scripted unless he chose to
re-enlist. The regiments to whom the order was addressed had all
performed gallant service and gained imperishable honors, and the
general hoped they would preserve both their name and organization by
volunteering in a body to serve for two years, or until the end of the
war. If they did, they would have the privilege of electing their own
officers, and would be placed on the same footing as the other volunteer
regiments; and those of their number who, by reason of age, were not
subject to conscription, would serve until the 15th of July, when they
would be discharged.

The order concluded with a fierce denunciation of General Butler's rule
in New Orleans and a glowing appeal to their patriotism, all of which
the men cheered lustily; but when the ranks were broken and the
different "cliques" got together, they did not try to keep up any show
of spirit. So far as Rodney Gray could learn, there was not a man in his
regiment who would have volunteered if he had seen a fair chance to
desert and get across the river. Desertion was a thing that had never
been talked of before among Price's men. As volunteers, they would have
died rather than think of such a cowardly way of getting out of the
army, but it was different now. Even, if they re-enlisted under the
provisions of the Conscript Act, how much better would they be than
conscripts while bearing the name of volunteers? They would be forced
into the army against their will, wouldn't they and wouldn't that make
them conscripts? They appeared to submit because they could not help
themselves; but desertions took place every day. Some got safely off,
but those who were caught in the act were shot without any trial at all.
The men were sullen, talked mutiny among themselves, and Rodney Gray
looked for nothing else but to see them rise in a body, kill their
tyrannical officers, and disperse to their homes. It was a terrible
state of affairs, the nearest approach to anarchy there ever was or ever
will be in this country, and during those troublous days and the
subsequent retreat to Tupelo, General Halleck received into his lines no
less than fifteen thousand deserters.

The farce of electing new officers and reorganizing the various
companies and regiments in the brigade took place in due time, and once
more Dick Graham found himself in the ranks. He was not a candidate for
any office and neither was Rodney, although they might have had
commissions i