。m。，thencestagesforGriffin，Georgia，viaLaGrangeandGreenville。Thistookthewholenightofthe23dandthedayofthe24th。AtGriffinwetookcarsforMacon，andthencetoSavannah，whichwereachedChristmas—night，findingLieutenantsRidgleyandKetchumattea，whereweweresoonjoinedbyRankinandBeckwith。
Onthe26thItooktheboatforCharleston，reachingmypost，andreportedfordutyWednesdaymorning，December27，1843。
Ihadhardlygotbacktomypostwhen，onthe21stofJanuary，1844，IreceivedfromLieutenantR。P。Hammond，atMarietta，Georgia，anintimationthatColonelChurchill，Inspector—GeneraloftheArmy，hadappliedformetoassisthimintakingdepositionsinupperGeorgiaandAlabama;concerningcertainlossesbyvolunteersinFloridaofhorsesandequipmentsbyreasonofthefailureoftheUnitedStatestoprovidesufficientforage，andforwhichCongresshadmadeanappropriation。Onthe4thofFebruarytheordercamefromtheAdjutant—GeneralinWashingtonformetoproceedtoMarietta，Georgia，andreporttoInspector—GeneralChurchill。I
wasdelayedtillthe14thofFebruarybyreasonofbeingonacourt—martial，whenIwasdulyrelievedandstartedbyrailtoAugusta，Georgia，andasfarasMadison，whereItookthemail—coach，reachingMariettaonthe17th。ThereIreportedfordutytoColonelChurchill，whowasalreadyengagedonhiswork，assistedbyLieutenantR。P。Hammond，ThirdArtillery，andacitizennamedStockton。Thecolonelhadhisfamilywithhim，consistingofMrs。Churchill，Mary，nowMrs。ProfessorBaird，andCharlesChurchill，thenaboyofaboutfifteenyearsofage。
Wealllivedinatavern，andhadanofficeconvenient。ThedutyconsistedintakingindividualdepositionsoftheofficersandmenwhohadcomposedtworegimentsandabattalionofmountedvolunteersthathadservedinFlorida。AnoathwasadministeredtoeachmanbyColonelChurchill，whothenturnedtheclaimantovertooneofustotakedownandrecordhisdepositionaccordingtocertainforms，whichenabledthemtobeconsolidatedandtabulated。
WeremainedinMariettaaboutsixweeks，duringwhichtimeI
repeatedlyrodetoKenesawMountain，andovertheverygroundwhereafterward，in1864，wehadsomehardbattles。
AfterclosingourbusinessatMariettathecolonelorderedustotransferouroperationstoBellefonte，Alabama。Asheproposedtotakehisfamilyandpartybythestage，Hammondlentmehisriding—horse，whichIrodetoAllatoonaandtheEtowahRiver。
HearingofcertainlargeIndianmoundsneartheway，Iturnedtoonesidetovisitthem，stoppingacoupleofdayswithColonelLewisTumlin，onwhoseplantationthesemoundswere。Westruckupsuchanacquaintancethatwecorrespondedforsomeyears，andasI
passedhisplantationduringthewar，in1864，Iinquiredforhim，buthewasnotathome。FromTumlin’sIrodetoRome，andbywayofWillsValleyoverSandMountainandtheRaccoonRangetotheTennesseeRiveratBellefonte，Alabama。WeallassembledthereinMarch，andcontinuedourworkfornearlytwomonths，when，havingcompletedthebusiness，ColonelChurchill，withhisfamily，wentNorthbywayofNashville;Hammond，Stockton，andIreturningSouthonhorseback，byRome，Allatoona，Marietta，Atlanta，andMadison，Georgia。StocktonstoppedatMarietta，whereheresided。HammondtookthecarsatMadison，andIrodealonetoAugusta，Georgia，whereIleftthehorseandreturnedtoCharlestonandFortMoultriebyrail。
ThusbyamereaccidentIwasenabledtotraverseonhorsebacktheverygroundwhereinafter—yearsIhadtoconductvastarmiesandfightgreatbattles。Thattheknowledgethusacquiredwasofinfiniteusetome，andconsequentlytotheGovernment，Ihavealwaysfeltandstated。
Duringtheautumnof1844，adifficultyaroseamongtheofficersofCompanyB，ThirdArtillery（JohnR。Yinton’s），garrisoningAugustaArsenal，andIwassentupfromFortMoultrieasasortofpeace—maker。Afterstayingtheresomemonths，certaintransfersofofficersweremade，whichreconciledthedifficulty，andIreturnedtomypost，FortMoultrie。Duringthatwinter，1844—’45，IwasvisitingattheplantationofMr。Poyas，ontheeastbranchoftheCooper，aboutfiftymilesfromFortMoultrie，huntingdeerwithhissonJames，andLieutenantJohnF。Reynolds，ThirdArtillery。Wehadtakenourstands，andadeercameoutoftheswampnearthatofMr。JamesPoyas，whofired，brokethelegofthedeer，whichturnedbackintotheswampandcameoutagainabovemine。Icouldfollowhiscoursebythecryofthehounds，whichwereinclosepursuit。
Hastilymountingmyhorse，Istruckacrossthepine—woodstoheadthedeeroff，andwhenatfullcareermyhorseleapedafallenlogandhisfore—footcaughtoneofthosehard，unyieldingpineknotsthatbroughthimwithviolencetotheground。Igotupasquickaspossible，andfoundmyrightarmoutofplaceattheshoulder，causedbytheweightofthedouble—barrelledgun。
SeeingReynoldsatsomedistance，Icalledoutlustilyandbroughthimtome。Hesoonmendedthebridleandsaddle，whichhadbeenbrokenbythefall，helpedmeonmyhorse，andwefollowedthecoarseofthehounds。Atfirstmyarmdidnotpainmemuch，butitsoonbegantoachesothatitwasalmostunendurable。Inaboutthreemileswecametoanegrohut，whereIgotoffandrestedtillReynoldscouldovertakePoyasandbringhimback。Theycameatlast，butbythattimethearmwassoswollenandpainfulthatI
couldnotride。Theyriggedupanoldgigbelongingtothenegro，inwhichIwascarriedsixmilestotheplantationofMr。Poyas，Sr。Aneighboringphysicianwassentfor，whotriedtheusualmethodsofsettingthearm，butwithoutsuccess;eachtimemakingtheoperationmorepainful。Atlasthesentoff，gotasetofdoublepulleysandcords，withwhichhesucceededinextendingthemusclesandingettingtheboneintoplace。IthenreturnedtoFortMoultrie，butbeingdisabled，appliedforashortleaveandwentNorth。
IstartedJanuary25，1845;wenttoWashington，Baltimore，andLancaster，Ohio，whenceIwenttoMansfield，andthencebackbyNewarktoWheeling，Cumberland，Baltimore，Philadelphia，andNewYork，whenceIsailedbackforCharlestonontheshipSullivan，reachingFortMoultrieMarch9，1845。
Aboutthattime（March1，1845）Congresshad，byajointresolution，providedfortheannexationofTexas，thenanindependentRepublic，subjecttocertainconditionsrequiringtheacceptanceoftheRepublicofTexastobefinalandconclusive。Weallexpectedwarasamatterofcourse。AtthattimeGeneralZacharyTaylorhadassembledacoupleofregimentsofinfantryandoneofdragoonsatFortJessup，Louisiana，andhadorderstoextendmilitaryprotectiontoTexasagainsttheIndians，ora\"foreignenemy，\"themomentthetermsofannexationwereaccepted。HereceivednoticeofsuchacceptanceJuly7th，andforthwithproceededtoremovehistroopstoCorpusChristi，Texas，where，duringthesummerandfallof1845，wasassembledthatforcewithwhich，inthespringof1846，wasbeguntheMexicanWar。
SometimeduringthatsummercametoFortMoultrieordersforsendingCompanyE，ThirdArtillery，LieutenantBragg，toNewOrleans，theretoreceiveabatteryoffield—guns，andthencetothecampofGeneralTayloratCorpusChristi。Thiswasthefirstcompanyofourregimentsenttotheseatofwar，anditembarkedonthebrigHayne。ThiswastheonlycompanythatleftFortMoultrietillafterIwasdetachedforrecruitingserviceonthe1stofMay，1846。
InasmuchasCharlestonafterwardbecamefamous，asthespotwherebeganourcivilwar，ageneraldescriptionofit，asitwasin1846，willnotbeoutofplace。
ThecityliesonalongpeninsulabetweentheAshleyandCooperRivers——alow，levelpeninsula，ofsand。MeetingStreetisitsBroadway，withKingStreet，nextwestandparallel，thestreetofshopsandsmallstores。Thesestreetsarecrossedatrightanglesbymanyothers，ofwhichBroadStreetwastheprincipal;andtheinsersectionofMeetingandBroadwastheheartofthecity，markedbytheGuard—HouseandSt。Michael’sEpiscopalChurch。TheCustom—House，Post—Office，etc。，wereatthefootofBroadStreet，nearthewharvesoftheCooperRiverfront。Attheextremityofthepeninsulawasadrive，opentothebay，andfacedbysomeofthehandsomesthousesofthecity，calledthe\"Battery。\"Lookingdownthebayontheright，wasJamesIsland，anirregulartriangleofaboutsevenmiles，thewholeislandincultivationwithsea—islandcotton。AtthelowerendwasFortJohnson，thensimplythestationofCaptainBowman，UnitedStatesEngineers，engagedinbuildingFortSumter。Thisfort（Sumter）waserectedonanartificialislandnearlyinmid—channel，madebydumpingrocks，mostlybroughtasballastincotton—shipsfromtheNorth。Astherockreachedthesurfaceitwaslevelled，andmadethefoundationofFortSumter。In1846thisfortwasbarelyabovethewater。
StillfartheroutbeyondJamesIsland，andseparatedfromitbyawidespaceofsaltmarshwithcrookedchannels，wasMorrisIsland，composedofthesand—dunesthrownupbythewindandthesea，backedwiththesaltmarsh。Onthiswasthelighthouse，butnopeople。
Ontheleft，lookingdownthebayfromtheBatteryofCharleston，was，first，CastlePinckney，aroundbrickfort，oftwotiersofguns，oneinembrasure，theotherinbarbette，builtonamarshisland，whichwasnotgarrisoned。Fartherdownthebayapointofthemainlandreachedthebay，wheretherewasagroupofhouses，calledMountPleasant;andattheextremityofthebay，distantsixmiles，wasSullivan’sIsland，presentingasmoothsand—beachtothesea，withthelineofsand—hillsordunesthrownupbythewavesandwinds，andtheusualbackingofmarshandcrookedsalt—waterchannels。
AttheshoulderofthisislandwasFortMoultrie，anirregularfort，withoutditchorcounterscarp，withabrickscarpwallabouttwelvefeethigh，whichcouldbescaledanywhere，andthiswassurmountedbyanearthparapetcapableofmountingaboutfortytwenty—fourandthirty—twopoundersmooth—boreironguns。Insidethefortwerethreetwo—storybrickbarracks，sufficienttoquartertheofficersandmenoftwocompaniesofartillery。
Atseawastheusual\"bar，\"changingslightlyfromyeartoyear，butgenerallythemainship—channelcamefromthesouth，paralleltoMorrisIsland，tillitwaswelluptoFortMoultrie，whereitcurved，passingclosetoFortSumteranduptothewharvesofthecity，whichwerebuiltmostlyalongtheCooperRiverfront。
Charlestonwasthenaproud，aristocraticcity，andassumedaleadershipinthepublicopinionoftheSouthfaroutofproportiontoherpopulation，wealth，orcommerce。Onmorethanoneoccasionpreviously，theinhabitantshadalmostinauguratedcivilwar，bytheirassertionandprofessedbeliefthateachStatehad，intheoriginalcompactofgovernment，reservedtoitselftherighttowithdrawfromtheUnionatitsownoption，wheneverthepeoplesupposedtheyhadsufficientcause。Weusedtodiscussthesethingsatourownmess—tables，vehementlyandsometimesquiteangrily;butIamsurethatIneverfeareditwouldgofurtherthanithadalreadygoneinthewinterof1832—’33，whentheattemptat\"nullification\"waspromptlysuppressedbyPresidentJackson’sfamousdeclaration，\"TheUnionmustandshallbepreserved！\"andbythejudiciousmanagementofGeneralScott。
Still，civilwarwastobe;and，nowthatithascomeandgone，wecanrestsecureintheknowledgethatasthechiefcause，slavery，hasbeeneradicatedforever，itisnotlikelytocomeagain。
CHAPTERII。
EARLYRECOLLECTIONSofCALIFORNIA。
1846—1848。
Inthespringof1846IwasafirstlieutenantofCompanyC，1，ThirdArtillery，stationedatFortMoultrie，SouthCarolina。ThecompanywascommandedbyCaptainRobertAnderson;HenryB。Juddwastheseniorfirst—lieutenant，andIwasthejuniorfirst—lieutenant，andGeorgeB。Ayresthesecond—lieutenant。ColonelWilliamGatescommandedthepostandregiment，withFirst—LieutenantWilliamAustineashisadjutant。Twoothercompanieswereatthepost，viz。，MartinBurke’sandE。D。Keyes’s，andamongtheofficerswereT。W。Sherman，MorrisMiller，H。B。Field，WilliamChurchill，JosephStewart，andSurgeonMcLaren。
ThecountrynowknownasTexashadbeenrecentlyacquired，andwarwithMexicowasthreatening。Oneofourcompanies（Bragg’s），withGeorgeH。Thomas，JohnF。Reynolds，andFrankThomas，hadgonetheyearpreviousandwasatthattimewithGeneralTaylor’sarmyatCorpusChristi，Texas。
Inthatyear（1846）Ireceivedtheregulardetailforrecruitingservice，withorderstoreporttothegeneralsuperintendentatGovernor’sIsland，NewYork;andaccordinglyleftFortMoultrieinthelatterpartofApril，andreportedtothesuperintendent，ColonelR。B。Mason，FirstDragoons，atNewYork，onthe1stdayofMay。IwasassignedtothePittsburgrendezvous，whitherI
proceededandrelievedLieutenantScott。EarlyinMayItookupmyquartersattheSt。CharlesHotel，andentereduponthedischargeofmyduties。Therewasaregularrecruiting—stationalreadyestablished，withasergeant，corporal，andtwoorthreemen，withacitizenphysician，Dr。McDowell，toexaminetherecruits。ThethreateningwarwithMexicomadeademandforrecruits，andI
receivedauthoritytoopenanothersub—rendezvousatZanesville，Ohio，whitherItookthesergeantandestablishedhim。Thiswasveryhandytome，asmyhomewasatLancaster，Ohio，onlythirty—sixmilesoff，sothatIwasthusenabledtovisitmyfriendstherequiteoften。
InthelatterpartofMay，whenatWheeling，Virginia，onmywaybackfromZanesvilletoPittsburg，IheardthefirstnewsofthebattleofPaloAltoandResacadelaPalma，whichoccurredonthe8thand9thofMay，and，incommonwitheverybodyelse，feltintenselyexcited。ThatIshouldbeonrecruitingservice，whenmycomradeswereactuallyfighting，wasintolerable，andIhurriedontomypost，Pittsburg。AtthattimetherailroaddidnotextendwestoftheAlleghanies，andalljourneysweremadebystage—coaches。InthisinstanceItraveledfromZanesvilletoWheeling，thencetoWashington（Pennsylvania），andthencetoPittsburgbystage—coach。OnreachingPittsburgIfoundmanyprivateletters;onefromOrd，thenafirst—lieutenantinCompanyF，ThirdArtillery，atFortMcHenry，Baltimore，sayingthathiscompanyhadjustreceivedordersforCalifornia，andaskingmetoapplyforit。Withoutcommittingmyselftothatproject，IwrotetotheAdjutant—General，R。Jones，atWashington，D。C。，askinghimtoconsidermeasanapplicantforanyactiveservice，andsayingthatIwouldwillinglyforegotherecruitingdetail，whichIwellknewplentyofotherswouldjumpat。Impatienttoapproachthesceneofactiveoperations，withoutauthority（andIsupposewrongfully），Ileftmycorporalinchargeoftherendezvous，andtookalltherecruitsIhadmade，abouttwenty—five，inasteamboattoCincinnati，andturnedthemovertoMajorN。C。McCrea，commandingatNewportBarracks。IthenreportedinCincinnati，tothesuperintendentoftheWesternrecruitingservice，ColonelFanning，anoldofficerwithonearm，whoinquiredbywhatauthorityIhadcomeawayfrommypost。IarguedthatItookitforgrantedhewantedalltherecruitshecouldgettoforwardtothearmyatBrownsville，Texas;anddidnotknowbutthathemightwantmetogoalong。Insteadofappreciatingmyvolunteerzeal，hecursedandsworeatmeforleavingmypostwithoutorders，andtoldmetogobacktoPittsburg。Ithenaskedforanorderthatwouldentitlemetotransportationback，whichatfirstheemphaticallyrefused，butatlasthegavetheorder，andIreturnedtoPittsburg，allthewaybystage，stoppingagainatLancaster，whereIattendedtheweddingofmyschoolmateMikeEffinger，andalsovisitedmysub—rendezvousatZanesville。R。S。Ewell，ofmyclass，arrivedtoopenacavalryrendezvous，but，findingmydepotthere，hewentontoColumbus，Ohio。TomJordanafterwardwasorderedtoZanesville，totakechargeofthatrendezvous，underthegeneralWarDepartmentordersincreasingthenumberofrecruiting—