It is very far from my purpose in these Reminiscences to erect a platform on which my own military deeds may be exploited. The leading characteristic of the Confederate soldier was his individuality. Each man was a unit of the whole, and each stood in his place determined that the invader could not "pass his stand" save over his dead body. I stood, too, in my place as one unit. It will be my purpose to tell what Confederates did, and to emphasize to the world the sublime patriotism of the private soldiers whose heroic deeds could not be given in the report of the battle, nor their names appear among the killed and wounded. He did not go much on discipline, especially in the front line, where each man wanted to conduct the fight as if the result depended on him. He did not fear his officers, but respected and loved them in proportion as they were brave and rushed to the front when the battle raged.

My own military record will be briefly stated: I was a private soldier in Company A, Wirt Adams’ regiment of Mississippi cavalry, in the army of Tennessee. I was with my command on the retreat from Kentucky and Tennessee to Corinth, under Albert Sydney Johnston; was with them in all the cavalry engagements about Iuka; was with them at the battle of Shiloh; was with Forrest in his daring attack on Sherman’s division on the retreat from Shiloh; rode with my command down Britain’s lane, in Tennessee. Here I fell beneath my horse, almost in touch of the heroic Montgomery, Briscoe, Swayse and others lying dead at the cannon’s mouth. I was made a prisoner, and after my exchange, was transferred to Cameron’s battery. Was with the battery, in all its fights, until promoted to a lieutenancy in McNeil’s cavalry. I was disabled by a fall of my horse, which resulted in entire disuse of my right leg, forcing me to leave the army in the summer of 1864. I know, comrades, all about the weary ride, the scant rations, and the lonely picket post. I am acquainted with the ping of the minnie ball, the shriek of the shell, and the boom of the cannon.

I want now to write of the gallant spirits that composed my company...

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Reminiscences of an ex-Confederate Soldier
or Forty Years on Crutches
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