Year: 1871

Our expedition was a success. We
halted at 1hibaudau where we remained
near three months. During this time we
had, of course, received many letters from
home, and Just before we left for Brasheer
City to Join the rest of the corps in the
Red River expedition, and where we all
met and became acquainted, l received a
letter from Annie (my sister,, saying that
some one had written home of Charley
Bonds dissipation and consequent disgrace,
and his mother had heard of it. She was
in poor health and the news gave her a
shock from which she was in great danger
1t was not the disgrace alone, which had
the effect, so much as the fact that it was
the first intimation she had that he ever
drank. My sister used some pretty severe
language in her letter, accusing me of
neglecting to use my influence with Char
ley, to induce him to reform, and limiting
at some reports she had heard in regard to
my own conduct. This letter made me
somewhat i'll natured at the time, because
the language was deserved, and l was
bored to think the stories had reached
home.


AS had received the letters for the
company that day, had observed that
there was a letter for Charley which l
recognized as from Annie, and had some
SuAAOSltJ ~ hAOW hlldb lltO MTllbGu
him. L had not very long to wait, for he
soon made his appearance, bringing the
open letter in his hand. As soon as he
entered the door ofmy tent, l said


"Wel, Charley, what's the news from
home?"


Read that and see" said he


read the letter and found very tender,
loving epistle from my sister, urging him
to redeem his reputation, lCave off his in
dulgences, and telling him the scene in re-
gard to his mother, that she had witnessed.


We'll" said after reading the letter,
that's regular sermon, isn't it?"


Its the truth, though" he replied.


What do you propose to do about it,
thenf"


"You know, Jim," he always called me
that when we were by ourselves "you
know how | have conducted myself slice
l was reduced to the ranks, have been a
brute, and deserved a great deal harsher
lecture from that dear girl than she gave
me; God bless her, she's too pure to mate
with such wretch as / am. From this
day forth I'll never touch drop of intox-
icating liquor, so help me Gol!'


Poor fellow, he tried hard enough to
break oil but his appetite was too strong.
l said to him:


"I think myself you go too far with it,
but II went hurt you to use 1t in mOdera
ton. When you get enough, why don't
you stop, or else keep out OF sight when
you are drunk? It's time enough to leave
on altogether when we get home.


You know" he replied, that there is
no moderation for me, and when | have
had one glass, l cannot stop until | am
drunk and disgTaced. I'll never touch an
other drop. Would to GOD l had never
commencedP p


"Well, do just as you please" 1 said,
coolly, but if you would take my advice,
you would do well enough"


With this he went out, and the next
day we were ordered to Brasheer City,
where the corps were concentrated for the
advance through The Bayou Teche country
TO Alexandria on the Red River, thence
to- and including the capture of Port Hud-
son. The history of this march | will
pass over. Through it all Charley kept
his promise and became once more the
pride of the company and the colonel had
reinstated him in his position as sergeant.


Soon after the surrender of Port Hud'
son, | received my commission as captain,
and was appointed inspector on the stati
of Gen. W, who was then command
ing our division, and Charley was promot'
ed to first sergeant of the company / saw
no more of him, except at intervals, until
after the disastrous expedition TO Sabine
Pass where our regiment lost two com
panies who were taken prisoners on board
gun boat which run aground under the
guns of the batteries, The regiment went
into its old camp at Carrolton, aud one
evening met Charley on Canal street in the
city, and took him to my room at the St
Charles, where | was stopping for few
days Here We donned citizens dress, and
in it went to the Varieties Theatre. Aflel
the play, we returned to my room, where
j endeavored to pesuade him to remain al
night, but he insisted that he must return
to camp, although he had pass for al
night lie having again dressed himsel
In his uniform, LETT.


Early. the next morning, one of the
members of the company accosted me OF
the street, and said;


"captain, Oharley's on tear again"