Friday, May 1st . After breakfast read the Marshall Republican; found a very good speech from Horatio Seymour, Democratic candidate for governor of New York. Walked about town until I met Captain Rice. Engaged my seat on the stage for Monroe, Louisiana; found Bulwer’s “Strange Story” in Captain Rice’s room and read about twenty pages; spent the morning with Captain Rice and with Lieutenants Davis and Eastman; took dinner at the restaurant; went back home; wrote letters to my dear wife and to Mr. Carter; walked to the postoffice, and met Lieutenant Moore; went to the Veranda and took supper with him; met Hall of El Paso, Myers of Corpus Christ! and Patrick of Leon county, Texas; spent the evening discussing our prospects of getting across the river.