Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 11.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[298] their very centre. But we must toil on, and try to recognize in this terrible calamity the hand of God, and believe that all things are working together for good. His ways are mysterious and past finding out.

February 20th.—Our infant nation is passing through the baptism of adversity. General Zollikoffer has been killed, and his army is routed. Fort Henry has fallen, and the enemy have possession of Tennessee river. Roanoke Island has been taken with 2,000 prisoners. Fort Donelson, after four days hard fighting, was compelled to surrender to an overwhelming force, and General Buckner, with his entire command are prisoners; and Nashville is about to fall into the hands of the enemy. My own native State is invaded by the vandal hordes of Lincoln, and from this time forth I am a soldier in the field, until the last footprint of the foe is removed from our fair land. I give up my profession, and lay my life on the altar of my country, with resignation to the will of the most high God.

February 21st.—Rode out this morning to see my mother and bid her good-bye. She said to me, ‘My son, I am glad to see that you know your duty.’ I do not return to the field for glory or renown, but from a stern sense of duty in this hour of my country's peril. I consider it to be the solemn duty of every son of the South to go into the ranks and fight until our independence is achieved.

February 22nd.—On board steamer DeSoto. Left Memphis at 5 o'clock this evening, to rejoin the old One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth at Columbus, with the intention of fighting as long as the war continues, or until my Heavenly Father calls me home. I am anxious to live to see the end of the war, but if it be the will of God that I should fall in battle, I am ready to exclaim, ‘Thy will and not mine be done.’ To-day Jefferson Davis was inaugurated permanent President of the Confederate States of America.

Sunday, February 23d.—This is a beautiful Sabbath day, but alas! how it has been desecrated. All day long the saloon tables have been surrounded by card-players, just as if there were no God to punish such wanton violation of his holy day. I tremble for my country when I see those who are to fight her battles manifesting such reckless disregard for the sanctity of the Sabbath.

February 24th.—Columbus. Arrived at this little city of mud and log cabins about noon to-day, and found everything in readiness to repel an anticipated attack by the Lincolnites. Ten gun-boats were in sight, and a number of transports were reported landing troops.

February 25th.—It is the general impression that we are about to