Volume1
GENERALW。T。SHERMAN
HISCOMRADESINARMS，VOLUNTEERSANDREGULARS。
NearlytenyearshavepassedsincethecloseofthecivilwarinAmerica，andyetnosatisfactoryhistorythereofisaccessibletothepublic;norshouldanybeattempteduntiltheGovernmenthaspublished，andplacedwithinthereachofstudents，theabundantmaterialsthatareburiedintheWarDepartmentatWashington。
Theseareinprocessofcompilation;but，attherateofprogressforthepasttenyears，itisprobablethatanewcenturywillcomebeforetheyarepublishedandcirculated，withfullindexestoenablethehistoriantomakeajudiciousselectionofmaterials。
Whatisnowofferedisnotdesignedasahistoryofthewar，orevenasacompleteaccountofalltheincidentsinwhichthewriterboreapart，butmerelyhisrecollectionofevents，correctedbyareferencetohisownmemoranda，whichmayassistthefuturehistorianwhenhecomestodescribethewhole，andaccountforthemotivesandreasonswhichinfluencedsomeoftheactorsinthegranddramaofwar。
Itrustaperusalofthesepageswillproveinterestingtothesurvivors，whohavemanifestedsooftentheirintenseloveofthe"cause"whichmovedanationtovindicateitsownauthority;and，equallyso，totherisinggeneration，whotherefrommaylearnthatacountryandgovernmentsuchasoursareworthfightingfor，anddyingfor，ifneedbe。
Ifsuccessfulinthis，Ishallfeelamplyrepaidfordepartingfromtheusageofmilitarymen，whoseldomattempttopublishtheirowndeeds，butrestcontentwithsimplycontributingbytheiractstothehonorandgloryoftheircountry。
WILLIAMT。SHERMAN，GeneralSt。Louis，Missouri，January21，1875。
PREFACETOTHESECONDEDITION。
AnothertenyearshavepassedsinceIventuredtopublishmyMemoirs，and，beingoncemoreatleisure，Ihaverevisedtheminthelightofthemanycriticismspublicandprivate。
Myhabithasbeentonoteinpencilthesuggestionsofcritics，andtoexaminethesubstanceoftheirdifferences;forcriticsmustdifferfromtheauthor，tomanifesttheirsuperiority。
WhereIhavefoundmaterialerrorIhavecorrected;andIhaveaddedtwochapters，oneatthebeginning，anotherattheend，bothofthemostgeneralcharacter，andanappendix。
IwishmyfriendsandenemiestounderstandthatIdisclaimthecharacterofhistorian，butassumetobeawitnessonthestandbeforethegreattribunalofhistory，toassistsomefutureNapier，Alison，orHumetocomprehendthefeelingsandthoughtsoftheactorsinthegrandconflictsoftherecentpast，andtherebytolessenhislaborsinthecompilationnecessaryforthefuturebenefitofmankind。
Inthisfreecountryeverymanisatperfectlibertytopublishhisownthoughtsandimpressions，andanywitnesswhomaydifferfrommeshouldpublishhisownversionoffactsinthetruthfulnarrationofwhichheisinterested。Iampublishingmyownmemoirs，nottheirs，andweallknowthatnothreehonestwitnessesofasimplebrawlcanagreeonallthedetails。Howmuchmorelikelywillbethedifferenceinagreatbattlecoveringavastspaceofbrokenground，wheneachdivision，brigade，regiment，andevencompany，naturallyandhonestlybelievesthatitwasthefocusofthewholeaffair！Eachofthemwonthebattle。Noneeverlost。
Thatwasthefateoftheoldmanwhounhappilycommanded。
InthiseditionIgivethebestmapswhichIbelievehaveeverbeenprepared，compiledbyGeneralO。M。Poe，frompersonalknowledgeandofficialsurveys，andwhatIchieflyaimtoestablishisthetruecauseoftheresultswhicharealreadyknowntothewholeworld;anditmaybearelieftomanytoknowthatIshallpublishnoother，but，liketheplayeratcards，will"stand;"notthatI
haveaccomplishedperfection，butbecauseIcandonobetterwiththecardsinhand。Ofomissionsthereareplenty，butofwilfulperversionoffacts，none。
Intheprefacetothefirstedition，in1875，Iusedthesewords:
"NearlytenyearshavepassedsincethecloseofthecivilwarinAmerica，andyetnosatisfactoryhistorythereofisaccessibletothepublic;norshouldanybeattempteduntiltheGovernmenthaspublished，andplacedwithinthereachofstudents，theabundantmaterialsthatareburiedintheWarDepartmentatWashington。
Theseareinprocessofcompilation;but，attherateofprogressforthepasttenyears，itisprobablethatanewcenturywillcomebeforetheyarepublishedandcirculated，withfullindexestoenablethehistoriantomakeajudiciousselectionofmaterials"
Anotherdecadeispast，andIaminpossessionofallthesepublications，mylastbeingVolumeXI，Part3，Series1，thelastdateinwhichisAugust30，1862。IamafraidthatifIassumeagainthecharacterofprophet，Imustextendthetimedeepintothenextcentury，andpraymeanwhilethattheofficialrecordsofthewar，UnionandConfederate，"mayapproachcompletionbeforethe"nextwar，"orratherthatwe，asapeople，maybesparedanotherwaruntilthelastoneisofficiallyrecorded。Meantimetherisinggenerationmustbecontentwithmemoirsandhistoriescompiledfromthebestsourcesavailable。
InthissenseIoffermineastotheeventsofwhichIwasaneye—witnessandparticipant，orforwhichIwasresponsible。
WILLIAMT。SHERMAN，General（retired）。
St。Louis，Missouri，March30，1885。
MEMOIRSOFGENERALWILLIAMT。SHERMAN。
CHAPTERI。
FROM1820TOTHEMEXICANWAR。
1820—1846。
AccordingtoCothren，inhis"HistoryofAncientWoodbury，Connecticut，"theShermanfamilycamefromDedham，EssexCounty，England。ThefirstrecordednameisofEdmondSherman，withhisthreesons，Edmond，Samuel，andJohn，whowereatBostonbefore1636;andfartheritisdistinctlyrecordedthatHon。SamuelSherman，Rev。John，hisbrother，andCaptainJohn，hisfirstcousin，arrivedfromDedham，EssexCounty，England，in1634。
SamuelafterwardmarriedSarahMitchell，whohadcome（inthesameship）fromEngland，andfinallysettledatStratford，Connecticut。
Theothertwo（Johns）locatedatWatertown，Massachusetts。
>FromCaptainJohnShermanaredescendedRogerSherman，thesigneroftheDeclarationofIndependence，Hon。WilliamM。Evarts，theMessrs。Hoar，ofMassachusetts，andmanyothersofnationalfame。
OurownfamilyaredescendedfromtheHon。SamuelShermanandhisson;theRev。John，whowasbornin1650—’51;thenanotherJohn，bornin1687;thenJudgeDaniel，bornin1721;thenTaylorSherman，ourgrandfather，whowasbornin1758。TaylorShermanwasalawyerandjudgeinNorwalk，Connecticut，whereheresideduntilhisdeath，May4，1815;leavingawidow，BetseyStoddardSherman，andthreechildren，CharlesR。（ourfather），Daniel，andBetsey。
WhentheStateofConnecticut，in1786，cededtotheUnitedStatesherclaimtothewesternpartofherpublicdomain，asdefinedbyherRoyalCharter，shereservedalargedistrictinwhatisnownorthernOhio，aportionofwhich（fivehundredthousandacres）
composedthe"Fire—LandDistrict，"whichwassetaparttoindemnifythepartieswhohadlostpropertyinConnecticutbytheraidsofGeneralsArnold，Tryon，andothersduringthelatterpartoftheRevolutionaryWar。
Ourgrandfather，JudgeTaylorSherman，wasoneofthecommissionersappointedbytheStateofConnecticuttoquiettheIndiantitle，andtosurveyandsubdividethisFire—LandDistrict，whichincludesthepresentcountiesofHuronandErie。InhiscapacityascommissionerhemadeseveraltripstoOhiointheearlypartofthiscentury，anditissupposedthathethencontractedthediseasewhichprovedfatal。Forhislaborandlosseshereceivedatitletotwosectionsofland，whichfactwasprobablytheprimecauseofthemigrationofourfamilytotheWest。Myfatherreceivedagoodeducation，andwasadmittedtothebaratNorwalk，Connecticut，where，in1810，he，attwentyyearsofage，marriedMaryHoyt，alsoofNorwalk，andatoncemigratedtoOhio，leavinghiswife（mymother）foratime。HisfirstpurposewastosettleatZanesville，Ohio，buthefinallychoseLancaster，FairfieldCounty，whereheatonceengagedinthe，practiceofhisprofession。In1811hereturnedtoNorwalk，where，meantime，wasbornCharlesTaylorSherman，theeldestofthefamily，whowithhismotherwascarriedtoOhioonhorseback。
JudgeTaylorSherman’sfamilyremainedinNorwalktill1815，whenhisdeathledtotheemigrationoftheremainderofthefamily，viz。，ofUncleDanielSherman，whosettledatMonroeville，Ohio，asafarmer，wherehelivedanddiedquiterecently，leavingchildrenandgrandchildren;andanaunt，Betsey，whomarriedJudgeParker，ofMansfield，anddiedin1851，leavingchildrenandgrandchildren;
alsoGrandmotherElizabethStoddardSherman，whoresidedwithherdaughter，Mrs:BetseyParker，inMansfielduntilherdeath，August1，1848。
Thusmyfather，CharlesR。Sherman，becamefinallyestablishedatLancaster，Ohio，asalawyer，withhisownfamilyintheyear1811，andcontinuedtheretillthetimeofhisdeath，in1829。IhavenodoubtthathewasinthefirstinstanceattractedtoLancasterbythenaturalbeautyofitsscenery，andthecharmsofitsalreadyestablishedsociety。Hecontinuedinthepracticeofhisprofession，whichinthosedayswasnosinecure，fortheordinarycircuitwasmadeonhorseback，andembracedMarietta，Cincinnati，andDetroit。HardlywasthefamilyestablishedtherewhentheWarof1812causedgreatalarmanddistressinallOhio。TheEnglishcapturedDetroitandtheshoresofLakeEriedowntotheMaumeeRiver;whiletheIndiansstilloccupiedthegreaterpartoftheState。Nearlyeverymanhadtobesomewhatofasoldier，butI
thinkmyfatherwasonlyacommissary;still，heseemstohavecaughtafancyforthegreatchiefoftheShawnees，"Tecumseh。"
Perry’svictoryonLakeEriewastheturning—pointoftheWesterncampaign，andGeneralHarrison’svictoryovertheBritishandIndiansattheriverThamesinCanadaendedthewarintheWest，andrestoredpeaceandtranquillitytotheexposedsettlersofOhio。Myfatheratonceresumedhispracticeatthebar，andwassoonrecognizedasanableandsuccessfullawyer。When，in1816，mybrotherJameswasborn，heinsistedonengraftingtheIndianname"Tecumseh"ontheusualfamilylist。MymotherhadalreadynamedherfirstsonafterherownbrotherCharles;andinsistedonthesecondsontakingthenameofherotherbrotherJames，andwhenIcamealong，onthe8thofFebruary，1820，motherhavingnomorebrothers，myfathersucceededinhisoriginalpurpose，andnamedmeWilliamTecumseh。
Thefamilyrapidlyincreasedtillitembracedsixboysandfivegirls，allofwhomattainedmaturityandmarried;ofthesesixarestillliving。
Intheyear1821avacancyoccurredintheSupremeCourtofOhio，andIfindthispetition:
Somerset，Ohio，July6，1821。
MayitpleaseyourExcellency:
WeaskleavetorecommendtoyourExcellency’sfavorablenoticeCharlesR。Sherman，Esq。，ofLancaster，asamanpossessinginaneminentdegreethosequalificationssomuchtobedesiredinaJudgeoftheSupremeCourt。
>FromalongacquaintancewithMr。Sherman，wearehappytobeabletostatetoyourExcellencythatourmindsareledtotheconclusionthatthatgentlemanpossessesadispositionnobleandgenerous，aminddiscriminating，comprehensive，andcombiningaheartpure，benevolentandhumane。Mannersdignified，mild，andcomplaisant，andafirmnessnottobeshakenandofunquestionedintegrity。
ButMr。Sherman’scharactercannotbeunknowntoyourExcellency，andonthatacquaintancewithoutfurthercommentwemightsafelyresthispretensions。
WethinkwehazardlittleinassuringyourExcellencythathisappointmentwouldgivealmostuniversalsatisfactiontothecitizensofPerryCounty。
Withgreatconsideration，wehavethehonortobeYourExcellency’smostobedienthumbleservants，CHARLESA。HOOD，GEORGETREAT，PETERDITTOR，P。ODLIN，J。B。ORTEN，T。BECKWITH，WILLIAMP。DORST，JOHNMURRAY，JACOBMOINS，B。EATON，DANIELGRIGGS，HENRYDITTOE，NICHOLASMcCARTY。
HisExcellencyETHANA。BROWN，GovernorofOhio，Columbus。
HewassoonafterappointedaJudgeoftheSupremeCourt，andservedinthatcapacitytothedayofhisdeath。
Mymemoryextendsbacktoabout1827，andIrecallhim，returninghomeonhorseback，whenalltheboysusedtorunandcontendfortheprivilegeofridinghishorsefromthefrontdoorbacktothestable。Ononeoccasion，Iwasthefirst，andbeingmountedrodetothestable;but"OldDick"wasimpatientbecausethestable—doorwasnotopenedpromptly，sohestartedforthebarnofourneighborMr。King;there，also，noonewasinwaitingtoopenthegate，and，afterareasonabletime，"Dick"startedbackforhomesomewhatinahurry，andthrewmeamongapileofstones，infrontofpreacherWright’shouse，whereIwaspickedupapparentlyadeadboy;butmytimewasnotyet，andIrecovered，thoughthescarsremaintothisday。
Theyear1829wasasadonetoourfamily。Wewerethentenchildren，myeldestbrotherCharlesabsentattheStateUniversity，Athens，Ohio;mynextbrother，James，inastoreatCincinnati;andtherestwereathome，atschool。Fatherwasawayonthecircuit。
OnedayJaneSturgeoncametotheschool，calledusout，andwhenwereachedhomeallwaslamentation:newshadcomethatfatherwasilluntodeath，atLebanon，ahundredmilesaway。Motherstartedatonce，bycoach，butmetthenewsofhisdeathaboutWashington，andreturnedhome。HehadriddenonhorsebackfromCincinnatitoLebanontoholdcourt，duringahotdayinJune。Onthenextdayhetookhisseatonthebench，openedcourtintheforenoon，butintheafternoon，afterrecess，wasseizedwithaseverechillandhadtoadjournthecourt。Thebestmedicalaidwascalledin，andforthreedayswithapparentsuccess，butthefeverthenassumedamoredangeroustype，andhegraduallyyieldedtoit，dyingonthesixthday，viz。，June24，1829。
MybrotherJameshadbeensummonedfromCincinnati，andwaspresentathisbedside，aswasalsoHenryStoddard，Esq。，ofDayton，Ohio，ourcousin。Mr。Stoddardoncetoldmethatthecauseofmyfather’sdeathwascholera;butatthattime，1829，therewasnoAsiaticcholeraintheUnitedStates，andthefamily，attributedhisdeathtoexposuretothehotsunofJune，andaconsequentfever，"typhoid。"
>Fromtheresolutionsofthebench，bar，andpublicgenerally，nowinmypossession，hisdeathwasuniversallydeplored;moreespeciallybyhisneighborsinLancaster，andbytheSocietyofFreemasons，ofwhichhewastheHigh—PriestofArchChapterNo。11。
Hisdeathleftthefamilyverypoor，butfriendsroseupwithproffersofgenerouscareandassistance;foralltheneighborsknewthatmothercouldnotmaintainsolargeafamilywithouthelp。
Myeldestbrother，Charles，hadnearlycompletedhiseducationattheuniversityatAthens，andconcludedtogotohisuncle，JudgeParker，atMansfield，Ohio，tostudylaw。My，eldestsister，Elizabeth，soonaftermarriedWilliamJ。Reese，Esq。;JameswasalreadyinastoreatCincinnati;and，withtheexceptionofthethreeyoungestchildren，therestofuswerescattered。IfelltothechargeoftheHon。ThomasEwing，whotookmetohisfamily，andeveraftertreatedmeashisownson。
IcontinuedattheAcademyinLancaster，whichwasthebestintheplace;indeed，asgoodaschoolasanyinOhio。Westudiedallthecommonbranchesofknowledge，includingLatin，Greek，andFrench。
AtfirsttheschoolwaskeptbyMr。Parsons;hewassucceededbyMr。Brown，andhebytwobrothers，SamuelandMarkHow。Thesewereallexcellentteachers，andwemadegoodprogress，firstattheoldacademyandafterwardatanewschool—house，builtbySamuelHow，intheorchardofHughBoyle，Esq。
Timepassedwithusaswithboysgenerally。Mr。EwingwasintheUnitedStatesSenate，andIwasnotifiedtoprepareforWestPoint，ofwhichinstitutionwehadlittleknowledge，exceptthatitwasverystrict，andthatthearmywasitsnaturalconsequence。In1834Iwaslargeformyage，andtheconstructionofcanalswastherageinOhio。AcanalwasprojectedtoconnectwiththegreatOhioCanalatCarroll（eightmilesaboveLancaster），downthevalleyoftheHockHockingtoAthens（forty—fourmiles），andthencetotheOhioRiverbyslackwater。
PreacherCarpenter，ofLancaster，wasappointedtomakethepreliminarysurveys，andselectedthenecessaryworkingpartyoutoftheboysofthetown。Fromourschoolwerechosen____Wilson，EmanuelGeisy，WilliamKing，andmyself。GeisyandIweretherod—men。Weworkedduringthatfallandnextspring，markingtwoexperimentallines，andforourworkweeachreceivedasilverhalf—dollarforeachday’sactualwork，thefirstmoneyanyofushadeverearned。
InJune，1835，oneofourschool—fellows，WilliamIrvin，wasappointedacadettoWestPoint，and，asitrequiredsixteenyearsofageforadmission，Ihadtowaitanotheryear。Duringtheautumnof1835andspringof1836IdevotedmyselfchieflytomathematicsandFrench，whichwereknowntobethechiefrequisitesforadmissiontoWestPoint。
Sometimeinthespringof1836IreceivedthroughMr。Ewing，thenatWashington，fromtheSecretaryofWar，Mr。Poinsett，theletterofappointmentasacadet，withalistofthearticlesofclothingnecessarytobetakenalong，allofwhichwereliberallyprovidedbyMrs。Ewing;andwithorderstoreporttoMr。Ewing，atWashington，byacertaindate，IleftLancasteraboutthe20thofMayinthestage—coachforZanesville。TherewetransferredtothecoachesoftheGreatNationalRoad，thehighwayoftravelfromtheWesttotheEast。Thestagesgenerallytravelledingangsoffromonetosixcoaches，eachdrawnbyfourgoodhorses，carryingninepassengersinsideandthreeorfouroutside。
Inaboutthreedays，travellingdayandnight，wereachedFrederick，Maryland。Thereweweretoldthatwecouldtakerail—carstoBaltimore，andthencetoWashington;buttherewasalsoatwo—horsehackreadytostartforWashingtondirect。Nothavingfallfaithinthenovelanddangerousrailroad，Istucktothecoach，andinthenightreachedGadsby’sHotelinWashingtonCity。
ThenextmorningIhuntedupMr。Ewing，andfoundhimboardingwithamessofSenatorsatMrs。Hill’s，cornerofThirdandCStreets，andtransferredmytrunktothesameplace。IspentaweekinWashington，andthinkIsawmoreoftheplaceinthattimethanI
everhavesinceinthemanyyearsofresidencethere。GeneralJacksonwasPresident，andwasatthezenithofhisfame。Irecalllookingathimafullhour，onemorning，throughthewoodrailingonPennsylvaniaAvenue，ashepacedupanddownthegravelwalkonthenorthfrontoftheWhiteHouse。HeworeacapandanovercoatsofullthathisformseemedsmallerthanIhadexpected。IalsorecalltheappearanceofPostmaster—GeneralAmosKendall，ofVice—PresidentVanBuren，Messrs。Calhoun，Webster，Clay，Cass，SilasWright，etc。
InduetimeItookmydepartureforWestPointwithCadetsBeltandBronaugh。ThesewereappointedcadetsasfromOhio，althoughneitherhadeverseenthatState。ButinthosedaystherewerefewerapplicantsfromOhiothannow，andnearthecloseofthetermthevacanciesunaskedforwereusuallyfilledfromapplicantsonthespot。Neitheroftheseparties，however，graduated，sotheStateofOhiolostnothing。WewenttoBaltimorebyrail，theretookaboatuptoHavredeGrace，thentherailtoWilmington，Delaware，anduptheDelawareinaboattoPhiladelphia。IstaidoverinPhiladelphiaonedayattheoldMansionHouse，tovisitthefamilyofmybrother—in—law，Mr。Reese。Ifoundhisfatherafinesampleoftheoldmerchantgentleman，inagoodhouseinArchStreet，withhisaccomplisheddaughters，whohadbeentoOhio，andwhomIhadseenthere。FromPhiladelphiawetookboattoBordentown，railtoAmboy，andboatagaintoNewYorkCity，stoppingattheAmericanHotel。IstaidaweekinNewYork。City，visitingmyuncle，CharlesHoyt，athisbeautifulplaceonBrooklynHeights，andmyuncleJames，thenlivinginWhiteStreet。MyfriendWilliamScottwasthere，theyounghusbandofmycousin，LouiseHoyt;aneatly—dressedyoungfellow，wholookedonmeasanuntamedanimaljustcaughtinthefarWest——"fitfoodforgunpowder，"andgoodfornothingelse。
AboutJune12thIembarkedinthesteamerCorneliusVanderbiltforWestPoint;registeredintheofficeofLieutenantC。F。Smith，AdjutantoftheMilitaryAcademy，asanewcadetoftheclassof1836，andatoncebecameinstalledasthe"plebe"ofmyfellow—townsman，WilliamIrvin，thenenteringhisThirdClass。
ColonelR。E。DeRussywasSuperintendent;MajorJohnFowle，SixthUnitedStatesInfantry，Commandant。TheprincipalProfessorswere:
Mahan，Engineering;Bartlett，NaturalPhilosophy;Bailey，Chemistry;Church，Mathematics;Weir，Drawing;andBerard，French。
Theroutineofmilitarytrainingandofinstructionwasthenfullyestablished，andhasremainedalmostthesameeversince。Togiveamereoutlinewouldswellthistoaninconvenientsize，andI
thereforemerelystatethatIwentthroughtheregularcourseoffouryears，graduatinginJune，1840，numbersixinaclassofforty—three。Theseforty—threewereallthatremainedofmorethanonehundredwhichoriginallyconstitutedtheclass。AttheAcademyIwasnotconsideredagoodsoldier，foratnotimewasIselectedforanyoffice，butremainedaprivatethroughoutthewholefouryears。Then，asnow，neatnessindressandform，withastrictconformitytotherules，werethequalificationsrequiredforoffice，andIsupposeIwasfoundnottoexcelinanyofthese。InstudiesIalwaysheldarespectablereputationwiththeprofessors，andgenerallyrankedamongthebest，especiallyindrawing，chemistry，mathematics，andnaturalphilosophy。Myaveragedemerits，perannum，wereaboutonehundredandfifty，which。
reducedmyfinalclassstandingfromnumberfourtosix。
InJune，1840，afterthefinalexamination，theclassgraduatedandwereceivedourdiplomas。Meantime，MajorDelafield，UnitedStatesEngineers，hadbecomeSuperintendent;MajorC。F。Smith，CommandantofCadets;butthecorpsofprofessorsandassistantsremainedalmostunchangedduringourwholeterm。Wewereallgrantedtheusualfurloughofthreemonths，andpartedforourhomes，theretoawaitassignmenttoourrespectivecorpsandregiments。IndueseasonIwasappointedandcommissionedsecond—lieutenant，ThirdArtillery，andorderedtoreportatGovernor’sIsland，NewYorkHarbor，attheendofSeptember。IspentmyfurloughmostlyatLancasterandMansfield，Ohio;towardthecloseofSeptemberreturnedtoNewYork，reportedtoMajorJustinDimock，commandingtherecruitingrendezvousatGovernor’sIsland，andwasassignedtocommandacompanyofrecruitspreparingforserviceinFlorida。
EarlyinOctoberthiscompanywasdetailed，asoneoffour，toembarkinasailing—vesselforSavannah，Georgia，undercommandofCaptainandBrevetMajorPenrose。Weembarkedandsailed，reachingSavannahaboutthemiddleofOctober，wherewetransferredtoasmallsteamerandproceededbytheinlandroutetoSt。Augustine，Florida。WereachedSt。AugustineatthesametimewiththeEighthInfantry，commandedbyColonelandBrevetBrigadier—GeneralWilliamJ。Worth。AtthattimeGeneralZacharyTaylorwasinchiefcommandinFlorida，andhadhisheadquartersatTampaBay。Myregiment，theThirdArtillery，occupiedthepostsalongtheAtlanticcoastofFlorida，fromSt。AugustinesouthtoKeyBiscayne，andmyowncompany，A，wasatFortPierce，IndianRiver。AtSt。AugustineI
wasdetachedfromthecompanyofrecruits，whichwasdesignedfortheSecondInfantry，andwasorderedtojoinmypropercompanyatFortPierce。ColonelWilliamGatescommandedtheregiment，withLieutenantWilliamAustineBrownasadjutantoftheregiment。
LieutenantBraggcommandedthepostofSt。Augustinewithhisowncompany，E，andG（Garner’s），thencommandedbyLieutenantJudd。
In，afewdaysIembarkedinthelittlesteamerWilliamGastondownthecoast，stoppingonedayatNewSmyrna，heldbyJohnR。Vinton’scompany（B），withwhichwasservingLieutenantWilliamH。Shover。
IndueseasonwearrivedoffthebarofIndianRiverandanchored。
Awhale—boatcameoffwithacrewoffourmen，steeredbyacharacterofsomenote，knownasthePilotAshlock。Itransferredselfandbaggagetothisboat，and，withthemails，wascarriedthroughthesurfoverthebar，intothemouthofIndianRiverInlet。Itwasthendark;wetransferredtoasmallerboat，andthesamecrewpulledusupthroughachannelinthemiddleofMangroveIslands，theroosting—placeofthousandsofpelicansandbirdsthatroseincloudsandcircledaboveourheads。Thewaterbelowwasalivewithfish，whosecoursethroughitcouldbeseenbythephosphoricwake;andAshlocktoldmemanyataleoftheIndianwartheninprogress，andofhisadventuresinhuntingandfishing，whichhedescribedasthebestintheworld。Abouttwomilesfromthebar，weemergedintothelagoon，abroadexpanseofshallowwaterthatliesparallelwiththecoast，separatedfromitbyanarrowstripofsand，backedbyacontinuousseriesofislandsandpromontories，coveredwithadensegrowthofmangroveandsaw—palmetto。Pullingacrossthislagoon，inaboutthreemoremilesweapproachedthelightsofFortPierce。Reachingasmallwharf，welanded，andweremetbytheofficersofthepost，LieutenantsGeorgeTaylorandEdwardJ。Steptoe，andAssistant—SurgeonJamesSimons。Takingthemail—bag，wewalkedupasteepsand—bluffonwhichthefortwassituated，andacrosstheparade—groundtotheofficers’quarters。Theseweresixorsevenlog—houses，thatchedwithpalmetto—leaves，builtonhighposts，withaporchinfront，facingthewater。Themen’squarterswerealsooflogsformingthetwosidesofarectangle，opentowardthewater;theintervalsandflankswereclosedwithlogstockades。I
wasassignedtooneoftheserooms，andatoncebeganservicewithmycompany，A，thencommandedbyLieutenantTaylor。
TheseasonwashardlyyetcomeforactiveoperationsagainsttheIndians，sothattheofficerswerenaturallyattractedtoAshlock，whowasthebestfishermanIeversaw。Hesooninitiatedusintothemysteriesofshark—spearing，trollingforred—fish，andtakingthesheep’s—headandmullet。Theseaboundedsothatwecouldatanytimecatchanunlimitedquantityatpleasure。Thecompaniesalsoownednetsforcatchinggreenturtles。Thesenetshadmeshesaboutafootsquare，weresetacrosschannelsinthelagoon，theendssecuredtostakesdrivenintothemad，thelowerlinesunkwithleadorstoneweightsandtheupperlinefloatedwithcork。
Weusuallyvisitedthesenetstwiceaday，andfoundfromonetosixgreenturtlesentangledinthemeshes。Disengagingthem，theywerecarriedtopens，madewithstakesstuckinthemud，wheretheywerefedwithmangrove—leaves，andourcookshadatalltimesanamplesupplyofthebestofgreenturtles。Theyweresocheapandcommonthatthesoldiersregardeditasanimpositionwhencompelledtoeatgreenturtlesteaks，insteadofpoorFloridabeef，ortheusualbarrelledmess—pork。Idonotrecallinmywholeexperienceaspotonearthwherefish，oysters，andgreenturtlessoaboundasatFortPierce，Florida。
InNovember，MajorChildsarrivedwithLieutenantVanVlietandadetachmentofrecruitstofillourtwocompanies，andpreparationswereatoncebegunforactiveoperationsinthefield。AtthattimetheIndiansinthePeninsulaofFloridawerescattered，andthewarconsistedinhuntingupandsecuringthesmallfragments，tobesenttojointheothersoftheirtribeofSeminolesalreadyestablishedintheIndianTerritorywestofArkansas。Ourexpeditionsweremostlymadeinboatsinthelagoonsextendingfromthe"Haul—over，"neartwohundredmilesabovethefort，downtoJupiterInlet，aboutfiftymilesbelow，andinthemanystreamswhichemptiedtherein。Manysuchexpeditionsweremadeduringthatwinter，withmoreorlesssuccess，inwhichwesucceededinpickingupsmallpartiesofmen，women，andchildren。Ononeoccasion，nearthe"Haul—over，"whenIwasnotpresent，theexpeditionwasmoresuccessful。ItstruckapartyofnearlyfiftyIndians，killedseveralwarriors，andcapturedothers。Inthisexpeditionmyclassmate，lieutenantVanVliet，whowasanexcellentshot，killedawarriorwhowasrunningatfullspeedamongtrees，andoneofthesergeantsofourcompany（Broderick）wassaidtohavedispatchedthreewarriors，anditwasreportedthathetookthescalpofoneandbroughtitintothefortasatrophy。Broderickwassoelatedthat，onreachingthepost，hehadtocelebratehisvictorybyabigdrunk。
Therewasatthetimeapoor，weaklysoldierofourcompanywhosewifecookedforourmess。Shewassomewhatofaflirt，andratherfondofadmiration。SergeantBroderickwasattractedtoher，andhungaroundthemess—housemorethanthehusbandfancied;sohereportedthemattertoLieutenantTaylor，whoreprovedBroderickforhisbehavior。Afewdaysafterwardthehusbandagainappealedtohiscommandingofficer（Taylor），whoexclaimed:"Haven’tyougotamusket？Can’tyoudefendyourownfamily？"Verysoonafterashotwashearddownbythemess—house，andittranspiredthatthehusbandhadactuallyshotBroderick，inflictingawoundwhichprovedmortal。Thelawandarmyregulationsrequiredthatthemanshouldbesenttothenearestcivilcourt，whichwasatSt。
Augustine;accordingly，theprisonerandnecessarywitnessesweresentupbythenextmonthlysteamer。AmongthelatterwerelieutenantTaylorandthepilotAshlock。
Aftertheyhadbeengoneaboutamonth，thesentinelontheroof—
topofourquartersreportedthesmokeofasteamerapproachingthebar，and，asIwasactingquartermaster，Itookaboatandpulleddowntogetthemail。Ireachedthelog—butinwhichthepilotslived，andsawthemstartwiththeirboatacrossthebar，boardthesteamer，andthenreturn。Aahlockwasathisoldpostatthesteering—oar，withtwoladies，whosooncametothelanding，havingpassedthroughaveryheavysurf，andIwaspresentedtooneasMrs。Ashlock，andtheotherashersister，averyprettylittleMinorcangirlofaboutfourteenyearsofage。Mrs。Ashlockherselfwasprobablyeighteenortwentyyearsold，andaveryhandsomewoman。IwashurriedlyinformedthatthemurdertrialwasinprogressatSt。Augustine;thatAshlockhadgivenhistestimony，andhadavailedhimselfofthechancetotakeawifetosharewithhimthesolitudeofhisdesolatehutonthebeachatIndianRiver。
Hehadbroughtashorehiswife，hersister，andtheirchests，withthemail，andhadorderstoreturnimmediatelytothesteamer（GastonorHarney）tobringashoresomesoldiersbelongingtoanothercompany，E（Braggs），whichhadbeenorderedfromSt。
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