The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-21

rumors began to fly through the city. fo
lowed by the tolling of the alarm bells and
general CONSERVATION, which spread doub
and dismay on every hand. The peopl
gathered in different places, on the stree
corners, in hotels and saloons, and discussed
with features betokening grave apprehen
slons, some startling intelligence. The tele
graph offices were besieged by an eager
anxious crowd
In the meantime, the alarm perceivable il
every countenance had penetrated to the
remotest corners of the city. The windows
OF every house disclosed the pale, anxious
Vsages Of inmates under the influence OF
some prevailing dread; and the streets below
were filled with an Fastening throng, rushing
to the public square as to common center.
"What can be the matter" was uttered in
many an anxious whisper or loud inquiry.
but 1T received no reply. And so an hour
passed.
The residence of Col Taylor, like his
neighbours, had caught the general infection.
The whole household were at the windows and
doors. Laura, Zera, and the old colonel,
now released from confinement and restored
to his family, occupied the flight of marble
steps which assembled to the front door of the
mansion. What could be the nature of this
excitement-the girls had asked the question
with quivering lips, the men with troubled
brows and perplexed anxious faces What
could it mean? But harkl what means
that receding throng? Suddenly on the air
stified shout peals out 1t echoes from the
iron walls of myrtle and is caught up by
responsive Threats that swell the loud acclaim
from the gloomy cells of Grat1ot! What can
1T mean? That yell was uttered by the pri-
soners-surely they cannot be breaking out
No-what then?
"My friend, said Col. Taylor, addressing
an eager citizen hurrying by, "what is the
occasion of this alarm?'
Lexington has fallen :" was the reply,
"What! capitulated?"
eyes. All the garrison are prisoners!"
" Is it possible When did this occur?"
Yesterday. They are now receiving the |
dispatches" |
"Quick, Laura, run and tell the coachman
to bring around the carriage I'll 90 down
and hear all about it."
"Let us go with you, father. We can
remain in the carriage"
"Well, run and tell the coachman, and
then get on your things but do not keep me
waiting"
BY the time the carriage was brought
around to the door the ladies were ready.
and hastily taking their seats, they were
driven to the Planters, the nearest telegraph
station. Here the street was blocked from
Chestnut to Pine with a dense throng of ex-
pectant people. Several vehicles, like their
own, lowered in the outskirts Of the crowd.
Excitement was written on every countenance
IN that vast throng; but it was subdued bv
the intense desire of all to hear what miobt
be said by the reporters stationed along the
Verandah Of the hotel, to repeat to the crowd
below the substance of what they might learn. |
Low mutterings might be heard on the out
skirts as some new addition was made to the t
'ea of eager up-turned faces v
The low inquiry, ''What is p" q
And the not less low rejoinder 'Lexington
las fallenl" Z
Suddenly, in front of the hotel, man an
'ears with long paper in his hand. 1t isa S
of the dispatches! Like the OCEAN
7hen its waves break and dash upon the O
ands, the dense throug swayed and waved p
owards the man who read But still no fl
oise! Silently as the running current heaves al
he wave, this compact crowd of excited hu- n
ian beings received the impulse and broke il
r swayed with its vibrations. And what
ere they to hear? The history of another
attle-the names of those who died. or a
ravely sustained the right.
But we all know what followed-the sieoa- ca
lie capture. And now the crowd begun to te
low less. One by one the dense mass began pl
disperse. No shout broke upon the air-no
GINS of rejoicings; itwould have been danger re-
is! But gloomy looks, yelled by shadowinp in
Its as the owners rapidly strobe away, met the isl
e. Those who rejoiced could not laugh IN
next intelligence might bring the story tic
a brother killed, friend or kinsman av
'unded! There had been a battle. Some sU
re dead-no doubt of that but whom? 50,
any pale lip in the wide city, prayed that of
5bt with choking breath and ewes humid an
tn tears. ''Not him, oh, Lord-not himl" TO
lile the implying light of the risen morn OF,
s enveloping in its silver shroud the cold LAT
IN of the dead, or glinting through wind pri
s when the solitary light shone drearilv we
er the couch of the wounded ON,
Let us go home, father, 1 am sick at lea
lrt, " and the pale face of the young girl aee
5 raised pityingly to her father. tba
AS you please, my child" and orders
re given to return to their home. sb,
oh! what if he should be among the vor
n-what, if even now he were dying2 ?" mo
he'd Laura, as the splendid horses whirled eviI
luxurious carriage on its way. "But how 70
ny others are muttering under their breath 6
same anguished question Not mine. oh my
I'd, not mine, but Thy will be DONE" g
1t is not likely that our boy is hurt nv 9
Id This has been a siege, and cavalry @
aid be useless here" said her father, Law forr
his hand caressingly on Laura's head. us
1 know, father, but other hearts as fond zer