Near the close of the short session of Congress of 1844-5, the bill for the annexation of Texas to the United States was passed.  It reached President Tyler on the 1st of March, 1845, and promptly received his approval.  When the news reached us we began to look again for “further orders.”  They did not arrive promptly, and on the 1st of May following I asked and obtained a leave of absence for twenty days, for the purpose of visiting—­St. Louis.  The object of this visit has been before stated.

Early in July the long expected orders were received, but they only took the regiment to New Orleans Barracks.  We reached there before the middle of the month, and again waited weeks for still further orders.  The yellow fever was raging in New Orleans during the time we remained there, and the streets of the city had the appearance of a continuous well-observed Sunday.  I recollect but one occasion when this observance seemed to be broken by the inhabitants.  One morning about daylight I happened to be awake, and, hearing the discharge of a rifle not far off, I looked out to ascertain where the sound came from.  I observed a couple of clusters of men near by, and learned afterwards that “it was nothing; only a couple of gentlemen deciding a difference of opinion with rifles, at twenty paces.”  I do not remember if either was killed, or even hurt, but no doubt the question of difference was settled satisfactorily, and “honorably,” in the estimation of the parties engaged.  I do not believe I ever would have the courage to fight a duel.  If any man should wrong me to the extent of my being willing to kill him, I would not be willing to give him the choice of weapons with which it should be done, and of the time, place and distance separating us, when I executed him.  If I should do another such a wrong as to justify him in killing me, I would make any reasonable atonement within my power, if convinced of the wrong done.  I place my opposition to duelling on higher grounds than here stated.  No doubt a majority of the duels fought have been for want of moral courage on the part of those engaged to decline.

At Camp Salubrity, and when we went to New Orleans Barracks, the 4th infantry was commanded by Colonel Vose, then an old gentleman who had not commanded on drill for a number of years.  He was not a man to discover infirmity in the presence of danger.  It now appeared that war was imminent, and he felt that it was his duty to brush up his tactics.  Accordingly, when we got settled down at our new post, he took command of the regiment at a battalion drill.  Only two or three evolutions had been gone through when he dismissed the battalion, and, turning to go to his own quarters, dropped dead.  He had not been complaining of ill health, but no doubt died of heart disease.  He was a most estimable man, of exemplary habits, and by no means the author of his own disease.

CHAPTER IV.