Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-05-30
(" "reminiscences Of the TenSaS Cavalry"
w. G. MORLEY OF Alexandria, La.
CHAPTER II.

,nally been organized as a home
guard company, but its services had
already been rendered to and ac-
cepted by the War Department. l
was personally acquainted with some
Of the members and was introduced
to the others. Capt. Isaac F. Har-
risOn, who was in command, asked
me if was con of Jim Motley. l
responded in the affirmative. He
then remarked, Your father and
l were school mates and good
friends. and l would be glad to
have his son q member of my Com
pany." l told him to have my
name enrolled, as l had already
determined to become a member
thereof.
He then asked me if / couldn't
secure some recruits for the Com
pany in Catahoula. / replied that
l thought l could, at any rate. |
would exert myself to do 80.
was measurably successful in the
accomplishment of my mission, and
shall recur to the subject, when it
becomes necessary in the proper Sc
quence. to chronicle the election of
officers.
After our arrival in St. Joseph,
1 learned that "a slate" had been
aged upon for officers, both COM
missioned and nom commissioned,
composed entirely of members from
Tensas.
communicated this fact to the
Catahoula contingent. and they
agreed with me that it was unjust
and unfair. and that we should
force some recognition, if possible,
80 as to have at least one repre-
sentative among the commissioned
officers.
E. S. Mccall, who afterwards
filled successfully with distinguished
gallantry. fidelity and heroic valor,
the positions of Lieutenant, Captain
and Major, was Slated" for brevet
second Lieutenant, or as it was then
generally designated, third Lieuten-
ant. We agreed to make no oppo-
sition- to the balance of 1.-THE slate, 4"
but to endeavor to defeat E. S.
McCall-who became my good friend
in after years-for third Lieutenant.
We selected Henry s. Doniphan. Of
Sicily Island. who was about "a or
25 years of age, as the instrument
with which to accomplish such de-
feat. We met in a ball upstairs
over some store, l do not now re-
call which one, and proceeded to
election of officers. Isaac r. Har-
rison was placed in, nomination,
duly seconded, and elected by &C.
clafnation as Captain. The same re-
suits followed the nomination Of AL
bert Bondurant for first Lieutenant
and Geo. w. Montgomery for Sec
ond Lieutenant.
As l had been deputed as the
Spokesman of the Catahoula dele.
cation. though it's membership was
composed of several older men than
myself-one Of them being a prac-
ticing attorney arose at this juno
ture and made what l thought was
a most patriotic. and subsequently
discovered to be a most effective ap-
peal for recognition and representa-
ton, in view Of the fact that 1 had
secured such recruits at the solici.
tation Capt. Harrison.
When l sat down, several men,
bers Of the Tensas delegation arose,
one after the other, and made short
addresses, the purport of each Of
which conceded fully with the
views l had announced. But some
member. not in harmony with such
sentiments, arose and placed E. S.
Mccall in nomination.
1 then placed H. s. Doniphan in
nomination. The vote was taken
by ballot and the tellers announced
a small majority for Doniphan, thus
assuring the defeat Of Mccall.
/ had reason later to regret the
part had taken in the defeat of
Mccall and the election of Doni-
phan, as will appear fully from the
following statement: Doniphan, as
l realized after the expiration Of a
few months of service, was inca
pacitated forany military command,
even that Of platoon, which his
position as q Lieutenant would de-
volve upon him. ! am satisfied he
had become conscious of the fact
himself that he was unequal to the
emergency.