The climate was delightful.
Near the close of the short session of Congress of 1844-5, the bill for the annexation of Texas to the United States was passed.

It reached President Tyler on the 1st of March, 1845, and promptly received his approval.

When the news reached us we began to look again for "further orders." They did not arrive promptly, and on the 1st of May following I asked and obtained a leave of absence for twenty days, for the purpose of visiting--St.Louis.

The object of this visit has been before stated.
Early in July the long expected orders were received, but they only took the regiment to New Orleans Barracks.

We reached there before the middle of the month, and again waited weeks for still further orders.
The yellow fever was raging in New Orleans during the time we remained there, and the streets of the city had the appearance of a continuous well-observed Sunday.