After the Civil War, Mobile was occupied by Federal troops, and it was not a fun place. Hostilities had long since put Mardi Gras on hold. However, in 1866, I felt it was time once again to bring back the merriment of Mardi Gras and decided to do my part to put life back into the town. I decked myself out in full Chickasaw Indian regalia, proclaimed myself Chief Slacabamorinico, I "borrowed" a coal wagon with six spirited (figuratively and literally) friends calling ourselves "The Tea Drinkers," and road my one-mule, one-float parade through the town.