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Whenever a vacancy occurred in the army in a grade above lieutenant colonel, his chances for promotion were always discussed.
His reply to a letter from his wife, informing him that his name was frequently mentioned for a brigadier generalcy, was written the day he set out for Ringgold Barracks to serve as a member of the courtmartial ordered to try
Major Giles Porter, of the rifles, and is very characteristic:
Camp Cooper, Texas, September 1, 1856.
We are all in the hands of a kind God, who will do for us what is best, and more than we deserve, and we have only to endeavor to deserve more, and to do our duty to him and ourselves.
May we all deserve his mercy, his care, and protection.
Do not give yourself any anxiety about the appointment of the brigadier.
If it is on my account that you feel an interest in it, I beg you will discard it from your thoughts.
You will be sure to be disappointed; nor is it right to indulge improper and useless hopes.
It besides looks like presumption to expect it.
The journey to the
Rio Grande is best told in his own words:
Ringgold Barracks, Texas, October 3, 1856.
I arrived here on the 28th, after twenty-seven consecutive days of travel.
The distance was greater than I had anticipated, being seven hundred and thirty miles. I was detained one day on the road by high water-had to swim my mules and get the wagon over by hand.
My mare took me very comfortably, but all my wardrobe, from my socks up to my plume, was immersed in the muddy water-epaulets, sash, etc. They are, however, all dry now.
Major Thomas traveled with me from
Fort Mason.
We are in camp together.
Captain Bradford, whom we knew at
Old Point, is on the court.
Colonel Chapman, of the infantry, from
Georgetown,
Captain Marsey,
Colonels Bainbridge,
Bumford,
Ruggles, and
Seawell, and
Captain Sibley, an old classmate of mine.
Colonel Waite is president of the court and
Captain Samuel Jones, of the artillery, judge advocate.
The latter brought his wife and child with him in a six-mule road wagon from
Sinda, about one hundred and twenty miles up the river.
All the court are present and yesterday we commenced the trial of our old friend,
Giles Porter.
I hope he will clear himself of the charges against him. I am writing with much inconvenience from a stiff finger, caused by a puncture from a Spanish bayonet, while pitching my tent on the road, which struck the joint.
Every branch and leaf in this country nearly are armed with a point, and some seem to poison the flesh.
What a blessed thing the children are not here!
They would be ruined.
