INDEX.

INTRODUCTORY 3

CHAPTER I.—Organization of the John Gill Shorter Artillery—Change of Destination—At Island 10—Roll of Company K—Mysteries of the Cuisine—A Shameful Waste 5

CHAPTER II.—Bombardment and Capture of Island No. 10—The Batteries—At Rucker’s Battery—Canal Cutting—A Night Attack—Running the Gauntlet—An Unfinished Meal—The Attempted Evacuation—Retreat to Tiptonville—Mackall’s Order—The Surrender—Across Reel-Foot River 10

CHAPTER III.—Prison Life in 1862—In the Mud—Bivouac at New Madrid—A Friendly Irishman—At Camp Butler—Scant Water Supply—Escape of Prisoners—An Astonished Sentinel—Playing Guard—Lost on the Prairie—A Prisoner Shot—Health of the Camp—Mortality Statistics—Curious Phenomena—Death Visits the Company—Col. Fundy in Command—Practical Jokes—Trinket Making—News from Comrades—Homeward Bound—Arrival in Dixie 20

CHAPTER IV.—Capt. Isbell and his Battalion—Arrival at Port Hudson—Battle of Corinth—The Reunited Regiment—Port Hudson—Land Defences—Red River Supplies 37

CHAPTER V.—Incidents in the Winter of 1862-3—An Unexpected Salute—A Parrott for Co. K—Whitfield’s Legion—Farragut’s Fleet—Running the Batteries—The Midnight Battle—A Crippled Fleet—Burning of the “Mississippi”—Comparative Losses—The Land Attack—Incidents in April, 1863—A Sabbath Morning at Troth’s Landing—Close Quarters—Skirmishing 44

CHAPTER VI.—Siege and Surrender of Port Hudson—The Investment—Skirmishing—The First Grand Assault—Assailed and Assailants—Doubly Armed—Lieut. Pratt at Battery 11—The “Essex” driven off—Lieut. Adams Elected—Artillery Practice—Assault of June 14th—Effect of Buck and Ball—Banks’ Inhumanity—Lead for Water—A Gallant Corporal—Battery 11 Silenced—Gallant Schurmer’s Death—The Sunken Battery—Mule and Peas—The Fall of Vicksburg—Unconditional Surrender—Gen. Gardner’s Sword—Casualties of the First 60

CHAPTER VII.—Experiences of Paroled Prisoners of War—A Disorganized Regiment—A Handsome Turnout—Close Quarters—A Faithful Servant—Present, or Accounted for—In Camp at Meridian 82

CHAPTER VIII.—Return of Co. K to Active Duty—Arrival at Mobile—A Flooded Camp—Short of Ammunition—At Fort Gaines—Fishermen’s Spoils—Going to School—A Spy in Camp—In North Georgia 89

CHAPTER IX.—In North Georgia with Johnston and Hood—Retreat to Kennesaw—A Gallant Deed—Hood’s New Policy—Defending Atlanta—The Valley of Death—The Gallant First—Fate of the Wounded—Death of Sergt. Fay—Electing a Lieutenant—Evacuation of Atlanta—At Lovejoy’s Station 97

CHAPTER X.—Hood’s Raids on Sherman’s Railroad Communications—Finding Lost Mountain—Hold the Fort—Tearing up Railroads—In Alabama—A Dismal Night—Review of the Army—Foraging in Tennessee—Catching Mud Larks 108

CHAPTER XI.—Gen. Hood’s Disastrous Campaign in Tennessee—The Fatal Mistake—Before Franklin—Schofield’s Stronghold—Eating his Last Rations—The Battle of Franklin—The Rebel Yell—Terrific Musketry—Locked Bayonets—One-third Hood’s Army Lost—Co. K Wiped Out—Losses of the “First”—Faithful until Death—The Retreat from Tennessee—The Last Roll Call 117

CHAPTER XII.—Prison Life during the Last Year of the War—Searching the Prisoners—Starvation Rations—True to the South—Home Again 131

APPENDIX 137