The Shreveport weekly news., 1861-06-17

mouth, Va, May I'D. 1861. )
Deov Newv. l take the liberty OF
writing to you. to let our Shreveport /
friends know how We arc getting
along. We are cncamped near Ports
mouth, in beautiful grove; about a
mile from salt water. II is romant-
ic spot. and We are all quite lively
We are all well. and in the best ct
spirits. Some Of the boys have to
Law IN on account Of having their
feet cut in the oyster beds. The
oysters arc good here yet, and you
cannot keep them out Of them. The
other day We put up the Hospital tent
and the day before yesterday 1t fell
down, as much as to say ! am not
! needed, and there it lies till yet. We
are all getting fat. and to'erable lazy
II i. q hard matter to get the boys
! up in the morning at revcille. But
We have adopted p'a" that s',rs
them up little faster: Those who
do not answer to their "am"s' are put
on double duty in the cook house, to
carry wood and water. and they are
called the :. Leopard Guards" George
Leopard is boss Of the cook'hon"e'
and they derive their name from him.
We have u good deal Of fun here<-
The boys are all full Of life and fun
: They are nearly all out OF money
and it is amusing to see 'he'" DOING
> their own washing. saying all the
i. time, WHO wouldn't be soldier!
Las. Sunday week at IL o'clock at
: NIGHT 70 were awakened from sound
. sleep. and the order was given ''
march. l, was reported that the Fed
er.l troops were trying I" land. -
we took mp our arms and started OF
march. When We got about . m''e tn
from camp. we were halted in dar'
and drcary looking place and tn
o command wa. given 10 load. W.
though. tina, We were amongst I'M
enemy, and some Of them beear T.
s pull long and pale face, rs soon
', we were loaded we marched on lit
q tie further and were drawn up in line
and receiving instructions were Sell
around as scouts. Picket guards wer
,lac.d on the different roads. aud III
ha,,ure of us were stood under tn
=, shade of a big tree. We had nc
been there long before the rain co"
=, menced to pour down. and We wei
like drowned rats. We stayed 'l'"'
till nearly dayiish, and no en-m
"A appeared. So We Thought that tho
would no, attempt to conc, and W
heat a retreat to the nearest hous
:, which wa, sery small one. not ov'
sixteen fec. square aid mt isrs
enough to hold over Il hundred IN"
Some Of the boys got overhead
the rait.rs. and they looked more III
m..t hanging in & smoke house, til;
anything else ! know of. S"'""
=. them 90, under the house, and sou
Of them 60, in the chicken COOP,
l.. There We stayed till past l o'cl"'
noon. Wet started back to cam
nearly wet through, and We expect
>. TO get dry and comfortable. but q
horror. everything was drenched WI
-, rain a.,d mud. Our camp had be
=, occupied during the night by c."
-. pany Of Orleans Light Guards W
did no, get there in time the day
ID fore to put up their tents and tn
, ,yod ON our beds and clothes and mt
died everything we had. We W.
-, then camped in a large English
field. and il Was near ankle deep
!, water and mud. Maj. Shivers {
.or not like the way We were r'tnat
ma. and the next day nc moved ms out
the piney woods. We only staye'
a.. the pea camp two days, aud
aug Southern Cont-deracy will have
nav two thousand dollars damae
don. to the field. \ great man.
,;r. the boys filled their bed sacks W
neas. There il an abundance Of P
His here. The people are blowing tn
and up, and you can buy them in
marke, orfifty cents per barrel. III
him have been sending them North,
ho- since the blockade they cannot A
them away. Whole fields are p'ou
- .~~,,,o.s Milan