Recollections of a Virginian in the Mexican, Indian, and Civil Wars

RECOLLECTIONS OF A VIRGINIAN IN THE MEXICAN, INDIAN, AND CIVIL WARS

BY

EX-UNITED STATES MINISTER TO COLOMBIA, S.A.

SECOND EDITION

NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

1894

I AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBE THESE MEMOIRS OF AN OLD SOLDIER TO MY DEVOTED CHILDREN, WHO FOR TWENTY YEARS HAVE BEEN THE SOLACE AND PRIDE OF MY LIFE AND I WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY SPECIAL DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO MY DAUGHTER ROSE, WHOSE ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRACTICAL AID HAVE BEEN OF THE GREATEST HELP TO ME IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS VOLUME.

CHAPTER I Fredericksburg, Va. its People and its History — Traditions of George Washington and of the Lees — Anecdotes of Other Famous Men and Quaint Characters of the Town — Country Homes of the Gentry — General Lafayette's Visit — The Maury Family — Social Life before the War — The Generous Hospitality of the Old Days CHAPTER II. Captain John Minor Maury's Active and Adventurous Life — Personal Traits of Matthew Fontaine Maury — His Character and his Scientific Achievements — At the University of Virginia — Shakespeare Caldwell's Career — A Cadet at West Point — Incidents of the Life there — Anecdotes of Grant, McClellan, Jackson, and Others CHAPTER III. Graduated at West Point and off for the Mexican War — Operations of the Campaign under General Scott and General Taylor — Anecdotes of these Commanders — Other Officers who became Eminent in the Civil War — The Capture of Vera Cruz — Wounded at Cerro Gordo — In the Hospital — The journey to Jalapa CHAPTER IV. Recollections of Jalapa — General Harney and the Seminoles — White Sulphur Springs and its Patrons before the War — The Ashby Brothers — Ordered to West Point as Instructor — Sports and Jokes of the Officers' Mess — Anecdotes of McClellan, Fitz John Porter, and Others — Shooting and Other Excursions CHAPTER V. The Rifles ordered to Oregon — Captain Stuart's Tragic Fate — Reminiscences of McClellan — His Capacity and Character Illustrated — His Comments upon Foreign Campaigns — His Popularity with his Troops — A Criticism of the Crimean War — McClellan and Grant contrasted — Generals Franklin, Hancock, and Meade — Young Jerome Bonaparte CHAPTER VI. General Stonewall Jackson — His Remarkable Character — Married at "Cleveland" to the Eldest Daughter of Mr. Wiley Roy Mason — Anecdotes of General Burnside — On the Texas Frontier with the Rifles — The Life at Fort Inge — Mrs. Maury's journey to the Post — Promoted and transferred — Sent Home on Sick Leave CHAPTER VII. Philadelphia Hospitality — The Wreck of the Steamship San Francisco — An Expedition to New Mexico under General Persifer Smith — Incidents of the March — The Beauty of the Wild Rose Pass — Hunting Adventures — Peculiarities of the Game of the Country — Encounters with the Apaches — Odd Characters — Arrival at Laredo CHAPTER VIII. Big Game Hunting in Texas — Encounter with an American Lion — Exciting Fight with a Wild Bull — Pierced with Cactus Spikes — Fierce Battle with a Wounded Cow — On Recruiting Service at Carlisle Barracks — New Tactics for Mounted Rifles — The May Family — Sad Results of a Duel CHAPTER IX. Across the Plains from Kansas to New Mexico — Incidents of the Long Journey — A Paradise for the Hunter of Antelope and Buffalo — A Buffalo Hunt ending in a Tragedy — Skirmishes with Hostile Indians — A Surprise and Defeat for the Comanches — The Record of the Rifles CHAPTER X. A Story of Indian Barbarity — "Red Jackson's" Fight with a Grizzly — Wolf-Hunting with Greyhounds — Exploits of Possum and Toots — Capturing a Grizzly's Cubs — Transferred to Santa Fé — Anxiety over the Tension between the North and the South — How the News of the Fall of Sumter was received CHAPTER XI. An Expedition against the Navajoes — The Modoc Chief, Captain Jack — The Journey Home from New Mexico at the Outbreak of the Civil War — The Feeling among Army Men —"Stricken from the Rolls" — Experiences in Leavenworth, Topeka, and on the March — General George H. Thomas CHAPTER XII. Arrival in Richmond — On the Battle—field at Manassas — Embarrassing Interview with General Joseph E. Johnston — His Protest against being superseded by General Lee — His Removal from the Command of the Army of Tennessee — Anecdotes of Johnston — His Personal Traits and Family Life — His Opinions of Napoleon, Marlborough, Forrest, and Others CHAPTER XIII. In the Trans-Mississippi Campaign under Van Dorn — A Virginian's Hospitality — Incidents of the Retreat from Corinth, after Shiloh — The Adventures of Jem, the Colored Boy, a Type of the Loyal Servant — His Encounter with General Price — A Quaint and Humorous Character. CHAPTER XIV. Promoted to Brigadier—General — An Interrupted Christmas Dinner — Captain Bledsoe — Incidents of Van Dorn's Campaign in Mississippi — Ross' Brigade of Undisciplined Texans — Measures for the Defence of Vicksburg — Operations of Porter and Sherman — Repelling General Quinby. CHAPTER XV. Mysterious Disappearance of Young John Herndon Maury — Grant and Porter aid in the Search for him — Conjectures and Theories regarding his Fate — A Christening under Fire — Anecdotes of Dr. Lord — A Magnificent Spectacle when Porter ran the Vicksburg Batteries — An Interrupted Ball. CHAPTER XVI. Transferred to the Command of the Department of the Gulf, at Mobile — Experiences with "Galvanized Yankees" — How a Spy was trapped — Colonel Henry Maury's Adventurous Career — His Coolness and Bravery in Peril — A Duel — Tried by Court-Martial and Acquitted — Anecdotes of Bishop Wilmer of Alabama CHAPTER XVII. Recollections of General Forrest — His Personal Appearance and Traits — His Characteristics as a Commander — Never surprised or attacked — Ignorant of Tactics, but Great in Strategy — Instances of his Aggressive Self-Reliance, his Rapidity of Movement, and his Personal Power over his Men — The Fort Pillow Episode CHAPTER XVIII. Forrest's Criticism of the Battle of Chickamauga — He retires to his Plantation after the War, broken in Health, Fortune, and Spirit — Pronounced the Greatest Soldier of this Generation — Anecdotes of General Dick Taylor — His Ability as a Soldier and his Wit as a Talker — His Opinion of West Point CHAPTER XIX. Last Day of Service for the Confederacy — Beginning the Journey Home — Hospitalities on the Way — Condition of the South after the War — Arrival at Richmond — General Lee's Opinion of the Oath of Allegiance — His Manner of administering a Rebuke — Other Aspects of his Character illustrated — Death of Mr. Mason CHAPTER XX. The Classical and Mathematical Academy of Fredericksburg established — Accepts a Business Offer in New Orleans — Engages in the Manufacture of Resin and Turpentine — Disastrous Results of this Enterprise — Preventing a Duel — Preservation of Southern War Records — Organization of the National Guard — Recollections of Senator M. C. Butler. CHAPTER XXI. Appointed Minister to the United States of Colombia — Panama and its Scenery — An Event in the History of Cartagena — The journey up the Magdalena River — Alligator Shooting — By Mules from Honda to Bogotá — The Country and its People and Agricultural Resources — The Cattle and Horses

CHAPTER XXII. The City of Bogotá — The Clergy, the Military, and the People — Trade Relations with the United States — Social Life in Town and Country — Duck Shooting — Mineral Wealth of the Country — An Exciting Dog-Cart Drive down the Andes — General Henry Morgan — Return to the United States