The Avoyelles pelican. [volume] (Marksville [La.]) 1859-186?, 1862-02-08

We'arrived at Russellville early in the
morning ahd having to main'there some
time, our gallant officers procured stables
and forage for our horses, and ordered
warm refreshments at the Hotels, for the
/ inner man. We remained in .his beautiful
little village some six or eight hours and
the kind treatment we received at the
hands of its fair and charming daughters,
made our departure from it very disagree
able. but alas, our mission in kentucky
is to charge forth and not act the part of
a coquet or fop. We took up the line Of
march late in the evening for Greenville,
a little rotten yankee den near Green Ri
Yer, where we arrived after march Of 10
or l2 hours i the night, over a road
that could in one wav, be compared to
the road that leads to h---ll, if there is
any such place. Over snow clad noun
taius, through huge rocks and on road
that was frozen as hard as the Arctic re-
gions, did we go; still the courage of the
troops remained as endurable as that of
our forefathers. We rode up in front OF
the public square and all in the silence of
the winter night, took possession without
permit from amy one. When the order
to dismount was given, many of the boys
found their feet frozen fast to their stir
rups and several were frozen to the seat
of their saddles. We marched into the
courthouse and stretched our weary bones
upon the brick floor aud soon marched
off on the fowery road to dream-land,
while angels seemed to hover over our
heated brows to shield us from danger.
We slept about three hours and were a.
wakened by the bright rays ofthe heaven
" monster peeping in through the win
dows At the peep Of day the officers were
busy preparing breakfast for Ys, and like
in all other things our captain was first
at the table. infer this from the beauti-
full supply of luxuries he had prepared
for us at one Of the finest houses in the
village. We were invited into a parlor set
off with a carpet quite as aashy as pea
cocks tail and the finest OF furniture. Ut
course, seeing 50 much finery soon made
us forget the tsA rors of theswar-path. The
old gentleman pulled his &canter of old
apple, out on US, and you may rest as
sured eacl, man took enough to give him
good appetite for his breakfast. Before
going to the table, the captain advised us
to eat slow and long, that we might ram
down the more, as the prospects for a.
mother meal that dav was exceedingly
gloomy; his advice was followed in one
way, viz we eat lohg but d--d fast.
The captain kept up quite lively con:
versa,ioll with the lady of the house
cheering the breakfast hour, and being
rather busy in attending to my meal, |
paid but little attention to what was go
ing on around me-. but as the back bone
of swine was scraping down my throat,
I heard him remark: "Madam, so patrlo-
tic are the ladies of Louisiana, that when
they meet a mari in the street who has
not participated ii the war, they throw
their hoops over has Aedd.' What pity
that. KentYcky's daughters are not like
Louisianas.a
Hearing that there was great many
hogs in these regions, We resolved to turn
our Yankee hunting into hog-hunting:
consequently, squads were dispat ched in
the country in search of prizes, and in the
mean time we moved our camp to large
vaukee crib full of corn and oats, about
one mile from town, where we intended
to remain till next day. About dark run
ners came in from all quarters, informing
us that the yanks were trying to sur
round us with four thousand infantry and
900 cavalry; this was distinct mark OF
their bravery, for we had but three hum
dred melh rank and file, and they were
well acquainted with our exact number
and position. We were camped within
eight miles Of ten thousand Of the cow
ards, and I think the adventure might
well be called going to the lions den. Not
feeling disposed to even retreat from this
overwhelming number, our colonel gave
them the day from our exposed camp and
marched back to town when we awaited
theil arrival nearly two hours, butin vain,
when we left for Rochester, another yam
kee hole In this march, our brave captain
held the post of honor, in taking the po-
sition of rear guard, and as the command
marched off at a pretty brisk pace he re-
marked that he would be d--d if he
went out of walk The rear guard is al
ways the most exposed in marches, but
so eager was he to see the devils that he
remained four miles in the rear awaiting
them, but their courage failed them and
we heared no more Of the surrounding ar
my that night. We arrived at Rochester
on the hanks of Green River, of which the
yankees brag so much, at a late hour in
the nioht. and camped. The next morning