The Opelousas courier., 1863-04-30
OFF.CIAL:
assistant AJutant General.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE CUR,

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CuLT,
18TH ARMY CoRPs,
GENERAL ORDERs OpeEousas, April, 25, 1868.
sergeants BRADY, srArLEroN, McCon.
MICK, RrlsuARDr, SuEDLE, NEAL, HARRIS,
DARKEN. and two hundred and sixty-nino
men Of the Eighth Infantry of the Regular
Army of the United States, having been
exchanged hy the rebel government whose
prisoners they were, arrived at New Orleans
on the 25h of February, 1861, and por.
tian of them. under command Of Lieutenant
CorlEY AMoRy. 4'h Cavalry, reached this
post on the 23d instant to share with us
the honors of this campaign. It has been
deemed but an act of justice to these gallant
men to relieve them from this service, and
to expedite their return to the North. They
separate from the command this day. In
honor of their departure from 0relousas, the
Commanding General has ordered 4 national
salute, aud similar honor will be paid them
upon their departure from New Orleans.
Captain Baiuhridye at Opelou>as, and Brig.
adler General Sherman at New Orleans, arc
charged with the execution Of this order.
These gallant men of the army Of the
T'nted States in Texas were shamefnIy and
Internationally surrendered to the rebel au-
thorities by their superior of6cers on the 9th
oi Nay, 1861. Separated from their off.
GERS, divided into squads and removed to
ditfercrt posts on the frontiers of Texas,
deprived Of poy for more than two years,
they were sub jjecIed to degrading abors.
supplied with scanty food aud clothing, and
sometimes chained to the ground Or made
to suffer other severe military punishments.
Recruiting officers visited them daily, offer
ing them commissions and large bounties to
desert their Gag. Notwithstanding the false
reports Of the overthrow Of their Govern.
ment, which scduced so many men Of higher
rretensions and position, unsustaned by
counsel With each other, with few exceptions
they repoled the bribes ard avoided the
treason. Those who chose a different course.
did 1t 10 escape their prison.
No government has eyer been more faith.
fully served than by these men. Cheers OF
the army aud navy to whom they had a
right to turn for counsel aud mplc--who
had been educated by the Government and
never received months pay that was not
drawn from its Golfers, nor borne an honor
that it did not conter,-at the frs. sugges.
ton OF treason betrayed the mother that
nurscd them, and deserted the flag that
protected them. With every branch Of the
Government within their control, and the
continent under their feet, they yielded to
the indecency and folly of the rebellion, and
without shadow Of cause they sought to
biacEen the name of America and Ameri.
cans, by fastening upon her the greatest crime
Of human history-that Of destroying the
best government ever framed, and annihilat.
ing the well founded hopes of humanity in
r. publican liberty. Thank God! the Off.
GERS could not corrupt the men they com.
manded. Not soldier of .he army. nor a
sailor of the navy. voluntarily abandoned
his post The poisonous subt?eties of seces.
, sion never touched the hearts of the people.
, nor led them to substitute the guilty amb.
tion of vulgar, low bred proviucaisu for the
hallowed hopes of national patriotism.
, Soldiers. let the gallant men that part
+ from US to-day receive the honors they de.
: scrvc-.he peal of the cannon and the shoutv
of the line! Let them receive, whereve'
5 they 90, the homage of the army and nav
f together,-the army and navy forever
r By COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BANKS:
RICHARD B. IRWIN,
assistant .4Lutant General.
OFFICIAL:
! ROBERT T. DuHHAM,
Assistant .4djutant General.
hrp, T.Y.,C