hilation. Whatever emotion sweeps our heartstrings, there is none of fear. Our very blood is frozen with determination as we join our brave comrades and charge upon the victorious line of lead and steel and gray. They feel our bullets and our steel at the instant the charging cheer breaks from our lips, and, after a short, sharp struggle, at our very bayonet points, they flee through our camp so swiftly that they find neither time nor leisure to disturb scarcely anything. For two long miles we pursue them in their flight, and at every step "strange horror seizes them, and pangs unfelt before." Both humiliated by defeat and exultant by victory, we return to our camp, twice swept by the storm of battle. All are there, save many of our comrades-the bravest and the best-who, wounded or dead, lie all around us in ghastly pools of blood. The wounded are sent to the rear for medical attention, and the dead—a fearful number-are gathered together for burial. Those of the 96th we place in a row in our camp, and, with hearts bowed down in sorrow, the living gaze upon their loved comrades With the red rents in their bosoms,

66

And their young eyes closed on life."

Boon companions in camp, on the march, and in the battle, are here-living and dead! What wonder, then, that eyes are weeping when hearts are breaking. In the glimmering twilight we take a last look at the little yellow mounds above them, as we march away for Carrion Crow Bayou. On that bloody field were cemented friendships that have never changed, and none more firmly than those of the 96th Ohio for the 23d Wisconsin and 60th Indiana volunteers, who there, as on many other fields, stood with them shoulder to shoulder, appalled by no danger and shrinking from no sacrifice.

Being absent on a foraging expedition, the 83d Ohio took no part in this action, a circumstance for which regrets were mutual, as their aid was needed; and had they been present, the enemy would have heard their music.

Our wounded being exchanged on the 4th, we moved for New Iberia, arriving on the 8th, when Col. Vance, after an absence of several months, was joyfully greeted by the regiment. Here we

fortified our position, forcing citizens to the uncongenial task of aiding us in that labor-on the principle that if they were loyal, they could do no less, and if they were rebels, they should be required to expiate their sins. In this realm of loveliness we loitered, without incident worthy of note, until the 7th of December, when we proceeded through Franklin to Berwick, thence crossing the bay to Brashear City, and then by cars to Algiers, Louisiana, at which point the Division embarked for a brief campaign in Texas.

CHAPTER VI.

TEXAS.

The only perceptible object in this movement was to occupy the attention of the enemy, and divert them from another enterprise that is, for many reasons, worthy a conspicuous place in history. Whatever may have been the purpose, after three days sail we arrived on Matagorda Peninsula, which is formed of sand washed up from the Bay and Gulf--a mere tongue of terra firma, about one mile wide and fifteen miles long, projecting into the waters, and covered with everglades of various shrubs and prickly cactus, the latter growing to an enormous size. The rippling waters sighing along either shore, gave the location a kind of romantic character, which was counterbalanced by frequent ice-cold winds, that lashed the same shores with angry surges, and sent us to cover, pining for scenes less romantic and more agreeable. Storms were not infrequent, often preventing the boats from landing our stores, in consequence of which our rations were sometimes insufficient. Once we took advanced lessons in starvation, being forced to live for five days on very small allowances of rice alone. If any Grahamite fancies that rice is not light diet, he can obtain valuable information by inquiring of any member of the 96th Ohio who participated in this experiment. Col. De Crow owned this peninsula, and lived at the extreme point, which bears his name. His wealth was said to consist largely in 30,000 sheep, which, if it were true when we arrived, was hardly correct when we left!

On January 19th, the 4th Division, to which the 96th then belonged, was ordered to be ready to move on the morrow. This proved to be a bootless march to within thirteen miles of a rebel fort, from which we returned and encamped on the same peninsula, seven miles from De Crow's Point. At this place the 96th proceeded to construct a fort for protection, that, in honor of their beloved Colonel, they named Fort Vance.

Being undisturbed by the enemy, we loitered along the shores