The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-04-29
CORRESPONDENCE,
WESTERN LOUISIANA, March 30, GA.

WESTERN LOUISIANA, March 30, ga.
Mn. Enron IL shall presume upon tho
acceptance Of my proposalto appear again in
the columns Of your journal. This do
without waiting for its expression, not less
in justice to your known courtesy, than from
the well known fact that before such express
sion could reach me in my present far of re-
moval from mail intercourse with the North,
as well as the distance itself, very consider
able period Of time must clapse.
We arc now marching up the southerly
side Of the Red River-keeping few miles
distant since VIC left Alexandria, which was
on Monday last. Doubtless the news Of the
capture Of this place has found o place in
Northern papers ere this. This whole sec
ton Of country Is thoroughly secesh. At
Chencyville, lew miles to the southeast OF
Alexandria, through which we marched in
our onward progress hither, there was but
one man known TO be Union. Il wears o
more enterprising, we'll cultivated and re-
fined appearance than any other place through
which we have passed. During our ono
nights stay in its vicinage, several OF our Of
ficers went into the village and spent on hour
with the clorgymen Of the place. They and
their families wero well educated and Guilt
waited. They made not the least pretence to
Unionism, nor attempt 10 disguise their go.
cesh principles and feelings. They avowcd
the deepest adherence OF the Lincoln Gov
eminent, and the 6rmest conviction OF their
own rectitude and OF their ultimate success.
The payment of 5000 to $500 for q calico
dress, 500 for barrel of flour. and 500
for pair of boots-if they could get the lat
ter-which thoy acknowledged they had to
do, they regarded as the price ut which they
must purchase the rights for which they were
now lighting and suffering, and, they said,
they did it cheeriully.
Other places through which We have pass.
cd, have shown very different face; such Of
the residents rs we have seen, have worn o
sullen, ill-disguiscd malignity Of feeling,
with very rare exceptions-save with the
blacks. Of the latter very few remain either
in the towns or on the plantations, except
the females, children and aged men. Nearly
every able-bodied man has been run of to
Texas, which Is but about so miles distant
to the West. A few of the latter, who have
refused to 90, have found their way into our
lines, and are now employed by the regi-
ments.
Everywhere in our progress up from Ber-
wick City, we have seen tho blackened TO
mains Of sugar and cotton mills, and Of i'm.
mense quantities of cotton. Last Friday We
passed one spot on which only tho day pre-
vious tho rebel cavalry had burned 500 bales.
There were several other spots visible all
along our march, which were still smoking
rs we passed. This work of devastation is
not only not the work Of the owners, but
against their wishes and protestatons. But
Jeffs minions are instructed to suffer none OF
IL to fall into the hands Of the Yankees. A
colored boy who belonged to the owner of
those 500 bales, and who camo into our limos
the day after they were burned, told me that
one woman, two miles distant from his mas
ter's plantation, had 700 bales, but he did
not know whether they had been burned or
not.
Within the last few days, several persons
belonging to the rebel army have surrendered
themselves /; among whom is Capt. Todd,
brother to President Lincoln's wife, who was
in the @. NJ. department OF Gen. Dick lay
lor. We are having stirring times here at
present. We have very large force under
the command of Gen. Franklin {; how large
deponcnt saith not. Gen. Banks has just
arrived at the Red River, landing at Coche-
vile, which is four miles from Natchitoches,
with formidable gunboat and transport
aeet, with the design of making it (as rumor
goes) his headquarters for tho present and
everything wears tho promise Of energetic.
earnest, and, If Gods blessing is vouchsaied,
successful campaigning on this western side
of the Mississippi. May that blessing be
sought by all outside as well as within the
loyal army. Abating q few left in hospital
on our way, the health Of the 18th regiment
is good.
Yours truly, CHAPLAIN OF l3u Me,