Languages at the Louisiana Seminary of Learning during my administration, in 1859-’60; was an accomplished scholar, of moderate views in politics, but, being a Virginian, was drawn, like all others of his kind, into the vortex of the rebellion by the events of 1861, which broke up colleges and every thing at the South.  Natchez, at this time, was in my command, and was held by a strong division, commanded by Brigadier-General J. W. Davidson.  In the Diana we stopped at Natchez, and I made a hasty inspection of the place.  I sent for Boyd, who was in good health, but quite dirty, and begged me to take him out of prison, and to effect his exchange.  I receipted for him; took him along with me to New Orleans; offered him money, which he declined; allowed him to go free in the city; and obtained from General Banks a promise to effect his exchange, which was afterward done.  Boyd is now my legitimate successor in Louisiana, viz., President of the Louisiana University, which is the present title of what had been the Seminary of Learning.  After the war was over, Boyd went back to Alexandria, reorganized the old institution, which I visited in 1866 but the building was burnt down by an accident or by an incendiary about 1868, and the institution was then removed to Baton Rouge, where it now is, under its new title of the University of Louisiana.

We reached New Orleans on the 2d of March.  I found General Banks, with his wife and daughter, living in a good house, and he explained to me fully the position and strength of his troops, and his plans of action for the approaching campaign.  I dined with him, and, rough as I was—­just out of the woods—­attended, that night, a very pleasant party at the house of a lady, whose name I cannot recall, but who is now the wife of Captain Arnold, Fifth United States Artillery.  At this party were also Mr. and Mrs. Frank Howe.  I found New Orleans much changed since I had been familiar with it in 1853 and in 1860-’61.  It was full of officers and soldiers.  Among the former were General T. W. Sherman, who had lost a leg at Port Hudson, and General Charles P:  Stone, whom I knew so well in California, and who is now in the Egyptian service as chief of staff.  The bulk of General Banks’s army was about Opelousas, under command of General Franklin, ready to move on Alexandria.  General Banks seemed to be all ready, but intended to delay his departure a few days to assist in the inauguration of a civil government for Louisiana, under Governor Hahn.  In Lafayette Square I saw the arrangements of scaffolding for the fireworks and benches for the audience.  General Banks urged me to remain over the 4th of March, to participate in the ceremonies, which he explained would include the performance of the “Anvil Chorus” by all the bands of his army, and during the performance the church-bells were to be rung, and cannons were to be fired by electricity.  I regarded all such ceremonies as out of place at a time when it seemed to me every hour and every minute were due to the war.  General Banks’s movement, however, contemplated my sending a force of ten thousand men in boats up Red River from Vicksburg, and that a junction should occur at Alexandria by March 17th.  I therefore had no time to wait for the grand pageant of the 4th of March, but took my departure from New Orleans in the Diana the evening of March 3d.