"By George! what a day that was!" he exclaimed, referring to the assault of the 27th of May. "I'll bet more'n a hundred shots come within five feet of me. If I could a kep' up with the regiment, I'd a done it. But I couldn't. I had to go straight to the hospital. I tell you I suffered there. I couldn't get no kind of attention, there was so many wounded there. After a few days I set out for the regiment, and found it in a holler where the rebel bullets was skipping about like parched peas in a skillet. But I was too sick to stand it. I had to put back to the hospital. Finally the Doctor he sent me to New Orleans. Well, I was just gettin' a little flesh on my bones when General Emory ordered every man that could walk to be put to duty. Nothing would do but I must take command of this fort. I got here yesterday morning, and the boat went back in the afternoon, and here we be in a hell of a muss. I brought twenty such invalids along--men no more fit for duty than I be. I swear it's a shame." Colburne did not utter the disgust and contempt which he felt; he turned away in silence, intending to look up dressings for his arm, which had become dry and feverish. The Major called him back. "I say, Cap, if the enemy are in force, what are we to do?" "Why, we shall fight, of course." "But we ha'n't got men enough to stand an assault." "How many?" "One little comp'ny Louisianny men, two comp'nies nine months' men, and a few invalids." "That's enough. Have you any spare arms?" "I d'no. I reckon so," said the Major, in a peevish tone. "I reckon you'd better hunt up the Quartermaster, if there is one. I s'pose he has 'em." "A friend of mine has brought fifteen able-bodied negroes into the fort. I want guns for them." "Niggers!" sneered the Major. "What good be they?" Losing all patience, Colburne disrespectfully turned his back without answering, and left the room. "I say, Cap, if we let them niggers fight we'll be all massacred," were the last words that he heard from Gazaway.