Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-07-25
"I'm on Dixie's land,
 And Dixie aint at home; Dixie's men have ran away, And Dixie's wife is pOneD
From Independence County.

MR. EDITOR: " e have had no paper from Little Rock since the 9th of June, and but few from any where else, consequently know but little that is going on there or else where. Our county has been in continued excitement since the Pocahontas e1- petition, of which presume you have heard ere this-if you have not, l will give you a short sy nopsis of what our neighborhood did. John H. Dye and II. ". Tunstall were at Jacksonport, en route for your city to tender the State or Confede racy the services of the Pike Guards,' (not then fully organized) the morning the news reached ed back and padded three or four miles against the current of Black river (then overAowed) to Parakeet Bluff, where they mounted horses and by assistance of other runners notified the people for twenty five miles up, and had an infantry company raised and equipped (rfes and shot guns with provisions cooked to last four days, and in march ing order from this place by II o'clock. A braver or more determined set of men have never seen, whilst large cavalry company were en route by land; by 4 o'clock, p. m., the infantry company marched to Burkley, twelve miles distant, where they expected to embark upon a steamer, momen- tarily expected to take them up. And I will here remark that each man as he was notified, stopped his plow dropt his hoe in the middle of the row, when every thing then was needing work. Yet such the feelings aroused by the news of the invasion, that every one seemed to regret their appontment ofrevenge-they however returned, laid by the implements of war, and took up those they had laid down. So much for our first expedi. ton. And in justice to other portions of this coun ty as well our adjoining counties, I would say that what did would be but fair average of their joint exertions. Our numbers were limited by the amount of guns then in fix, since then nearly every shop has been an armory; and many old guns long since laid by have been made efficient weapons. We can turn out double now, if not treble as many as we did before.
 And what I say of ourselves would be but just tribute to the whole county It would do you good to see our home guard drilling-our oldest citizens who have fought in other wars-donned now with their striped brooches and cockade hats, marching with the same enthusiasm and alacrity of their youthful companions, some of whom are not one fifth their age. These venerable and venerated patriots can many of them rake deer down at speed, at a hundred and fifty yards distance with their double barrel guns-whilst their twelve year old companions can at an off-hand shot burst squirrels eye when in the topof our talles timber. With the certainty of encountering over and over again, at least ten thousand such troops, we'll mounted for every fifty miles of our country invad ed, what sized army would it require to success fully march through country with such force in a geurllla warfare? Ifsuchan army as Napoleons host Ill Russia, and who soldiers is not large enough-their fate should furnish them warning.
 Well I started out to tell you some thing about the Pike Guards-but not expecting better op- portunity thought I would stop and praise our. selves little, and in may haste forgot to tell you to put your finger down when 1 said the Pike Guards were not then fully organized, and will now say that these other circumstances narrated rather augmented than abated the efforts to organ ize that company. Preparations having been made for purchase of goods for uniform, equippage, etc., the patriotic ladies God bless them) by appoint rent met at the church house at this place, and with their sewing machines and their lit tie fingers made up nearly all their uniforms, what was not finished they took home and finished and brought back to this place on the 18th, the day of rendezvous, when each soldier donned himself in soldiers clothes, and formed into line and marched to the church house, where they in com pany with us all, listened to Rev J. Williams, who preached one of the most feeling, though war like discourses have ever heard-text the 20 verse, 2d chapter of Ioel-and handled it, in my iudg. ypo in ak nd tariv Stxlo fton .l the company was again formed into line and march, ed to the grove at the spring. where the ladies had spread an abundance of the substantials and deli caces oflie for supper with enoughl left for break fast and to last them to Smithville) which they had cooked and brought with them, taking supper themselves with the volunteers. And according to previous appointment, again met next morning Gas did almost every body else) to witness the presentation of a beautiful flag, prepared by the same lovely hands which had done so much for them heretofore.
 The flag was presented by Miss Molie T. Jerna- gan, in feeling and eloquent address, and hope you will let your readers judge of its merits, Gas am told copy has been solicited for publication but this much will say, for your readers may not know that she delivered it in fine style. Its reception was acknowledged by their youthful Captain, John II. Dye,) in a somewhat lengthy, though feeling and appropriate address After which Rev. Mir. Hickson made few feeling and appro priate remarks, offered prayer in their behalfa1 a presented each one with copy of the NewtEev h ment and bid them good bye and God saument- cl also the ladies and citizens generalSe, to words N took up their line of march with ,.sfe, each one, al and vocal, to the glorious .,,e honor of going as set by their illustria anu 1nose lovely la ~ old and young seems rsoa De II said, have u Ges Ga anv as'sods until boys retan any declared thsa aas been received into Col Sha- by
 s-S as mas also Capt. BrightwaIl, no Fropostcapt. a' Gibbs cavalry company mase.
 Acm this county, and if they will give laes na fo, ,,s ne tnd Gnh send three times as many more. And at present, will make enough to feed .bs sol to spare. You ob't serv't '1''A' tim
 INDEPENDENCE. hor