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, and resigned myself to the necessities of my lot.

This being once settled, my first resolution was to master all the details of military duty, and perfect myself in drill, feeling conscious of ability soon to rise above the station of a private soldier.  This determination saved me from despondency, and was of signal advantage in subsequent adventures.

On May 6th we received orders to proceed to Randolph, sixty-five miles above Memphis, on the Tennessee shore of the Mississippi river, arriving by boat on the 7th.  The town of Randolph, which formerly contained about three hundred inhabitants, is situated above high-water mark on a narrow strip of land nearly three hundred yards wide, behind which rises a bluff ninety feet high and very steep.  On this bluff, overlooking the town and the river, we established our camp, and here commenced our real soldier’s life.  The daily routine was as follows:  Reveille at 5 A.M.; drill from 51/2 to 71/2; breakfast, 71/2; fatigue call from 8 to 10; orderly call, 10; dinner, 12, M.; fatigue from 1 P.M. to 4; drill and dress parade from 41/2 to 71/2; supper, 8; tattoo, 9 P.M.  The fatigue call did not mean rest, but work.