Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1862-03-01

Fort Donelson. they will be in sixty miles Of
Nashville. They have been fighting there: report
says. for the last three days. The news reached
here this morning that we had whipped them,
badly. killing 1000 and taking 1000 prisoners.
| This is not confirmed as yet. although We know
here that they have been fighting for three days,
and tina many of the cncmy's dead had reached
Paducah. 1t is also reported that Bcaurcgard
was in command there. If this report should
! prove true, it will arrest the advance of the enc
nv for some time, and in the mean time the Con
| ftdcratcs viii! have time to enlarge the army OF
! Kentucky. which at this time is entirely too
small to meet the large force advancing on them
at different points, and hope for success.
When Capt. Stewart (now Maior) was forming
this company, in your parish, in June last, it was
predicted bv some that it would be a total fail
! ure, as it would be impossible to get guns, and
that it would have to be turned into an infantry
company before it would be received by the
Confcderacy. The fate of the artillery compa-
mes that were being formed at the same time in
our sister parishes, would almost have warranted
this prediction, as all of them We're turned into
infantry, previous to their being transferred to
the Confederate service, for want of guns. Had
they had a leader endowed with the. energy OF
ours, their efforts might have been crowned with
success. When the company left Baton Rouge,
in August last, for the scat of war, it numbered
ninety members, two brass and four small iron
guns, and one hundred and two horses. But
Major Stewart, with an energy that ! have rarely
seen saqualled, has steadily increased the proper
tions of this company, until yesterday it was
formed into a battalion numbering two hundred
and fifty men, (siNty men are now on the way to
join it, twelve brass pieces, and horses enough
to work same. The LIST Company is formed OF
the original signcrs, and the I'd Of the new mem
bers. This is the only battalion in the Western
army. Many of the Captains here have attempt
ed to raise their light batteries to battalions, but
they remain as they were months ago. This
speaks higher than anything else for our Major.
The Generals here have asked Gen. Polk to
authorize Major Stewart to raise a legion, which
is to consist of the Pointe Coupee Battalion, two
companies Of cavalry, and two battalions of in
fantry Of six companies each; and when formed,
to constitute Il separate command. Gen. Polk
has issued the authorization, and it is now i'll
possession Of Major Stewart. | have not the
least doubt of his success in this undertaking. as
he is known all over Louisiana as one of the
most daring and energetic men in the service
and is excellcd by none in kind and g%entlemanly
bearing to those under his command. He has
the reputation also of being the best provider in
the Western arny and his battalion of artillery
bears unmistakable evidence of this fact, as isis
unsurpassed by none in equipments, clothing and
provisions. "
The weather has been very bad. here, up to
several days ago; it is now beautiful, but cold.
The health of the company Is excellent, there
! being only two or three cases in camp-tllese
very slight ones. I think our health will con
tinue good, as all the camp diseases have passed
away, and the soldiers are acclimated. J. Y.