soldiers knew but little of their number and location. Some of these
torpedoes were made of cast iron at Memphis and Nashville, and would
hold from one to two hundred pounds of powder as a charge. Others
were made of boiler iron, of different shapes and sizes. They were
to be suspended near the surface of the water by chains and buoys,
and discharged by wires stretched near the surface, which a boat
would strike in passing over them. I never learned that these
infernal machines did any damage, except that one of them nearly
destroyed one of their own transport boats, which had incautiously
ventured too near its resting-place.

After spending nearly two months in the monotonous camp life of
drill and fatigue duty, on the morning of the 7th of November I
experienced a new sensation, more startling than agreeable. I had as
yet been in no battle, and certainly had no desire to join in a
fight against my country and against my kindred, some of whom I had
no doubt were in the opposing army, as it was recruited where many
of them lived; and I knew they would be loyal to the old flag, and
ready to defend it with their lives. But the alarm came so suddenly
that I had no time to feign sickness, or invent an excuse for being
off duty.

Tappan's Arkansas, and Russell's Tennessee regiments, with a
battalion of Mississippi cavalry, about fifteen hundred men in all,
who were stationed at Belmont, across the river, were attacked,
about seven o'clock, A.M., by General McClernand, with a little over
seven thousand men, according to Union authorities. It was a
complete surprise to us. At first we thought it was a picket
skirmish with the cavalry; but soon Frank Cheatham, our brigadier,
came galloping through the camp, bare-headed, in shirt and