Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-06-06

Doniphan did not inspire the men
with any respect for himself, nor
confidence in his ability as an officer,
as he did not possess any such quail
ity. Early in the war he applied for
and was granted a furlough, went
home and never returned. / presume
his resignation was rendered and &C.
eepted, but how he evaded the ubi-
quious "conscript hunters" after
wards, / am unable to conjecture. as
they were always in evidence. l was
not acquainted with Major Mccall at
the time and had never seen him be-
fore the occasion on which ! was
largely instrumental in securing his
defeat. He and his brother, Mr..
Duncan Mccall, lived on Choctaw
Bayou, in the same neighborhood,
where Messrs. Elan and John Bow
man resided. Mr.. Elan Bowman had
married my cousin, Miss Barbara
Mobley. Major Mccall had married
. daughter Of Mr.. John Bowman.
Messrs. Elan and John Bowman were
brothers. Hence, it may be easily
conjectured, that the discovery Of the
fact hitherto unknown to me, that
there existed between us even the
most remote family connection by
marriage, only intensified the poig-
nancy Of my regret. But it made no
difference in the attitude Of Major
Mccall either towards myself or the
Company. He did not, like Achilles,
sulk in his tent" but left Tensas
parish with the Company as a pri-
vats and was one of the best friends
] had during the war. But he was
soon promoted, as / shall mention in
it, proper connection.
The "Tensas Cavalry" was now
ready for departure and only await
cd the orders Of the Secretary Of
War.
Il omitted to state in its proper
place that the election of non-com-
missioned officers was proceeded with
immediately following the election of
the commissioned officers, each Of
whom was elected without contest)
This will be shown from the photo
graphic reproduction Of the original
muster roll-now in my possession
and which / will incorporate herein
1t the muster in" Of the Company.
] then returned with the Cata-
houla delegation to our respective
hoy<es, there to await further orders.
= During the first part Of July, /
think it must have been, as W. were
camped 1t Memphis for about two
months, we received orders to report
Immediately at st. Joseph, prepared
to embark on q steamboat for that
city. We arrived at St. Joseph the
day before the boat was expected
from New Orleans. The next morning
Tie seam boat,. Mary e. Keene. NAM
"a h honor Of Z beautiful sdd ac-
>semplished young lady, the daughter
Of wealthy planter Of Carroll par
ish-before the hungry lust Of a
Republican. carpet bag and negro
Legislature, had divided it into East
and West Carroll parishes-h We in
sight, made the landing and its stage
plank was run ashore by its Irish
roustabouts. It il proper to state in
this connection. that Miss Keene's
brother, Bodian Keene, afterwards
Joined the Company.
All was hustle and excitement and
some confusion, a. the members Of
the "Tensas Cavalry wendell their
way to the steam boat landing, fol-
lowed by mothers, wives and sweet
hearts, each longing to bid their loved
ones . sad, but ~ many feared, a
final farewell. It was no gala day in
st. Joseph, but one Of weeping, wall
ing and mourning,
When It was thought that all Of
the members Of the Company were
aboard, Captain Harrison ordered the
roll called, and it was found one man
who was known to be in st. Joseph,
was absent. The gallant Lee Bris-
coe, who was afterwards killed at the
battle Of Denmark, and another man,
whose identity ! am unable to recall,
volunteered to 60 in quest Of the
missing member. They found him at
q saloon, wrought up to an exal ed
state Of intoxication and encountered
some difficulty in forcing him aboard
Of The boat. As he was good sol
der, and never fell from grace but