The Avoyelles pelican. [volume] (Marksville [La.]) 1859-186?, 1862-02-01
Letter from private w. NJ. G. NELSON I
Camp, Cannon, near Bowling Green.
Kentucky, Jan. 10th 1862.

EDITOR PELICAN. - Thinking you
readers are growing quite eager and an
xious to hear from the gallant Capt
Fen. Cannon's command. in Col Scott.
] 1st louisiana Mounted Regiment, here
with pen you few hastely written Ii
mes, in detail of my experience among
snowy clad mountains Of this now trou
bled soil, and in the meantime, let the
dear ones at home know our where
abouts, and that every devil composing
FENELoN's command is still able to
crack his own corn cakes.
After our arrival here, our destiny
seemed to lead to an unfortunate end
Hail storms fell thick and fast upon us,
and tapered off by shielding thinks over
with a heavy snow storm. We have
been in Kentucky about five weeks,
and during that time, have changed
camps not less than ten times.
Our camping facilities might we'll be
compared to an old turkey hen IN laying
season she moves her nest from place
to place until she finally succeeds in gett-
ing suitable one, in which she can sa-
fely leave her eggs. We have moved
from place to place until at last some in
visible hand seemed to hold out an illu-
mination and lifted our path to our pre-
sent comfortable abode, where it is ho-
ped we may remain until we turn the
heads of our noble steads back to Loui-
siana's congenial climate.
We have been camped on the banks
of a beautiful little stream some Is days,
whose christal-like waters tumble over
it's pebbled bottom in a manner that
would charm the eye of king, much
less common soldiers. From the appea-
rance of things over head, which seemed
to signify the approach of bad veather,
our colonel ordered the captains Of the
companies, to move and take charge Of
all the vacant houses in the neighbor-
hood, as such would have it, there was
one for each company, and we are now
comfortably located in warm houses, sur
rounded by all that is required to make
soldier happy. The change we find
much to our benefit, as the cold north
winds and drizzling. rains would find into
our rotten hoWses, in spite of our exer-
tions to make them waterproof. When
We moved to our present quarters, We
experienced some difficulty in getting
permission to enter the premises /; the
whole establishment belonging to an old
white-headed sick facad unionst, who
protested against, and finally became so
enraged as to, tell our captain he wanted
to report him to Gen. Buckner if he da-
red enter the premises. The captain
told him to report and be id. The
house was full of fine corn, such as the
ash banks Of old Red produces, and the
captain ordered charge on it, and in a
few minutes five hundred barrels of corn
lay upon the ground exposed to the cons
tant rains. This caused old Union to
turn away in utterly disgust. The next
day the old "cuss" reported us, but no.
thing was done to sooth his ire, as we
are still in possession Of his ouse and
stables. and use his corn and oats with
as much freedom as if we had raised
and harvested it, This old villain has
three sons in the Lin o|n a my and one
of them owns this place that We are now
in possession of. 1t is presumed that he
will be paid for his forage by the govern
ment, but if our government intends to
put into effect the contiscation act, the
above is an instance in which it should
be practiced.
Christmas was indeed dull day 18th
us. Many Of the bo~s passed away the
weary hours ofthf day by showing COM
parisons between| Christmas 1860 and
1861. and upon bne occasion, I heard
the voice of "CE larger" singing in clear
tones =
"When will de- that blissful day of
meeting"
Of course he permitted his mind to
follow too-much in the steps Of his heart,
and perhaps forgot himself. Indeed
when will that happy day come Never,
never, till the Yankees are driver far
from our soil.
Our present location is good as any
we can get in the State but it is more
than earthly man can say, when the hour
may arrive for us to leave our warm
houses to go forth upon the cold road to
intercept our enemies, as they seem to
come upon us with as much speed as the
creeping snake. The dark cloud that
has ever overhung the heads Of the CO.
wards is now visible here in an advan-
cling altitude, but when the whirlwind
from the Southern coast meets them, ar
med with the powerful thunderbolts of
Liberty, they will be swept from the
face Of the earth, and clear blue skies
left 70 shade the hrnMs nf the FREE