The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1861-06-08


and squadron is hurled against squadron in
the headlong charge that is to decide the fate
Of u hotly contested day, even lhei, as the sol
dier's eye catches the CLEAN Of that banner thro
the smoke Of battle, he will close in deaa!ier
conflict with the foe around it. he will see
lowering, like guardian angels, the lovely ferns
Of the fairest daughters Of his native land
reckoning him on to the victory aud hear them
appealing to him to
"S,rike for his affairs and his fires;
For the green graves of his sires;
God and his native land"
In the name and on behalf then Of the Ope-
lousas Guards, l pledge you that that banner
associated as it is with all that is near aud
dear to MS as Southerners and as freemen.
crowned by the hands ofa co%nn,rywoman as
patriotic as she is fair, with the wreath Of the
red, white and blue, bearing upon its si!ken
folds the glorious motto of God and our Rights.
shall never be dishonored or disgraced in the
hands of those to whom you have entrusted it.
Iu the name Of our most holy religion; in
The name Of our sacred cause; in the name OF
our country, I pledge you that around it shall
be gathered 9 band as determined as ever drew
the sword in defence Of everything dear to
~freemen 1: that where blows fall thickest and
blood flow fastest, there it shall be seen spread
ing its graceful folds OH the hot breath of bat.
tie; and that if it should ever grace lie trorhied
bali, Of ciotpr;nuo f,o ~ ,vilt ntlv ha u,I,eO
the last one Of US shall have been cut down
around it and when its tattered and blood
stained folds shall stand living witnesses that
tAose who bore it to battle were men, who
might be extermiDated but not conquered.
When the stnrm, Of war shall have given
place to the sunshine Of peace; when the gates
Of the temple Of Janus shall have been again
closed mud we shall have sleathed the sword
aud returned to the peaceful walks Of life, I
pledge you that that banner, tattercd and torn
though il may be by the enemies bullets,
though tbickly eu,ertwiDed with cypress, for
the brave hearts who bied around ii, may be
the wreath of red, white and blue that now
encircles it, will still be cherished by US as the
memento Of a period the most glorius Of our
existence when tue ladies of St. Landry with II
heroism worthy Of the past, invoking the
choicest blessings of heaven upon us, sent US
forth to conquer or to die in a cause the most
glorious in which sword was ever unsfeathed.
Ladies, but . few more days will have
elapsed when w shall take our departure from
amongst you. We know that in the yicis.
situdes Of war many Of III; will never again be.
hold the loved faces now gathered around us.
But we 30 forth to battle, "soo,hsd and sus'
,sined BY an unfaltering trust" in the justice Of
our cause; knowing that life at best is but I'M
certain and that no death il so glorious as
that met OH the battle field in o just Cause
aye we know that
"To every man upon this earth
Death comcth soon or late:
And how can q man die better,
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashssso his fathers, +.
And ,heieinples ofbis Gods; .
And for the tender mother. .
Who has handled him to rest,
And for the wife who nurses
His baby at her breast,
And for the lovely maiden
To whom he hath pledged his tfoth.'s
When MIR. Hudspesh had concluded his ad
dress. Rev. q. A. Frazee Of the Methods,
Church invoked the blessing food upon TIT
banner, which was then taken to the Catho
lie Church and their received a bened ,ctio,
from Rev. Mr.. Raymond. On their return
the Guards saluted the Convent as a testi
mony of their gratitude for the Kindness tn
ladies Of this Institution had done them.