CHAPTER XVI.
AN UNFORTUNATE LOVE AFFAIR.
Again at Memphis.—Public and private Difficulties.—Future Prospects.—Arrival of my Negro Boy and Baggage from Grand Junction.—A new uniform Suit.—Prepared once more to face the World.—I fall in with an old Friend.—An Exchange of Compliments.—Late Hours.—Some of the Effects of Late Hours.—Confidential Communications.—The Course of true Love runs not smooth.—I renew my Acquaintance with General Lucius M. Polk.—The General disposed to be friendly.—My Friend and I call on his Lady-love and her Sister.—Surprising Behavior of the young Lady.—A genuine Love-letter.—A Secret disclosed.—Incidents of a Buggy Ride.—A Declaration of Love.—Lieutenant H. T. Buford as a Lady-killer.—Why should Women not pop the Question as well as Men?—A melancholy Disclosure for my Friend.—I endeavor to encourage him.—A Visit to the Theatre and an enjoyable Evening.—I meet a Friend from New Orleans, and endeavor to remove any Suspicions with regard to my Identity from his Mind.—Progress of my Love-affair with Miss M.—The young Lady and I have our Pictures taken.—I proceed to Corinth for the Purpose of taking Part in the expected Battle.—The Confederate Army advances from Corinth towards Pittsburg Landing.
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HAVING secured my transportation and transfer papers, I went to Memphis by the first boat, and was erelong once again at my original starting-point, but in a much less enviable mood than when I had last visited it. Then I was dissatisfied with the way which things seemed to be going, and especially with the—as it appeared to me—very unnecessary and vexatious difficulties that presented themselves whenever I attempted to secure such a position as would enable me to labor with the most efficiency. My confidence in the sacredness of the cause, in the ability of the Southern armies to sustain it, and its ultimate triumph, were, however, unbroken, notwithstanding that I believed precious time was being wasted, and that, through a mistaken policy, the Confederates were compelled to stand upon the defensive,
