The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-05-01
FROM PENSACOLA.

l--r CAsr DAVIS FLomDA. April aist, issi.
Dear Brother.
Yours Of the 18th has been re.
ceveds and | proceed at unrr To answer it not
that have any particular occurrence 10 detail
but merely to crafty you by stating that 7 am
well and in high spirits with all the rest Of the
boys, save some few exceptions. Our fare Is
becoming plentiful, MS Gar as cataLles are con.
cerned such as il is We came near having
stampede among the boys, few days since, on
account Of there being several barrels Of spoilt
beef messed out to us. We tried to prepare It
in various ways, TO get 1t down, but failed in
every instance. The next morning we had
funeral procession, to bury the remains Of old
Logan. Appropriate inscriptions were inscribed
ON the hcad-piece. u was attempted to be put
upon us again, bat Il did not go. Amer little
confusion they meatsd out to us very good ba-
con. This morning, being Sunday there came
in from the country some fresh beef which we
received with rabid appetites. We are poorly
provided with clothing especially shoes. Not
pair Of shoes has been sent into camp, that
know of--ncither pants nor hats-except what
the boys have paid for out Of their own private
funds and such as had no funds Of their own,
had to 20 naked; and am one Of the unfortu-
mates, In regard to moncy-but have one suit
of good clothes. that will last me for sometime
yet, except shoes g. ..-.t...
accomplished little foolish feat to-day, in
which lost my shoes, socks and pocket hand
kcrchief with fine collection Of shells. Ny
cousin Tbcodosius and myself obtained leave Of
absence this morning and took stroll South,
on the beach, looking for curicsitics. We coast.
ed Il around for several miles, having got entire
ly around Fort McRee, which Is situated on
sand-bar, entirely cut of from the main land. -
The distance from our stand TO the fort was
nearly half mile-thc water was shallow, at
first and we waded out on bar several hun
drcd yards, picking up shells Of very beautiful
shapes and colors. Finding the water still shall
low, we concluded to wade and swim to the Fort
With our shoes and shells in our mouths, we
set out After swimming some time, the waves
rose little higher, and soon stranglcd us so
that we let our freight go by the board and
turned our attention to sclfprcservation. There
was number OF men in sight Of US, but they
did not seem to notice our danger. The distance
was three times as far as we supposed, and the
consequence was we had to swim nearly an hour
against the wind, with our clothes on. Finally,
we struck sand with our feet. I have thought
that could swim the Mississippi river with my
clothes on, and carry woman, but since have
tried it in the briny deep. have no anxiety to
try the experiment again, singlc-handed. So,
the result Of my nonsense is that am in the
army Of the South barefooted and without
cent Of money. In this respect am not alone;
others are dependent on the charity Of those
IN thecompany who left home more full-handed |
Take my word for II those that have money In |
this company are very few, and think IL La
fayette County could see the difference between
their first company and others Of Mississippi,
their pride would be slightly wounded. The
difference on parade does not arise from there
being more wealthy men enlisted in the compa-
mics, utffom the liberaiity lavished upon them |
by their sympathizers I'm fact, the Marshall
County companies came on with everything
provided that the short notice would allow, and
with money to furnish themselves at other points
on their way with everything needed Well,
why was this company not deemed worthy Of a +
like liberalitys I am sure that our noble Capt
Delay has the honor of commanding as worthy
a set Of valiant boys IS Captain anybody else
from Marshall or from any other part Of the
State; but Marshall can boast Of sending three
men to Lahyette's one--not man unfinished,
except those who joined on the eve Of depar-
ture, as I did, without time to prepare anything
Capt Delay claims that bis company Is the old
st in the State, and I viii venture 10 say Il Is
he worst provided So be 1.-THE climate is
not cold and We can 60 naked and gain as many
aurels on the walls Of Fort Pickens as any Of
he weIl-fsd boys and I hope the day viii come
then we can show to Lafayette County that her
,ous are equal 10 The task that has been placed
,efore them. and win not murmur al any hard
Ihip that may be Pot upon Us We can think
4 The days Of '76, and think eur hardest times
irft compared 10 the e.siesttines ef our fathers
n that d.y. n Do thihk that We are beng ne
5ected By sOmebOds. n ne Government has
Inythine for us, We are needing them. indeed
nd Il she has nothing. and can get nothing
m the last one to grumbls. In fact hOuid
= nors detsrnined @ serve her through syn
ably Dan anything else, f.,-..-..,' ~ 3 Ii
We .rs getting along 6aely with ouf battery
uHdne mcuntihe more guns every day.
ands employed making cartridges very hst
'ickens Is being reinforced every day, and Il We ,
YER have to take Il BY storm i win surely be =
loody encOunter. IL the report Is correct that Z
Re got here few days since that Gen. Scott has 1
esigned think i win do more TO prevent fur =
Der hostilities than The secession Of every one {
{ the rsmsining States The news Of Virginia's
recession was received here with shout that