Secession had been resorted to as the last chance left the South for a preservation of her rights.

Fort Sumter, had fallen, and from all parts of the land troops were pouring to meet the threatened invasion of their homes.

As history will record, New Orleans was not idle in those days of excitement.

Thousands of her sons came forward at the first call, and offered their services for the good of the common cause, and for weeks the city was one scene of excitement from the departure of the different companies to Virginia.
Among the thousands who replied to the first call of their country, was Alfred Wentworth, the confidential clerk of one of the largest commission houses in the city.

He was of respectable family, and held a high position in society, both on account of his respectability and the elevated talent he had displayed during his career in the world.
He had been married for about five years, and two little children--one a light-eyed girl of four summers, and the other an infant of two years--were the small family with which heaven had blessed him.
After joining a company of infantry, and signing the muster roll, Alfred returned home to his wife and informed her of what he had done, expecting that she would regret it.