The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-10-06
E.oEGASzA BIND, La
sent .,ta. / SOD.


Dear PalIadian, Il feA agrieyed !
have been slandered. maliciouslf sian
dered Itwasa thrust in tender point
but l believe it to have been done with
malice aforesaid, and If l we've not
afraid the Col. t-5ala accept. 1 would pro
coed to challenge" him 70 mortal com
lat tHstaater. Ii could ONLY provoke
him to challenge me, would then have
the choice Of weapons, which would
certainly give ne the credit Of flank
movement I should Immediately call
fcr .-beer. rye bread and Switser, for
two: | am certain l could use the Col.
,,p by such i turn. Times are getting
desperate indeed. when a teller can
indulge himself in little streak of lazi-
ness without being publicly reprimanded
bv hi. superior officer l don't think
was any worse than other juveniles OF
nv aye and respectabilitv | dirin't
used to get clicked" mere than tlrcc
times a dag for not being particularly
attentive to my business. Bat allow me
here. friend Davis. To return TO You my
sincere thanks. for helping me out of
the matter by adding those timely re
marks, that it was not constitutional,
and very warm down here. Il has been
awful hot.
Ibid tell YOU when l last wrote, that
I would soon write again; but the Red
River expedition was very terrific it
came near knocking me out OF time; l
have scarcely been able ever since 10
write to ~ :4teuied
we have been in camp at Morganza
Bend. something over three months.
havin. landed here the 25d day OF May.
We are distant from New Orleans, $50
miles and twenty miss below the mouth
Of Red River. We have a nice camp.
lust on the banks Of the great Father OF
waters. which makes 4 long bend the
shape Of the new mooa, we being en-
cangcI about the outside Of the outer
circle. consequently we have fine
view of the river for Il distance of from
six to ten miles; we are fifty or sixty
feet above the water, and the scene Is
indeed magnificent
.Whsre som, boil river breaks the 3oag expanss.
And weeds along the banks are waving high
" hos, ~t.ai9.v- in tn CLASSY waters esaee,
Or With he ln3aulelus sleep in III tls5gts solemn
tTducs.
This point IS said to he the key to the
whole Red River county, and e:fectualIy
prevents the blockade OF the river on
the west point of the Mississippi. The
fort which has been completed here, is
the strongest have ever seen anywhere.
and capable of holding $4,000 troops.
It j. occupied now by strong colored
garrison. We were expecting some
weeks back TO be attacked hy the Rebs
who were in considerable force on the
other side of Atchafalava river. : miles
distant They had constructed pontoons
for crossing, but only came near enough
once or twice to be severely chastised
for their temerity, They are now very
scarce in our front,
For some week or ten days past, they
have been annoying our boats not a little
with 4 battery on the opposite side OF
the river, at Bayou Sara, a little town
l. miles below this; they had the bat
terry Situated some ! Of a mile from the
river and in such a position that orr
gun boats could not operate upon them,
the country being very billy and broken.
Col Spicely, 9th Ind, Vet. Vols. who
commands our brigade, GOT permission
of the Commanding Gen. 10 take a thou
Sand picked men and attempt to capture
the battery, and four hundred men said
to be there. Col. Spicely, than whom
there is no better or more competent
officer in the service, was just the man
for such dash assisted by the gallant
Col. Worthington, 22d Ky, whose very
name is Q sufficient terror 70 all rebels.
Tho programme was to land a little be
low the town just at day light, surround
the place aal ca, tire the gentlemen, if
there Is reported. Everything was
got in good shape ana We were to
have embarked 1t two O clock Night be
fore last; but for some unlnoWa reason.
(unless it was feared we might surprise
somebody J, the order was eoanterman-
ded ~ midnight, for "A hours Accord
in-lr last night at O'Clock \. NJ, We
embarked on the steamer -sCaoutean' il
fine spirits, expecting 4 good fight OF
4 BIZ foot race: in either case the thing
promised TO be interesting. Ne landed
all safe without accident. just st day
light, dgploycd in quick time around the