mbled to see the monster Whitworth rifled gun fired
off, as it had continued loaded since the day of the fight. She was
named the "Lady Polk," and the militant bishop and general was
present to add interest to the scene. The gunner warned the crowd
that there was some danger, but they heeded not, and pressed close
around. The general stood near, why should not others? I stood
within thirty feet, and as the gunner ran back with the lanyard, so
did I. The next moment occurred the most terrific explosion I had
ever heard. As the dust and smoke lifted, we saw the shattered
remains of nine men; two more died subsequently from wounds received
here. Both the percussion-shell and the gun had burst, and hence the
destruction of life. General Polk narrowly escaped; his cloak was
swept from him and cut in two as with a sword.

A word of this man, who laid aside his spiritual for military
duties, will close my history of soldiering on the Mississippi.

Major-general Leonidas Polk is a tall, well-built man, about
fifty-five years of age; hair slightly gray; wears side whiskers,
which are as white as snow; aquiline nose, and firm mouth. His voice
is a good one for command, and having a West Point education,
improved by many years of research on military science, it was
expected he would make a skillful general; but the people were much
disappointed by his display of generalship in the Western
Department, and many clamored for his removal. It was at one time
thought he would be called to the Confederate cabinet as Secretary
of State; but this was never done. Many of his old friends and
admirers were pained to hear the report circulated, that the good
bishop indulged in profanity when he got too deep in his potations;
and as these reports were in part confirmed, his reputation suffered
greatly.

CHAPTER III.

ORDNANCE SERVICE.

Transferred to Ordnance. -- Camp Beauregard. -- Was my Oath
binding? -- Resources of the Rebels. -- Cannon stolen. --
Manufactured. -- A Rifling Machine. -- Beauregard's Bells.
-- Imported Cannon. -- Running Blockade. -- Silence of
Southern Papers. -- Small Arms made. -- Altered. --
Abundant. -- Earnestness of all Classes. -- Imported Arms.
-- England's Neutrality. -- Ammunition imported. --
Manufactured. -- Smuggled. -- A Railroad Episode. -- A
Deserting Engineer. -- A New Hand at the Throttle. --
Caution. -- A Smash Up and Pistols. -- Reconciliati