eless rebellion?" I
can only answer: It is far easier to say what a homeless youth,
hunted for his life for two nights and a day, until exhausted,
faint, and friendless, in the midst of an excited and armed
populace, _should do_, than it was in the circumstances to do what
will stand the test of a high, calm, and _safe_ patriotism. Let none
condemn until he can lay his hand upon his heart and say, "No
conceivable pressure could overcome me."

CHAPTER II.

INFANTRY SERVICE.

Character of our Regiment. -- No Escape. -- A Fixed Resolve.
-- Randolph. -- Camp Life. -- Sabbath. -- Father Daly. --
Washing. -- Fort Wright. -- Grand Defect. -- Rations. --
Stolen Waters. -- Mutiny. -- Sentence. -- Fort Pillow. --
Slaves. -- Aiding the Rebellion. -- Deep Earnestness of the
People. -- Strength of the Fort. -- "Pillow's Trot Line." --
No Pay, and the Result. -- Gen. Pillow described. --
Columbus, Ky. -- Hard Work. -- Pillow in the Ditch. -- The
Batteries. -- Torpedoes. -- Battle of Belmont. -- False
Report. -- Troops cross. -- Untimely Joking. -- The Tide of
Battle. -- A Charge. -- Cruelty. -- Victory. -- Why? --
Loss. -- Burial of the Dead. -- How Not to Kill. --
Accident. -- The Military Bishop.

The fine horse, which was to have carried me to Nashville and thence
to Kentucky, was kindly disposed of by an auctioneer, and the price,
minus a handsome commission, handed to me, and then I commenced
service in the "Jeff. Davis Invincibles," Co. B, Second Tenn.
Volunteers, under command of J. Knox Walker, of Memphis. I still
entertained some hope of escape, as I had not yet taken the oath;
and I worked hard to obtain information which might aid my purpose.
I could find no one to trust, and dare not be too inquisitive about
roads and distances.

The first regiment raised in Memphis was composed largely of the
upper classes, and represented many millions of property. It was of
the same type as the 7th regiment of New York, whereas the second
contained about 750 Irishmen, chiefly Catholics, in character like
the fine 69th New York. We camped in the Fair Ground, a short
distance from the city, an inclosure of some seven acres, surrounded
by a high board fence, and guarded by thickly stationed sentinels.
As these sentinels were not from our newly-formed regiment, but from
trusted companies of older standing, I was soon convinced there was
no chance of escape, a