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from sickness, and which voted as a unit 77 votes to disband.
General Johnston sometimes told, as an illustration of his want of effectiveness as an orator, that after the adverse vote was given he told the men he could not believe that such was their deliberate purpose, and made an appeal to them in terms which he thought could not fail to move them, but only one man changed his vote.
The regiment was disbanded, but a number reenlisted in the company of Captain Shivers and won distinction at Monterey.
Thus was General Johnston again compelled to see the labor of months undone in an hour, and his hopes of honorable distinction dissipated, without fault of his, by the instability of others.
He was deeply chagrined; but he determined not to return home until his six months of service had expired, and he had shared with the army in the impending battle.
General Taylor relieved him from the awkwardness of a subordinate position by assigning him as inspector-general to Butler's division, in which capacity he served until after the battle of Monterey.
When the regiment was disbanded, a good many young men, who subsequently reentered the service, availed themselves of the opportunity to visit their homes, and thus enjoy a furlough at least.
One of them, a brave but easy young fellow, the son of a noble Texan patriot and gentleman, useful and famous in the history and career of the republic, came back with the rest.
As he joyfully hastened from the beach at Galveston to his father's house, he saw his father sternly regarding him from his front porch.
When he came within speaking distance the old gentleman halted him by inquiring, in no tender tones, “What are you doing here, sir?
Your six months are not up!”
“The regiment is disbanded, father, and the men have gone home; and I thought I would come to see you, and then go back.”
“Has General Johnston come home?”
“No, sir.”
“Then go back; you cannot come in here!”
The son hurried back to the beach, got aboard a schooner, and was with the army in time to share with his comrades under Shivers in the attack on Monterey.
The following letter, written soon after the battle of Monterey, gives a sufficient view of the campaign, terminating in that fine feat of arms:
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