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C H A P T E R 6 COLLAPSE OF THE CONFEDERACY HE TIME LIMIT of my orders, sixty days, being nearly out [in late October or early November ], I got together what men I could, about twelve in number, and again bid good-bye to friends and loved ones and set out on my return trip to my command. We passed through the Federal lines on the Arkansas River without incident worthy of note, crossing the river at Ozark. I reported to my command near Camden, Arkansas. Shortly afterwards we moved camp to Lewisville, about fifty miles distance, where we built log cabins and went into winter quarters. About this time Capt. Cloud was detailed for court martial duty, leaving me in command of the company with Lieutenant Blackard second in command.1 Sometime in February  we were ordered to camps near Minden, La. Many of the men were barefooted and otherwise illy prepared for a march in winter weather. Those without shoes were given the opportunity of remaining in camps until shoes could be had.But when march[ing] orders were given, these men fell in line and tramped through the mud and cold without a word of complaint.Our fare now and for several months past had been very poor. Corn meal of a very inferior grade with a poorer quality of beef and sugar or molasses constituted our rations for practically all of the winter and spring of sixty-five. Wheat flour was seldom to be had, and when issued we found it full of worms that made it almost unfit for use. In the matter of pay, as well as my memory serves me now, we received two months’ pay in November and a like amount in March. Confederate money about this time was worth in specie2 about three to five cents on the dollar. 62 T Bailey Revised pages 3/20/07 1:05 PM Page 62 But the matter of pay was a trifling factor with the Confederate soldier. The service rendered was as efficient and as cheerfully performed as would have been the case if payment had been made in gold. The infantry forces of the Trans-Mississippi Department were in a high state of efficiency at the time of Gen. Lee’s surrender [in Virginia].3 In looking over the official records of the war, I find reports of Federal spies in which they comment at length on the discipline and efficiency of Confederate troops. A few weeks were spent in camps near Minden, La., where we were ordered to Shreveport, and later to Marshall, Texas, where we received the news of Lee’s surrender.4 I will not attempt to depict the gloom that pervaded our camps when the news was fully confirmed. Gen. [ Joseph E.] Johnston’s surrender later convinced us of the utter hopelessness of further resistance.5 Many favored the disbandonment of the regular army and the organization of independent commands and a resort to guerrita [guerrilla] warfare. But wiser and more conservative counsel prevailed. After the surrender of Lee and Johnston, knowing that the end of the war was only a matter of a few days, a young friend, Captain Crump,6 and I resolved to secure mounts for a ride home, some three hundred miles distant . With this end in view, we obtained leave of absence for a few days. We next arranged with a teamster of another brigade, for a consideration, to get a fellow teamster and the two to saddle and mount two good mules and ride along a certain road through a piece of thick woods after dark the following night, when Captain Crump and I were to meet them and play the part of highwaymen.I was on time but Crump was late.A wait of a few minutes and I heard the teamsters coming. I must play the act alone or give it up. Stepping from behind a cluster of bushes,I seized the bridle of the mule ridden by the teamster, who was ignorant of the plot and ordered them to dismount , emphasizing my demand with a slight punch in the side with the muzzle of my pistol.No further persuasion was needed, as he hit the ground running, saying, “Don’t shoot.” The other fellow pretended resistance but soon left me in possession of two good government mules. Mounting one and leading the other, I met Captain Crump a short distance away. I had some friends about seventy...

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