The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1862-09-20
A GIGANrIc ROBBERY.

A week ago last thursday morning we witnes
the beginning of the second grand robbing expe-
dition on the Mississippi coast, by far more exten
sive and ruinous to our people than that which we
saw on the west side of the river, the previous
week. Col. Perkins had crossed the river to aid
Col Thomas in the first expedition, and we pre-
sume the favor was returned by Col Thomas in
this plundering expedition on the east side Of the
river, which we will now attempt to describe.
The Steamer Laurel Hill made halt at Shep-
herds plantation, about fifty miles above New
Orleans east bank of the Mississippi, on Thursday
morning, the 4th inst, and the cavalry on land
immediately commenced its work of plumber Mr..
Shepherd was at once ironed, hand and feet, by
Massachusetts Colonel, and every negro, mule,
horse, beef, and all movable property that could
be made useful 10 the enemy including all valua.
Bile articles in and around the house, were carried
of. The empty baildings, the land and the crops
were all that remained for The former possessors
of peaceful, comfortable, and happy home. After
the work Of destruction was completed, the irons
were removed from the limbs OF the robbed PLAN
ter, and the cavalry and plander advanced to. the
next plantation Here the same operation was
repeated as ON Shepherds place, and this work of
ruin was continued for a distance of over twenty
miles. Irons were placed upon the hands and feet
of venerable old planter whose name wei think
is Duplahten. He is ninety years old. They
robbed him as they didall of his neighbors. Their
object appeared to be to mortiY humble, and ruin
every planter on whose soil their accursed foes
were, placed, and TO make all the profits they
could at the same time.
.EOB Friday morning, the 5th inst, wo stood upon
the ieyee on the west bank of the Mississippi,
eighteen miles below the place where we had
observed the beginning of the robbery at Shep-
herds on the previous morn, and saw the Steamer
Moraiag Light dropping down the river abreast of
the Massachusetts, cavalry and their plunder.
This steamer had on board about one hundred and
fifty men, and three four pieces of artillery ap-
paIently for The use Of protecting the plunderers
Beaind this was the LsuIel Hill, dropping down
abreast OF the cavalry, her decks cleaned appa-
rently for the purpose of receiving board their
mounted thieves in case they were in danger OF
an attack. This was the beginning OF the second
days robbery. How far they extended their
operations below we are unable to say. But we
saw 40 the fruits Of their first days work Of in
fanny, q train Of negroes, carts, beeves, mules,
horses, etc., etc. which showed that scores Of
families were ruined by them up to that point
they doubtless had from two to three millions
worth Of property plandered from homes and ur,- in
! sweep TIE east side Of the river as high up as
Baton Rouge.
Such intamy, audacity. and meaHaess, we have
never before witnessed on either large or a
small scale.s These einulators Of Billy Wilson's
tactics, these hypocrites who professea 30 respect
private property, and to respect law Justce their
constitution, and the asages Of civilized nations,
who prefessea to know that there was powerful
Union party in this State, and who talked ateut
the giorlOus Stars ana s6ripess and the pest gov
ernment the Sun ever shone uponn these Jadases,
Catalines and Billy Wilson's now rob and ruin
those Union men, and say, 1d--rl the Unionn--
they rob widows, and orphans, and venerable and
helpless old fnen-they even rob the poor-they
even insult helpless widows and their unprotected
daughters. IS s5ss- II
But we need not comment. Where is the Loui-s
sisnian or the true Southern man, whose blood
does rot boil at the nonstrous robberies the burn
ing insnlts flung into the very faces Of Iouisian-
lars BY Massachusetts and! Vermont CoIonels4-
Where are the man that burned with patriotic in
dignation two years ago at the men Of the North
before such insults and outrages as these had been
practiced7 Are any of these men idle and indif-
ferent at the present timea Where is their burn.
ing eoqnence, where their money, their influence,
and their biooda Their insulted, downtIodden,
bleeding State calls upon them to act Ii calls
upon us all To act. Let him who has influence
money, strength, blood, q tongue, 4 pen, gun, or
sabre, be prepared to do his duty before it il
late to resist. Hadewe apoice of thunder, ,or pen
of fire, we would send out appeals to the people Of
this State which would arouse the sleeping ener-
ges Of all Of our citizens, fire every heart 10 pre-
pare for an INN ediate contest with a.remorseiess
foe that would drive him from the State. We can
only say to the people of Louisiana in conclusion
AAwakei3 AriseA or be forever fallen.n
llahters Ha,ssr. s