Evening star., 1865-01-11
GENERAL DAvIDSON'S RAID
Racy Description of the Conster natior
Created by the Raiders,


GENERAL DAvIDSON's RAID.
Racy Description of the Conster n alton
Created by the Raiders.
Tapeipaho, Ala, at first felt fierce and def.
ant, under the protection of the chivalric
"Pumpkin Studs" encamped at that place.
Pumpkin Studs Is the vernacular Tor militia
and reserves in this country.l The few that
had guns were sent out on picket duty; those
that hadn't remained TO keep courage In town.
Passing by several minor alarms, came to
the big scare of Wednesday midnight. The
picket guard on one of the roads fired their
guns at some harmless il not imaginary thing
in the dark, and galloped into town with the
report that the Federals We're right behind
them. If a mine had exploded beneath the
town the scattermert couldn't have been
greater. In about thirty five seconds there
was not Pumpkin Stud in the town, and very
few others. II must except few officers, who
renamed behind, in frantic endeavors to rally
the flying Studs.) One man jumped from a
second story gallery, and knocked away post
from under said gallery in the violence of his
START Tor the swamp. recruiting officer
stopping in the town undertook to bride
buggy, which, in the darkness. he mistook for
his horse; finding the animal at last, and Jump
Ing for the saddle, he went clean over. A
young doctor, just on the eve of getting mar
ried, ran out OF one OF his boots, and next day,
In company with his intended, went up the
road wearing one torn boot and an EN-.
broidered slipper.
A captain en- route to Mobile took to the
swamp and remained till morning. Wading
up branch, the better to elude pursuit, he
heard report of firearms, and soon after that
he was frightened by an afirighte soldier who
Jumped into the branch just ahead of him. 81
surreLder," shouted the captain, taking the
fellow fer Yankee "Yes, 1 surrender" said
the soldier, not hearing the captains personal
pronoun, and mstaking him for an officer in
pursu he himself being an escaped deserter
from the guardhouse, with others, and the
cause OF the firing that had been heard. Hay-
ing mutually surrendered, they looked yery
foolishly at each other for m oment or so, when
The deserter started to run. The captain, still
believing that Yankees were near, started in
pursuit. shouting. "Don't run so fast I'll keen
You company But the deserter soon vanished,
and the captain stole into town much disguised
WIN the state OF affairs generally. When /
stste tfat, owing to the recent heavy rains, the
whole surrounding country was q swamp of
mud and water, Jon may imagine whatIuxury
there was in stampede to the woods. The
piekets on several occasions acted very ridic.
ulously, firing their guns at imaginary enemies
and running like scare dogs.
AtOsyks the state of affairs was pretty much
the same, If not a little worse, as there they
have a telegraph Office to add to any general
confusion that may arise. This telegraph Office
was the center Of excitement, and the radiating
point OF the several stampedes that occurred.
The liveliest scatterment was late on Friday
night. In the back room OF the telegraph office,
assembled around the fire, and discussing the
situation, were the operator, the post COM
mandaut, and a number of the honorable and
respectable members Of the "Osyka News
Club" The particular subject under discus
sion was the general nervousness OF the COM
munity, and the ease with which panic
light be started at that late hour. Indeed.
Lieutenant B had suggested what q good
idea II would be for some one TO gallop his
horse through the town and fire a shot or two
as lie rode, in order to see the natives get up
and ekedaddle, when Gathering of horses
feet was heard, and Dr. Nc, who had been
Keeping watch outside, rushed in pop eyed,
AT said, in q low voice, "Get ont quick-the
1anks are at the doOr!''
If that party had been discharged out of
mortar. their evanIshment could not have been
more sudden or complete. They bolted out at
the back door like drove of mad buffaloes,
and went charging on andOyer the back fences
for the woods. They had some SIX or eight
high board and paling fences to get over, and
the way they did II was caution to tom cats.
1t is stated an actual fact that in their flight
they scared a calf to death and scared another
out OF q years growth. 1.-THE dead calf was
the properly Of Mr.. Michael Hart, a we'll
known and respected citizen of Osyka, and the
stunted calf belongs to Mr.. Adds, the worthy
postmaster. to either of WHICH gentlemen any
one may write who doubts this statement, The
torn clothes, laceraJed hands and bruised
knees and hips of the stampeders, when they
reached the friendly shades OF the sWamps,
over the fences. The lieutenant who had sug-
gested the plan for soaring the town didn't
consider the swamp safe, and was for swim
ming the Tangipaho river in addition. Capt.
W, after getting breath, set about lighting his
pipe ssDon't," said one whose nerves still
vibrated. they'll see The lightane be after u.s.
"But L III ilght the matcn IN my nat, DehInd q
tree" said the captain. "Oh, no, don't' was
the added renaonstrance, iii is still, quiet
night, and they'll smell the smoke"'
Afraid to return TO town, they CROPPED about
In the swamp awhile, getting into all sorts OF
mudholes and bitches, and barking their Sims
in the dark, until they came to an old crib
with fOdper In the loft, and in this fodder they
hid themselves and slept till morning. When
they finally ventured back to town, they found
that the supposed Yankees were merely q
squad Of frightened Pumpkin Studs, VINO had
dashed into the town, not to take II, but to
claim its protection. Other incidents I might
narrate; but the above will serve for q sample
of the excitement that prevailed. Now thatthe
Yankees are reliably reported to have put
back TO Baton Rouge, the excitement has SIM
Ipered down, and Osyka and Tapgipabo are
themselves again. The Studs are all on hand
again; and if they are only supplied with
proper arms and plenty OF ammunition, L
think ii g safe thing 10 bet that they'll stand
their ground and fight the next time. The
next Yankee inspection tour il is expected.
will be about Christmas.-A0biis AduertiSer