The Avoyelles pelican. [volume] (Marksville [La.]) 1859-186?, 1862-06-07

persed the cavalry about 60 in number
and finding ourselves in front Of the in
fantry, We again pitched in and through
them, picking up about IS prisoners, but
our brilliant career was suddenly checked
by discharge from the artillery thai
stampedcd our horses in every direction
The Captain immediately sounded.
rally and retrfated n good ofdt1 eaiisJ'
ing away with US q prisoners, and lear
ing from thirty TO forty dead enemies up.
on the field; We had but three men woan-
ded and few horses shot. Our capt
ain narrowly escaped being killed by a
she'll that fell but a few fret from his
horse but buried itself in the deep sand
without exploding; had it hurst. it would
certainly have torn him to pieces. Such,
dear Pelican, is rapid sketch of the
battle. Of !. Vinson's Lane" in which cap
tain .'Fe,u,lDn Cannon" made name and
famr fnrthe Creole Chargers, and win
ming for himself the significant sobriauet
Of the" Red chief Of the valley" he
wears red cottonnade home made coat
d la Sauvage). In ct he is now known
amongst us as j" Chactaw Cannon" and
dressed as he is in his savage costume
he is the presentation of an indian
chief.
There were many instances 70 ind :
vidual bravery during tie fight, it is diff
ficult to make any distinctions, but this
one. Henry Griffin tone Of our new re-
cruits,) the son of W. F. Griffin, pur-
sued cavalry man to within $50 yards
of the artillery, cap tired and took his
arms. fine navy revolver aud carbinr of
Nhiel thu captain made him present
for his bravery. Hart FELTON,, a little
volunteer soldier boy Of l3 years of
age, whose mother had been badly trra
ted by the Federal cavalry, rode into the
fight by The side Of Capt. G. and there
fought the whole willie without receiving
a scratch.
From the BATH. field ve took mp our
line Of mare for camp and ON our route,
We w,rr received with the greatest de-
mmstratio,s Of JOY imaginable. The
ladies' Of The Tuscunbi:. valley actually
covered, is with flowers and blessings
At tl,r prilsc.ly residence OF Mr. lsay
Whistles We were s,inpiuously frastrl
on every good thing weary soldier
could desire. On leaving, Miss Ella
Winston, one Of th. lovcliest and most
autituircreatures ever seen: presented
Capt: Cannon witha richly gifted pocket
Bible as small token Of her gratitude
for the protection, he and his brave troop
ers, had given to the ladies Of the Valley.
Our captain kissed the fair hand that
presented it and promised to send the
pretty lady young brother to make her
heart feel lighter. 1t was here, We par
ted with our hero soldier boy, whom the
captain clasped in his arms and kissed
f,rvently, the brave little fellow wept
bitterly, and the affecting scene brought
tears to the eyes Of every trooper.
Before reaching camp we met Col.
Scott with the whole regiment starting
ont on. expedition across. the Tennes-
seer yer and also Elk River; we COM
menced crossing on the 29th and finished
on the 3Oth about midnight. lst May we
pnoeeeded, without rest, to Athens %
miles distant.
When within three miles from town,
the column was halted, Capt Leake with
-
a detachmcnt were sent as an advance
guard for the purpose Of running in the
enemy's pickets and recommending. At
past q o'clock A. NJ he cameup to them.
They fred upon him and ran; he made a
charge, when cross firing was opened
from .sboth5side, of the roatl; nfding hun.
sell over rpoWefcu Ms fUtdfneu t0- Uuf
place of operation, then Capt. Cannon
again, was ordered to take 40 Riflemen
/ as sharp shooters and advance on the
enemy's lines; scarcely had he gone
few hundred yards. when. his sharp
shooting was heard. This was kept upf