Chapter II: Preface: A Word to the Reader

I give to you, in the following pages, a simple narrative of facts. I have no motive to misrepresent or conceal. I have an honest desire to describe faithfully and truly what I saw and heard during thirteen months of enforced service in the Rebel army.

If I should seem to you to speak too favorably of individuals or occurrences in the South, I beg you to consider that I give impressions obtained when in the South. If my book has any value it lies in this very fact, that it gives you an interior view of this stupendous rebellion, which can not be obtained by one standing in the North and looking at it only with Northern eyes.

I have confidence in truth; and unwelcome truth, is none the less truth, and none the less valuable. Sure am I, that if the North had known the whole truth as to the _power, the unanimity, and the deadly purpose_ of the leaders in the rebellion, the government would have been far better prepared for promptly meeting the crisis. Look then candidly at facts, and give them their true weight.

As I am under no obligation, from duty or honor, to conceal what I was compelled to see and hear in the South, I tell it frankly; hoping it may be of value to my bleeding country, I tell it plainly. I have no cause to love the Confederate usurpation, as will fully appear, yet I refrain from abusive and denunciatory epithets, because both my taste and judgment enjoin it.

For the accuracy of names, dates, and places, I rely wholly upon memory. I kept memoranda during my whole service, but was compelled to leave every thing when I attempted escape, as such papers then found in my possession would have secured my certain death; but in all material things I can promise the accuracy which a retentive memory secures.

If an apology is needed for the constant recurrence of the personal pronoun in these pages, let it be said that the recital of personal incidents, without circumlocution, necessarily compels it.

With this brief word, I invite you to enter with me upon the Southern service; you can stop when you please, or go with me to the end, and give a huzza as you see me escape and reach the loyal lines.

WILLIAM G. STEVENSON.
NEW YORK CITY, Sept. 15th, 1862.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

HOW I VOLUNTEERED.

Object in going to Arkansas. -- Change of Purpose. -- Young Acquaintances. -- Questioned on Slavery. -- Letter to my Parents. -- Unfortunate Clause. -- A Midnight Call. -- Warlike Preparations. -- Good Advice. -- Honor among Lynchers. -- Arrival at Court of Judge Lynch. -- Character of Jury. -- Trial commenced. -- Indictment and Argument. -- Excitement increases. -- Butler Cavins and his Lariat. -- The Crisis. -- The Acquittal. -- No Safety from it. -- First Impulse and subsequent Reflection. -- Attempted Escape. -- Night Ride. -- Helena. -- An Uneasy Boat Ride. -- Memphis. -- "A Blue Jacket." -- Committee of Public Safety. -- A Surprise. -- Dismissal followed by Unwelcome Letter and Policeman. -- Recruiting Station. -- Volunteering 15

CHAPTER II.

INFANTRY SERVICE.

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. -- General 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 40

CHAPTER III.

ORDNANCE SERVICE.

Transferred to Ordnance. -- Camp Beauregard. -- Was my Oath binding? -- Resources of the Rebels. -- Cannon stolen. -- Manufactured. -- A Rifling Machine. -- Beauregard's Bells. -- Imported Cannon. -- Running Blockade. -- Silence of Southern Papers. -- Small-Arms made. -- Altered. -- Abundant. -- Earnestness of all Classes. -- Imported Arms. -- England's Neutrality. -- Ammunition imported. -- Manufactured. -- Smuggled. -- A Railroad Episode. -- A Deserting Engineer. -- A New Hand at the Throttle. -- Caution. -- A Smash Up and Pistols. -- Reconciliation. -- Result of Smash Up. -- Bowling Green. -- Size of Army. -- Sickness. -- Personal. -- Kindness of Nashville People. -- Moral and Religious Efforts for the Rebel Army. -- Vices prevalent. -- Seminaries and Schools disbanded 79

CHAPTER IV.

CAVALRY SERVICE.

New Field of Action. -- Promotion. -- Guerrilla Warfare. -- Characteristics. -- Tendencies. -- Captain J.H. Morgan. -- Character. -- Personal Appearance. -- Anecdotes. -- Success. -- Southern Cavalry superior to Northern. -- Advantages. -- Riding Courier. -- General Johnson evacuates Bowling Green. -- Excitement in Nashville. -- Preparations for Defense. -- Commissary Stores. -- Vandalism. -- Rear Guard. -- Line of Retreat. -- Dreadful Hardships. -- Losses. -- Forced March. -- Desolation. -- Cause of Retreat. -- Other Counsel. -- Accident. -- No Union Feeling evident. -- Intolerant yet Sincere 108