So for about six days we devoted
ourselves to studying how to get out of the "jack-pot" we had got
into, without losing our stake.

We were not kept very long in suspense, for early one beautiful
April morning we learned the terrible news that Farragut's fleet
had passed the forts, and General Butler with a large land force
was marching on the city. We heard the old familiar orders:
"Prepare to mount! Mount! March!" But we did not swing into our
saddles feeling as gay as when we were on our way to the drill-
grounds. We were ordered to the front, and as we rode through the
streets the ladies presented us with bouquets, and cheered after
us; but then there was but little cheer in that fine body of
gamblers. We had many times before attacked the enemy (Tiger)
without fear or trembling; but now we were marching to meet a foe
with which we were but slightly acquainted. As we passed the old
drill-grounds on our way to the front, there was a sigh passed the
lips of every man, and our horses turned in, for they (poor dumb
brutes) did not know that things had changed.

We were about six miles below the city when the Yankees saw us;
but we did not see them, as they were about four miles distant.
They were up in the rigging with their glasses, looking for just
such suckers as we were; and they turned loose a salute of canister,
which came buzzing about our ears, and the next instant we heard
an order that we had never heard before: "Retreat!" but we understood
it, and lost no time in obeying the command; for I believe we would
have executed the movement without orders, if they had not been
given just after the first salute. We had a great deal just then
to make us feel nervous, but we were thankful for one thing, and
that was, we had good fast horses. I had taken mine off the race
track, and I was glad of it, for in that race I came out several
lengths ahead. When we got back to the city we dismounted without
orders, and even forgot to tell the darkies to give our horses a
good rubbing-down. We cut the buttons off our coats, buried our
sabres, and tried to make ourselves look as much like peaceful
citizens as possible; for we had enough of military glory, and were
tired of war.

After destroying immense quantities of cotton, sugar, steamboats,
ships, and other property, to prevent its falling into the hands
of the Unionists, General Lovell with his Confederate troops
retreated into the interior of the State, an