Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-19

udnlaSe company ana the southern Mluldnu
railroad company was amended and passed to
be engrossed.
Letter from the Forty-SecOnd Regiment.
CAMP FARR BAYOU GENTLY, La,
February n, 1862.
We have had most pleasant and agreeable
surprise in our camp-one that was SO entire
ly unexpected that our enthusiasm was raised
to the highest pitch. The cause was the ar
rival of our paroled comrades from Texas,
whom we supposed to be marching for Vicks-
burg, as wrote you in my last. Instead of
that it seems that transportation was provided
for them part of the way, and on Wednesday
morning, 18th inst, they arrived at New Or
leans. A full account of their march, hard
ships, &c., was sent you by the mail which
left this morning, but | have learned many
interesting particulars, incidents, &C., of their
life in rebellion, which may perhaps interest
your readers, as much as they have the boys
who didn't go with them. Their reception at
camp may be mentioned as of the most enthu.
slastic and spontaneous character. Our bat
TALON was in the city yesterday, to take part
marched down to the custom house, where our
comrades were quartered, and escorted them
out to camp. 1t was very pleasant coinci-
dence, and one that added still more to the
enthusiasm, that our new cOlors provided by
Gov. Andrew, arrived in camp not more than
half an hour before the arrival of the boys,
and they were first displayed as the battalion
filed past the headquarters at camp. The
cheers which greeted them would have done
your soul coed to hear Cheers flowed out
like water from gushing spring-one sound
followed another until the boys were nearly
exhausted. The loss of our colors was sore
trial to the color company, and to see new
ones floating proudly as they came into camp,
was gladstone sight to all.
With our comrades came several rebel de-
serters, refugees, &C., and one of them a
former resident of New York, is now in camp
here, and his story of life in Texas. the oper-
ations of the rebels, &C., is particularly inter-
esting. His narrow escape from the clutches
of the enemy adds much to the interest of
his tale. His name is Roman, and he has
been in business in Houston for number of
years, where he has amassed quite hand
some property and where his family is still
stopping, all of which he has left with re-
ward OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS hanging over
his head, because he dared avow his Union
sentiments. When our troops occupied Gal
weston Mr.. Roman sought their protection.
He never dared leave the shelter of our guns
for moment by day light, and it was only by
strategy that he succeeded in escaping the
clutches of the rebels at the last. He asserts
t.Iat from all he knows of matters in Texas,
Com. RenSh0w is still Gliue and at Houston,
and furthermore that he is a traitor to our
cause. TO substantiate the statement he says
that when 1t became apparent that the rebels
would endeavor to drive us out of Galveston,
Com. Renshaw was handin-hand with rebel
officers, who dined and wined with him on
board the Westfeld. Two days before the
attack, the Westfield and one other gunboat
were removed two miles further from town,
where they could be of no service to our
troops. The night before the attack, lad of
ten or twelve years went on board the Clifton
as a messenger from his mother to warn his
father (another refugee, that an attack would
be made in twentyfour hours. This news
was sent to the commodore, and it was cor
roborated by others from shore, still the gun
boats kept their positions, and when the attack
did come, as predicted, the Westfield was
reported to be ashore and did not fire gun;
but on the contrary signalled for assistance
from the others who were hotly engaged in
the battle. Of course no assistance was sent
and the result is known. But all agree in
saying that it is not believed that the West
field was ashore at all, nor is it believed that
Com. Renshaw is dead The common remark
of our boys is, "We l0ere sold out cheap at
GdlUeSton."
This statement, written above, is very COM
mon among all who have escaped, and in re-
gard to the report about Renshaw, a relative
of one of the refugees living in Beaumont in
h,Nx. 81, if,1
there, especially as the commanders relatives
are residents Of Houston. Mr.. Romans final
escape from secessia was hair breadth one,
and many men would have given up the trial
under even less hazardous circumstances.
When our boys were captured Mr.. r. was
with them, and had succeeded in Disgusting
himself with our soldiers clothing, and there
fore was taken prisoners with them. For
some reason the rebels had suspicious that we
had secreted him, or could discover him to
them if necessary. In consequence our boys
were very narrowly watched all the time, but
without success, as the men were very care
full to refrain from calling him by name.
When the boys were paroled and ready to
leave, no name had been put OH the list for
Mr.. r., and here came the tug of war. The
rebel officers were sure to gethim now unless
considerable strategy was used. The roll was
dered to step three PAGES to the front. Thus
the reading continued, until the last half of
the list was reached, when the danger was
rapidly increasing. But some one managed
to break up the ranks so that the men whose
names had been called and those whose names
had not been called mixed together, SO that
the refugee could change his position. But
this did not work. The roll was commenced
again, and again was the ruse practiced.
Again and again was the roll called, each time
the refugee changing from one rank to the 9TH
er. until the roll had been called Si1 times,
and the rebels finally gave up the job. Of
course the obstinacy of the Yankees in break
ing up the ranks caused much cursing, but
what did they care for that? They saved by
the means one human life, at least, and one
winch may yet do valiant service for our cause
IN Ills adopted home, as it is understood he will
have position in the Texas cavalry here,
whlch VIII give him chance to pay back with
interest the debt the rebels have contracted for
him.
The treatment of the forty.second bv the
rebels was as good as they could eXpect
They had enough to eat, such as it was, and
the rebels were confined exactly to the same.
But what would our army think if they had
nothing but corn and cob meal mixed with
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