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capacity was established that had not existed hitherto； and at each
succeeding examination I gained a little in order of merit till my
furlough summer came roundthat is； when I was half through the
four…year course。
My furlough in July and August； 1850； was spent at my home in Ohio；
with the exception of a visit or two to other Cadets on furlough in
the State； and at the close of my leave I returned to the Academy in
the full expectation of graduating with my class in 1852。
A quarrel of a belligerent character in September； ；1851； with Cadet
William R。 Terrill； put an end to this anticipation； however； and
threw me back into the class which graduated in 1853。 Terrill was a
Cadet Sergeant； and； while my company was forming for parade； having；
given me an order； in what I considered an improper tone； to 〃dress〃
in a certain direction； when I believed I was accurately dressed； I
fancied I had a grievance； and made toward him with a lowered
bayonet； but my better judgment recalled me before actual contact
could take place。 Of course Terrill reported me for this； and my ire
was so inflamed by his action that when we next met I attacked him；
and a fisticuff engagement in front of barracks followed； which was
stopped by an officer appearing on the scene。 Each of us handed in
an explanation； but mine was unsatisfactory to the authorities； for I
had to admit that I was the assaulting party； and the result was that
I was suspended by the Secretary of War； Mr。 Conrad； till August 28；
1852the Superintendent of the Academy； Captain Brewerton； being
induced to recommend this milder course； he said； by my previous good
conduct。 At the time I thought； of course； my suspension a very
unfair punishment； that my conduct was justifiable and the
authorities of the Academy all wrong； but riper experience has led me
to a different conclusion； and as I look back； though the
mortification I then endured was deep and trying； I am convinced that
it was hardly as much as I deserved for such an outrageous breach of
discipline。
There was no question as to Terrill's irritating tone； but in giving
me the order he was prompted by the duty of his position as a file
closer； and I was not the one to remedy the wrong which I conceived
had been done me； and clearly not justifiable in assuming to correct
him with my own hands。 In 1862； when General Buell's army was
assembling at Louisville； Terrill was with it as a brigadier…general
（for； although a Virginian； he had remained loyal）； and I then took
the initiative toward a renewal of our acquaintance。 Our renewed
friendship was not destined to be of long duration； I am sorry to
say； for a few days later； in the battle of Perryville； while
gallantly fighting for his country； poor Terrill was killed。
My suspension necessitated my leaving the Academy； and I returned
home in the fall of 1851； much crestfallen。 Fortunately； my good
friend Henry Dittoe again gave me employment in keeping the books of
his establishment； and this occupation of my time made the nine
months which were to elapse before I could go back to West Point pass
much more agreeably than they would have done had I been idle。 In
August； 1852； I joined the first class at the Academy in accordance
with the order of the War Department； taking my place at the foot of
the class and graduating with it the succeeding June； number thirty…
four in a membership of fifty…two。 At the head of this class
graduated James B。 McPherson； who was killed in the Atlanta campaign
while commanding the Army of the Tennessee。 It also contained such
men as John M。 Schofield； who commanded the Army of the Ohio； Joshua
W。 Sill； killed as a brigadier in the battle of Stone River； and many
others who； in the war of the rebellion； on one side or the other；
rose to prominence； General John B。 Hood being the most distinguished
member of the class among the Confederates。
At the close of the final examination I made no formal application
for assignment to any particular arm of the service； for I knew that
my standing would not entitle me to one of the existing vacancies；
and that I should be obliged to take a place among the brevet second
lieutenants。 When the appointments were made I therefore found
myself attached to the First Infantry； well pleased that I had
surmounted all the difficulties that confront the student at our
national school； and looking forward with pleasant anticipation to
the life before me。
CHAPTER II。
ORDERED TO FORT DUNCAN； TEXAS〃NORTHERS〃SCOUTING DUTYHUNTING
NEARLY CAUGHT BY THE INDIANSA PRIMITIVE HABITATIONA BRAVE
DRUMMERBOYS DEATHA MEXICAN BALL。
On the 1st day of July； 1853； I was commissioned a brevet second
lieutenant in the First Regiment of United States Infantry； then
stationed in Texas。 The company to which I was attached was
quartered at Fort Duncan； a military post on the Rio Grande opposite
the little town of Piedras Negras； on the boundary line between the
United States and the Republic of Mexico。
After the usual leave of three months following graduation from the
Military Academy I was assigned to temporary duty at Newport
Barracks； a recruiting station and rendezvous for the assignment of
young officers preparatory to joining their regiments。 Here I
remained from September； 1853； to March； 1854； when I was ordered to
join my company at Fort Duncan。 To comply with this order I
proceeded by steamboat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New
Orleans； thence by steamer across the Gulf of Mexico to Indianola；
Tex。； and after landing at that place； continued in a small schooner
through what is called the inside channel on the Gulf coast to Corpus
Christi； the headquarters of Brigadier…General Persifer F。 Smith； who
was commanding the Department of Texas。 Here I met some of my old
friends from the Military Academy； among them Lieutenant Alfred
Gibbs； who in the last year of the rebellion commanded under me a
brigade of cavalry； and Lieutenant Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte； of the
Mounted Rifles； who resigned in 1854 to accept service in the French
Imperial army； but to most of those about headquarters I was an
entire stranger。 Among the latter was Captain Stewart Van Vliet； of
the Quartermaster's Department； now on the retired list。 With him I
soon came in frequent contact； and； by reason of his connection with
the Quartermaster's Department； the kindly interest he took in
forwarding my business inaugurated between usa lasting friendship。
A day or two after my arrival at Corpus Christi a train of Government
wagons； loaded with subsistence stores and quartermaster's supplies；
started for Laredo； a small town on the Rio Grande below Fort Duncan。
There being no other means of reaching my station I put my small
personal possessions； consisting of a trunk； mattress； two blankets；
and a pillow into one of the heavily loaded wagons and proceeded to
join it； sitting on the boxes or bag