n
government is now a complete military despotism, and for a
successful carrying on of the war against them I think we must
adopt, to some extent, the same rigid policy. Freedom of opinion is
a precious right, and freedom of the press a valuable boon, but when
the publication of news and the utterance of personal opinions
endanger the lives of our soldiers, and even the success of our
armies, surely it is the duty of the government to restrain that
utterance.

CHAPTER V.

COURIER SERVICE.

New Duties. -- Battle approaching. -- Deserters and Scouts.
-- A Providence. -- Position and Forces of the Confederates.
-- Orders to prepare to move. -- My New Position. -- March
to the Battle Field. -- Federals off their Guard. -- Care of
the Confederates against Desertion. -- Council of War. -- A
Dreary Night. -- Awfulness of War. -- The Fight opened. --
Beauregard's Address. -- The First Dead. -- Detour. -- Camp
of 71st Ohio Volunteers. -- Failure of Strategy. -- General
Johnson killed. -- Death concealed. -- Furious Fighting. --
Horse killed. -- Sad Scene. -- Rebels gaining. -- Struck by
a Shell. -- Another Horse killed. -- The Wounded Cavalryman
and his Horse. -- Sleep in the Camp of the 71st Ohio. --
Startling Reveille. -- Result of First Day's Battle. --
Victory for the Rebels. -- Arrangements for Second Day. --
Bloody Scenes. -- Grant's Attack. -- Rebels fall back. --
Fluctuations of the Day. -- General Hindman blown up. --
Retreat determined on -- Leaving the Field. -- Horrors of
the Retreat. -- Sleep among the Dying. -- Reach Corinth. --
Resolve.

General Breckenridge, about the 1st of April, let me know that he
would soon wish me to act on his staff as special _aid-de-camp_, and
advised me to instruct the next officers in command what to do in my
absence.

But, before proceeding further, let us return to the movements of
the Federal army under General Grant, which we left at Fort
Donelson in February.

During the month of March, this army was transported down the
Cumberland and up the Tennessee river in boats, and landed at
Pittsburg, near the foot of Muscle Shoals, beyond which large
transport boats could not pass. They camped about twenty miles from
Corinth, Mississippi, and were awaiting Buell's column, before
making an advance on Corinth.

Deserters and scouts gave Beauregard early notice of Grant's
flot