Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1860-05-05
THE TARGET EXCURSION OF The
PELICAN RIFLES.
The DEPARTURE.

"'''s
of Baton Rouge, to accompany them on thelr
first target excursion to Crosse Tete. on
Wednesday evening last, put on his best
bib and tue kerr and was on board the ferry
boat at the appointed h 'nr. Precisely as the
steamers whistle screechel its Iondest notes
Of departure, the Peliean's. headed by the
indomitablr Capt. TuNNaRD, Appeared IN
sight, and in a few minutes we were all en-
,out. for the railroad. But a few minutes
were necessary to debark, and in less time
than it takes to write this sentence, We were
whirling along on the rail7 at almost race
horse speed. 1t is not necessary here, per-
haps. to tell our readers that during the trip
out, :. the boys'' would, and did have a nice
little time in the cars all to themselves. The
excellent band belonging to the Cannoneers
of DonaldsonvilIe, discoursed their eloquent
music all the way out, ard whenever 4 t:vo-
rite air was played, the vocal accompani'
ment was some.
THE ARRIVAL AT CROSSE TETE
Astouished the good citizens of Rosedale
who were taken by surprise at finding, with
out notice. a fine military company, parading
til cough their streets. After accepting the
hospitality of friends G--s and Harry at
their store, the company went through their
exercises preparatory to a dismissal tor the
evening, and selecting their camping grounds
for the night. The warehouses and rooms of
the railroad depot were rendered the co,npa-
nv. and at once the members dispersed them
selves in search of the softest planks where
on to repose in d reamy-comfort for the night.
the cateresship being in the hands of STEVE
BAsrL,sco, it is needless to say, that a fine
supper was soon prepared-the necessar'es
having been brought from the city-aiter
partsking Of which amidst the greatest mer-
rlment Of the company from the nature Of
their tables. and the ,quips and Jokes literally
bestowed upon every body and everything.
the party broke up-guatl was mounted,
and due preparations for watch and sleep en-
tered upon.
DURING THE iGHT
The BOYS who were certainly out from
home for a frolic, determined that they
wouldn't sleep, and nobody should stand
guard in the damp night air, while SO many
icreature comforts" and josial v si:ors were
plentiful about the depot. For form sake.
guard was mounted, bn. it was a very Difficult,
matter to make the guard understand what
duties they were to perform. 1t would not
do Tor US to tell Of all the strange mishaps
that occurred during the night, lest somebody
might dispute our assertions; therefore we
stiant say a word about TN p-N try.
lrs to shoot a brother soldier with a hoe
handle: nor how P - vas puzzled
TO tell how it was he was locking np the
some struggling members all the time tor
how his honor. Private EN-. and WV.
T-D were bo:her,d at their not catchin.
any fish from the depot steps. and a srra:
many other cxcent,ieities OF that character
| Some here during the wee sma' hours
this reporter, faint and weary, crept away
from the party. in disguise. aud w-niei MS
way to the St. Charles Hotel, where he vas
kindly taken care of by the gentIemanly pro-
%prietor, WALTER STtLwrlL: An excellent
nights rest in one of his comfortable rooms,
refreshed and invigorated us. TIE reveille
at da break aroused US from our slumhels.
aud on reaching the depot. was astohished to
fnd the Pelirans out in full force, and assem-
bling preparatory to the
MORNING
drill. After an hours exercise. STEVE an
nonnced breakfast. and it somehow family
occurred to US that The Roseaaie All was Won
de%rfuIly invisorating, besides being an aston
,shing appetizer. 1t wont do t, tell how
much provender" this reporter dis kosed OF.
but there was a small army of empty r1ates
and dishes when he left the table. The sd me
effect was visible upon the Peiicans. who in
two meals. only, got rid Of all the nice and
tempting things they brought with them, aud
which they thought would be an abundance
aud plenty to spare. A drill OF hail an hour
was necessary to settle the solids and fluids,
and the band struck up the march for
THE SHOOTING RoUND
The old barbecue ground on the BAYOU
Crosse Tete SO well-known TO everybody for
twenty miles around: was the spot selected
aud bnt a few minutes were necessary TO set
tie and arraugeA nil the little preliminaries OF
target practice. A distance of eighty yards
was measured of. which was considered fai,
shooting distance with the Mississippi Rifle
the arm of the Pelicans. The shooting
then b~gan-each man firing according to
his number, when called. The first prize. a
beauti nj silver goblet was won by 2nd Lieu
tenant J. p. V,eLrNE, all Of whose shots be-
trayed considerable skill, The second prize,
a fine b'each-Ioading rifle was won BY pr,-
vate JOHN S%rANNARp, and the third PRIZE.
not yet determined upon, offered Ivy Major
CoLroN, was won by LIST Lieutenant Gou.
RrEK. The last prize, the leather metal
was awarded to High Private, BENJAMIN
HICKMAN, who amidst the cheers of his
comrades, confessed his detr, mination to
do better next time After the regular shoot
ing was over, a prize was put up by Lieuten-
ant V,GL1NE-single shots at sixty yards. 1t
was impossible to decide upon the result OF
the last contest, owing to the iact that the
shots of Privates CURRAN and BKuNor meas.
ured exactlu the same 4lisfanao frau, thu aoa