Chapter XL: In Conclusion

This is my story, a record of what I think the reader will agree
has been an eventful life. I have lived long—I have seen much,
both of what was good and of what was bad; and now when my
allotted span of years must, in the nature of things, be nearly
concluded, I look back and realize that all of what has happened
has been for the best.

There is no bitterness in my heart as I indite these closing
lines. What has passed is past, and the future, as I see it,
holds for the people of the Southland a great promise. It is my
most earnest wish that this promise shall have a glorious
fulfillment.

My story has not been written for the purpose of adding to the
literature concerning the period it covers. Rather, it is a
personal record, and makes no claim to literary merit. It is
written chiefly for my children, though I hope it may be found
to be not without interest to the general public.

I feel that I owe it to myself to state that this book, in its
entirety, has been dictated entirely from memory, and from the
personal viewpoint I acquired during the years of which it
treats. It is quite possible that errors have been made in some
matters—that history will not entirely substantiate all of my
statements, but, in the main, I believe it will be found that
this book is a fairly accurate record of our many movements.

In closing I feel it is but right and just, and I know it to be
a great pleasure, that I pay my humble tribute to the great
souls with whom I was fortunate enough to be intimately
associated during the great Civil Strife. Forrest, Wharton,
McLaws, Harrison—they were a gallant company. Dashing,
fearless, strong in their conviction of right, they were all but
unbeatable, though opposed by overwhelming odds in practically
every engagement. I can see them all now plainly and I hope to
see them again, more plainly, when the Great Trumpeter shall
sound “Taps” for me.

THE END

TRANSCRIBER NOTES

Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected
as follows:

pg. 20 'sufficent' changed to 'sufficient'--"concluded
that this was a sufficient explanation."
pg. 46 'notifed' changed to 'notified'--"General Hindman
was notified."
pg. 142 'rceeived' changed to 'received'--"They had just
received orders."
pg. 142 'precipitious' changed to 'precipitous'--presenting
precipitous fronts."
pg. 159 'reigns' changed to 'reins'--"with our bridle
reins thrown over the horns."
pg. 193 'sufficent' changed to 'sufficient'--"sufficient
to rig a Texas saddle."
pg. 234 'whatver' changed to 'whatever'--"whatever stores
there were in the place."
pg. 250 'permittted' changed to 'permitted'--"by them
paroled and permitted to go."
pg. 334 'sweeheart' changed to 'sweetheart'--"with his
sweetheart, Miss Lou Priest."
pg. 353 'eight-five' changed to 'eighty-five'--"one
hundred and eighty-five sections."
pg. 354 'commencment' changed to 'commencement'--
"celebrating the commencement of the work."
pg. 369 'persauded' changed to 'persuaded'--"took
possession of my assets and persuaded me."
pg. 377 'Collge' changed to 'College'--"the failure of
Marvin College."
pg. 396 'apreciated' changed to 'appreciated'--"which I
very much appreciated."
pg. 441 'Chapter XXXIX' changed to 'Chapter XL'--duplicate
chapter 39, no chapter 40.

Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious
printer errors occur.

Book cover is placed in the public domain.