Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-21
Banks Red RIVER Expedition.

The Cairo correspondent OF the 81 Louis ne
publican, IN a recent letter, gives heart rendr
account OF the scenes attending the evacuation
aud burning OF Alexandra by Gen Banks troops
We copy few extracts:
When the gunboats we're all over the falls and
the order for evacuation was promulgated ano
the army nearly all on the march, some oil Oul
soldiers, both white and black, as II by general
understanding, set FIRE to the city III nearly
every part. almost simultaneously
All that part of the city north OF the rail
road was swept from the face OF the earth IN a
few hours, not building being lett About
nine-tenths OF the town was consumed, comp Is
ing all the business part and all the hne resi-
dences, the lice House" hotel the Court House
all the churches except the Catholic, number
OF livery stables and the entire front row of large
and splendid business houses
The ice House" was large brick hotel
which must have cost one hundred thousand dbl
lars, and was owned by Judge Arlall, member
OF the late Constitutional Convention, who voted
for immediate and unconditional emancipation IN
Louisiana which Convention also sent delegates
10 the Baltimore Convention While Judge A
was thus serving the Administration, the Fedeial
torch was applied to his houses, his law office
his private law library. and all his household
goods aud effects
The scenes attending the burning Of the city
were appalling. Women gathering their helpless
babes in their arms, rushing frantlcaly through
the streets with and cries that would have
meiei the h. rie-t hearts to tears. Little bows
and girls were running hither and ,hlther crying
for their fsthers and mothers; old men leaning on
staff for support to their trembling limbs, were
hurryng away from the suffocating heat OF THEN
Aua nd homes al
beautiful daughters OF the South, whose fathers
and brothers were in one army or the other: The
frail and helpless wives and children OF absent
husbands and fathers were. almost in the twink
ling of an eve, driven from the burning of THEN
homes into the streets, leaving behind every
thing but the clothes they then wore.
Among those were the wives, daughters and
children, helpless and now all homeless. of the
Union men who had joined the Federal army
since the occupation of Alexandra Their hGs
bands had already been marched off in the front
towards Semmesport. leaving their families in
their old homes, but 30 the tender mercies of the
Confederates The Federal torch had now des-
troyed their dwellings, household goods and ap-
parel. the last morsel of provisions. and left
them starving and destitute As might be ex-
pected, they desired to 60 along with the Federal
army, where their husbands had gone. They APP
piled 10 General Banks with tears and entreaties
10 be allowed TO 30 aboard the transports They
were refused
They became frantic with excitement and rage
Their screams and piteous cries were heartrend
ing With tears streaming down their cheeks,
women and children begged and implOred the
boats to take them on board The officers of the
boats were DESTROYS Of doing so, bat there was
the peremptory order OF General Banks not to
allow any white citizens to go on board. Could
10 i,h, olS R,,, ~.
not all
six or seven thousand negroes that had been
gathered in from the surrounding country But
no room could be found for white women ard
children whose husbands and brothers we're in the
Federal army. and whose houses aud all had just
been burned by the Federal torch. | challenge
the records OF all wars for acts OF such per-
fidy and cruelty