I reviewed my West Point course of mathematics during the seven months at Jefferson Barracks, and read many valuable historical works, besides an occasional novel.  To help my memory I kept a book in which I would write up, from time to time, my recollections of all I had read since last posting it.  When the regiment was ordered away, I being absent at the time, my effects were packed up by Lieutenant Haslett, of the 4th infantry, and taken along.  I never saw my journal after, nor did I ever keep another, except for a portion of the time while travelling abroad.  Often since a fear has crossed my mind lest that book might turn up yet, and fall into the hands of some malicious person who would publish it.  I know its appearance would cause me as much heart-burning as my youthful horse-trade, or the later rebuke for wearing uniform clothes.

The 3d infantry had selected camping grounds on the reservation at Fort Jessup, about midway between the Red River and the Sabine.  Our orders required us to go into camp in the same neighborhood, and await further instructions.  Those authorized to do so selected a place in the pine woods, between the old town of Natchitoches and Grand Ecore, about three miles from each, and on high ground back from the river.  The place was given the name of Camp Salubrity, and proved entitled to it.  The camp was on a high, sandy, pine ridge, with spring branches in the valley, in front and rear.  The springs furnished an abundance of cool, pure water, and the ridge was above the flight of mosquitoes, which abound in that region in great multitudes and of great voracity.  In the valley they swarmed in myriads, but never came to the summit of the ridge.  The regiment occupied this camp six months before the first death occurred, and that was caused by an accident.

There was no intimation given that the removal of the 3d and 4th regiments of infantry to the western border of Louisiana was occasioned in any way by the prospective annexation of Texas, but it was generally understood that such was the case.  Ostensibly we were intended to prevent filibustering into Texas, but really as a menace to Mexico in case she appeared to contemplate war.  Generally the officers of the army were indifferent whether the annexation was consummated or not; but not so all of them.  For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation.  It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory.  Texas was originally a state belonging to the republic of Mexico.  It extended from the Sabine River on the east to the Rio Grande on the west, and from the Gulf of Mexico on the south and east to the territory of the United States and New Mexico—­another Mexican state at that time—­on the north and west.