85 
Not least pleasant among the memories of this period of 
Colonel Totten’s life, to those who had the good fortune to be 
associated with him, is the recollection of the social enjoy- 
ments of his house. Married in 1816 to Catlyna Pearson, 
of Albany, he was surrounded by a young family, among 
whom his happiest moments were spent, and to whom he 
was everything that such a relation can imply. None could 
be happier in his social intercourse. Genial and eminently 
hospitable, he cultivated as a duty those smaller amenities of 
society by which the cares of life are lightened, and its joys - 
augmented. His house was the home of his friends, and 
was seldom without some one of them. Though dignified 
and courteously reserved in his intercourse with the external 
world, few more highly enjoyed real humor, or could with 
more true bon-hommie give themselves up to the gayety of 
the moment. In his relations to his young officers he was 
kind and affable, encouraging freedom of expression, and 
inviting inquiry in everything that related to professional 
Matters, while there was always that in bis manner which 
inspired the most profound respect and forbade undue levity” 
of conduct in his presence. 
Before quitting the scene of so important a portion of 
Colonel Totten’s official labors, it is proper to remark that, in 
addition to the duties of his particular charge, he as a mem- 
ber, and for the last six years President of the Board of 
Engineers, was engaged in the planning of the new works 
for which Congress from time to time made the necessary 
appropriations.* To this duty he usually devoted the win- 
* By the Regulations, the local engineer officer, pon whom the 
construction of the proposed work was to devolve, was ex officio a 
of brought during the winter 
months engineer officers from various parts of the country, — from the 
shores of the Gulf, Seni the seaboard of North and South Carolina 
