LITMIR.BIZ

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foragers who were depredating on the citizens, and hanging was too good for them.

      A detachment of sixty men from the First Texas Cavalry was placed under the command of Lieutenant Lilly of Company A, and eight of them were selected from Company H. My disappointment because I was not one of them led me to offer my services as a volunteer and they were accepted. I was anxious to go because we all thought that it was the first movement towards the invasion of Texas and my confidence led me to believe that we would march direct to San Antonio. Fearing that there would be no more fighting, I was anxious to participate in one engagement so that I could tell my friends in Texas that I took part in a battle. When I was chosen in another man's place I was delighted and I considered it a very great favor.

      We left our encampment about three o'clock in the morning and our detachment led the advance with a part of a New York regiment of cavalry in our rear. We were chosen for the post of honor because the First Texas Cavalry had the reputation of being very good horsemen. We rode about twenty miles before we came in contact with the enemy's pickets. They gave us a warm reception, and held us in check for half an hour, in which time about thirty of our men were killed and many wounded. After the first attack reinforcements of in

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      fantry rapidly advanced and a charge was made which routed the enemy. We pursued them about five miles, or until we were under the fire of the fort, and we then skirmished until our entire force was concentrated.

      Our troops were sheltered behind a levee and the enemy was strongly fortified on the opposite side of the Atchafalaya with their cannon commanding the bridge. The fight lasted about four hours, during which time a heavy infantry and artillery fire was maintained on both sides. The Federal loss in killed and wounded was considerable, and I saw enough fighting to satisfy me, but I did my part without making myself conspicuous. My first shock was received when I saw Major Black, a gallant officer, who commanded a battalion of Illinois infantry, shot from the top of the levee and roll down the embankment. The retreat was ordered none too soon for me, and I never afterwards was foolish enough to volunteer when a detail was needed, on which occasions I was always glad when my name did not appear.

      After the invasion of Texas was abandoned, the encampment at Morganza was broken up and the five com- panies of the First Texas Cavalry were stationed successively at Natchez, Brookhaven and Baton Rouge. Subsequently, when the war was brought to a close, they were ordered to New Orleans, where they, were joined by Companies A, B, and C> that had been left in Brownsville. They had performed efficient service on the western borders of Texas under the command of Captain Zoeller, and they participated in the last battle that was fought for the Union. The engagement took place the 13th day of May, 1865, below Brownsville, at Palo Alto, which is now known as the " White Ranch." It was not much of a fight, but it is worthy of notice because it happened seven days after the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy was surrendered by General Kirby Smith, consequently it was the last battle of the war.

      After the companies of the regiment were reunited,

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      Company H, which until then was known as an inde- pendent organization, was disbanded and the men en- rolled in the companies of their choice, otherwise they would not have been entitled to pensions and other emolu- ments of the service. I became a member of Company C, commanded by Captain Zoeller, who now is a prosperous farmer and ranchman and resides at Waring, Texas. The regiment marched over-land to San Antonio, Texas, where on the 28th of October, 1865, the men were honorably discharged from the army.

      Before dismissing the subject, I wish to pay a just tribute to the character and services of my commander, and it will be appropriate to do so in this connection.

      Captain Zoeller claims a long list of ancestors who were prominently connected with military life in Germany, therefore, he was instinctively a soldier and the profession of arms was not repulsive to him. He was conscientious in his views with reference to the political troubles that arose in 1861, and he not only opposed secession at the ballot box, but he entered the army and was active in defense of the Union during the great Civil War.

      His talents and qualifications recommended him for pro- motion, and as a captain of cavalry his superior horsemanship and gallantry made him conspicuous on all occasions where his services could be made effective. As an officer he recognized the fact that obedience was the first duty of a soldier, and he exerted himself to instill his principles into the minds of his men. As a disciplinarian he was strict but kind and considerate to those who served under him, consequently he won their respect and confidence. The estimation in which his abilities and services were held by those in authority was expressed when he was offered a position in the regular army of the United States. When he returned to the peaceful pursuits of private life he not only retained the affections of his comrades in arms, but he won the good will of all

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      men and he commanded an influence that was felt wher- ever he was known. No man is perfect, but my friendship for Captain Zoeller has placed a high estimate on his character, and I believe that when his life's record is closed few blemishes will appear to mar the purity of his existence.

      I returned immediately to my father's farm, where I received an affectionate welcome from my people and neighbors. I had been absent from home nearly three years, and many changes had occurred during that period, but none had taken place in my father's family. After spending two pleasant months among my old associations, I became restless and anxious for some active employment. As mail contracts were then being let in Texas, I filed an application for the route from San Antonio to Eagle Pass and from there to Fort Clark. My bid was accepted by the Post Office Department and in January, 1866, a contract was awarded me.

      CHAPTER V

      I WAS not quite twenty-one years of age when I secured a contract to carry the United States mail from San Antonio to Eagle Pass and that from Eagle Pass to Fort Clark. The length of the first route was one hundred and sixty-two miles, and I was required to make the round trip once every six days. The post offices were Castroville, New Fountain, D'Hanis, Sabinal, Uvalde and Eagle Pass, from which place the mail was carried to Fort Clark, a distance of fifty miles, by George Swanda, whom I hired for that purpose.

      My outfit consisted of a three-seated hack, capable of carrying six persons, that was drawn by a pair of mules, which I drove myself. Stations were established at suitable distances, where I changed teams ; and as I had sublet the route to Fort Clark, Eagle Pass became the terminus of that under my immediate control.

      My regular charge per seat, for a through passage, was twenty dollars, but it was seldom that all seats were occupied.

      The road was always beset by many dangers, and I considered myself extremely fortunate after passing through them. The frontier was practically unprotected against the Indians who were then plentiful, and they made raids with impunity through Medina, Uvalde and Atascosa Counties, where they killed and plundered the people. The Eagle Pass and El Paso roads were continually infested by them, and those who traveled those routes always tempted Providence unless they were strong enough in numbers to resist an attack.

      I often saw the trails of marauding parties of Indians

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      where they crossed the road and have found the mutilated bodies of many men lying where they had been murdered. I frequently traveled the route alone, and it is remarkable that on such occasions I was never molested, and the exceptions were when I had one or more passengers in my coach. The risks were so great that business men would rarely travel the route alone, but formed parties of several who were well supplied with arms and ammunition.

      On one of my trips in 1866, I was traveling westward entirely alone, and when about eighteen miles from Eagle Pass I drove into a camp, about three o'clock in the after- noon, where nine Mexican carts were standing by the road- side. The bodies of the drivers were scattered around where they had been killed and some of them scalped by Indians. Evidently the murders were committed not more than three hours before and apparently when the men stopped for dinner.

      I did not waste much time making investigations

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