e, so far the only important one of the war. Besides, my known
friendship for President Davis, with whom I was connected by his first
marriage with my elder sister, would justify the opinion that my
promotion was due to favoritism. Arrived at headquarters, I obtained
leave to go to Richmond, where, after an affectionate reception, the
President listened to the story of my feelings, the reasons on which
they were based, and the request that the promotion should be revoked.
He replied that he would take a day for reflection before deciding the
matter. The following day I was told that the answer to my appeal would
be forwarded to the army, to which I immediately returned. The President
had employed the delay in writing a letter to the senior officers of the
brigade, in which he began by stating that promotions to the grade of
general officer were by law intrusted to him, and were made for
considerations of public good, of which he alone was judge. He then, out
of abundant kindness for me, went on to soothe the feelings of these
officers with a tenderness and delicacy of touch worthy a woman's hand,
and so effectually as to secure me their hearty support. No wonder that
all who enjoy the friendship of Jefferson Davis love him as Jonathan did
David.

Several weeks without notable incident were devoted to instruction,
especially in marching, the only military quality for which Southern
troops had no aptitude. Owing to the good traditions left by my
predecessor, Walker, and the zeal of officers and men, the brigade made
great progress.

With the army at this time was a battalion of three companies from
Louisiana, commanded by Major Wheat. These detached companies had been
thrown together previous to the fight at Manassas, where Wheat was
severely wounded. The strongest of the three, and giving character to
all, was called the "Tigers." Recruited on the levee and in the alleys
of New Orleans, the men might have come out of "Alsatia," where they
would have been worthy subjects of that illustrious potentate, "Duke
Hildebrod." The captain, who had succeeded to the immediate command of
these worthies on the advancement of Wheat, enjoying the luxury of many
aliases, called himself White, perhaps out of respect for the purity of
the patriotic garb lately assumed. So villainous was the reputation of
this battalion that every commander desired to be rid of it; and
General Johnston assigned it to me, despite my efforts to decline the