The third day after reaching the city we started on our return.  The proceeds from the sale of the cattle were sent home by boat.  With only two horses, each of which carried double, and walking turn about, we reached home in seven days, settling all bills on the way.  That year was a type of others until I was eighteen, at which age I could guess within twenty pounds of the weight of any beef on foot, and when I bought calves and yearling steers I knew just what kind of cattle they would make at maturity.  In the mean time, one summer my father had gone west as far as the State of Missouri, traveling by boat to Jefferson City, and thence inland on horseback.  Several of our neighbors had accompanied him, all of them buying land, my father securing four sections.  I had younger brothers growing up, and the year my oldest brother attained his majority my father outfitted him with teams, wagons, and two trusty negro men, and we started for the nearest point on the Ohio River, our destination being the new lands in the West.  We embarked on the first boat, drifting down the Ohio, and up the other rivers, reaching the Ultima Thule of our hopes within a month.  The land was new; I liked it; we lived on venison and wild turkeys, and when once we had built a log house and opened a few fields, we were at peace with the earth.

But this happy existence was of short duration.  Rumors of war reached us in our western elysium, and I turned my face homeward, as did many another son of Virginia.  My brother was sensible enough to remain behind on the new farm; but with nothing to restrain me I soon found myself in St. Louis.  There I met kindred spirits, eager for the coming fray, and before attaining my majority I was bearing arms and wearing the gray of the Confederacy.  My regiment saw very little service during the first year of the war, as it was stationed in the western division, but early in 1862 it was engaged in numerous actions.

I shall never forget my first glimpse of the Texas cavalry.  We had moved out from Corinth, under cover of darkness, to attack Grant at Pittsburg Landing.  When day broke, orders were given to open out and allow the cavalry to pass ahead and reconnoitre our front.  I had always felt proud of Virginian horsemanship, but those Texans were in a class by themselves.  Centaur-like they sat their horses, and for our amusement, while passing at full gallop, swung from their saddles and picked up hats and handkerchiefs.  There was something about the Texans that fascinated me, and that Sunday morning I resolved, if spared, to make Texas my future home.  I have good cause to remember the battle of Shiloh, for during the second day I was twice wounded, yet saved from falling into the enemy’s hands.