From that day on, every person, almost, was eager for the war, and we were all afraid it would be over and we not be in the fight.

Companies were made up, regiments organized; left, left, left, was heard from morning till night.
By the right flank, file left, march, were familiar sounds.

Everywhere could be seen Southern cockades made by the ladies and our sweethearts.
And some who afterwards became Union men made the most fiery secession speeches.

Flags made by the ladies were presented to companies, and to hear the young orators tell of how they would protect that flag, and that they would come back with the flag or come not at all, and if they fell they would fall with their backs to the field and their feet to the foe, would fairly make our hair stand on end with intense patriotism, and we wanted to march right off and whip twenty Yankees.

But we soon found out that the glory of war was at home among the ladies and not upon the field of blood and carnage of death, where our comrades were mutilated and torn by shot and shell.