Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-05-07
tfor the Sunbury American.
Letter from flsc sunbur-y Guards.
NATcHiTocnEs, La. April o, 1864.

or INC ounbury American
Letter from the sunbur-y Guards.
NArcnrrocnrs, La. April 9, 1854.
DEAR whSERT,
Thus far we have marched two hundred
and sixty miles, and, with the. distance be-
tween New Orleans and Franklin, makes
three hundred and twenty miles, aud 80 far
our journey has not been disturbed by the
appearance of any groy6dcls. They havc
been in our advance, but 1ed on the ap.
proach OF Lees cavalry, who with Minis
Flying Artillery, seem to be terror to any
armed party serving under the eleven star
rcd flag OF Davis rotten ConfederScy. AL
though flying before us, the rcbs made sad
havoc with the property of the citizens on
their route. For fear of cotton falling into
our hands, it wss burned by them, ever go
ing 30 far as to destroy their Gins and Sugar
Factories. I saw the remains of six of these
buildings. The cotton they did not burn
was scattered to the winds, and as it blew
over the country. the trees and fields had
the appearance Ms though covered with snow.
For one planter :hey burned six hundred
bales and another four hundred. This was
foolish waste of property for there are mo-
ned men with us mot belonging to tue
army) who are anxious to buy cotton, and
do 50 in many cases, so that these owners
have been robbed and reduced in circum-
stances, for which they may thank the de
generate son of u worthy sire, Major General
Dick Taylor.
The day before we reached here CAST FRI
day fight came off between our cavalry
and the rebs in which we captured forty
prisoners, among them Captain Todd. said
to be the brother of Mrs. Lincoln. This
man Todd is the officer who was SO cruel to
our prisoners in Richmond. He is guarded
by five men for fear of his being shot by the
jayhawkers, several OF them having joined
cur forces. These men swear they will have
satisfaction for the cruel manner in which
he treated their friends while prisoners, and
ii il cannot he done Low, they will follow
him until his life pays for the crimes he has
done.
There is much misery in this place and
the surrounding country. Men, who few
years since, lived extrayagantly and knew
no want, are now almost destitute. The
dress vt thc ladies are OF the style worn
when we left home to join the army of In
Gle Abraham. only much faded, rentS plainly
to he seen, and have II" doubt they arc
the same clothing worn before this "cruel
war; began, thrown oil to give way for IA
shion. and now worn out of necessity When
every direction claiming protection from the
rebel conscription. This conscription makes
no allowance for age, bu. takes all. from the
boy of fourteen and sixtecit tn the old man
ut sixty ! SAW the general order, still re-
naming as posted in the town, from the
Governor OF Louisiana, ordering ali that
were able TO bear arms, to report immedi-
ately TO the Court House of each Parish to
do service in the Confederate army. One
old man said with tears in his eyes, that he
had two sons tied and carried away from
him by force. 4 lady told us that her son
vas shot down before her in the yard in
front OF her house. for his resistance to the
! conscrption. These people and their friends
, arc very bitter III their expressions against
! the authorities, br persons who are treating
them as white slaves. and as many more are
treated i'll the same way, this feeling Of dis
satisfaction spreading, there is no doubt Da-
Wis & Co., will soon labor under difficulties
other than that of the forces OF the Union.
\ rebel dcsertcr came into our lines and
, wished to lake the oath, saying that before
he went to war lie WAS Il mice Young man
and went well dressed" but now he had
become satisfied of the failure of the rebel
lion, and disgusted with the idea of getting
killed ard his corpse being found on the FIELD
with such povr clothe Oh.
Natchitucl,s Is aI4 old Spanish town, with
narrow streets, and singular looking houses
in which the people live up stairs. 1t was
settled upon the banks OF the Red river
near two hundred years ago. Now the Red
river runs in another channel, four miles
from the town. The banks Of the ola
river remain, through which it flows quite
a stream of water.
Commodore Porter, with his iron feet and
transports, is at Ecore ferry on the Red river
where lac is unloading provision for our ar
my. which, when finished, will enable him
to proceed on l!Is way 70 attack hhrccves
port When these stores are brought dowr
here and distributed to the different Quar-
tcrmaSter5. believe it is the intention It
move our forces so as to operate IN conjunc
ton with the fleet.
Tho boys arc all well and in good spirits
With respect to all in the Office and iricnd
generally, | remain,
IA