The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-25

CHATTER
In the MI OF e2 Ifound myself in the Confede-
racy with my husband and parted from the rest Of
nv family and children. who were IN New Orleans.
nwss during Buter's paternal regime, when those
living in the city were not allowed to write to
persons living outside of federal lines, nor al
lowed to receive even ordinary family letters.
OF course the underground railroad and grape
vine telegraph were kept busy. By these myste-
rious agencies had managed to get letters from
home, bur they did not satisfy my craving heart,
and as CD. stmas approached 1 resolved to make
an sitempr to slip quietly into our city and spend
1he holidays with the little folks.
There were many dfficuties my friends said
that the! were impossibilitses that should have
to overcome to 90 beyond our own lines, as at
the time the Confederate general at lJack.
son was remorselessly refusing passes to
every Que. But / believe that it is an ad.
mitted fact that "when a woman says she will,
abe will, you may depend upon it," and after
beseigiDg Gen. P's Office. and having all my
entreaties refused, set my wits to work to get
through the lines without a pass. found an
old friend. Mr.. B., as anxious to join his family in
New Orleans as was, and together, we resolved
TO attempt the adventure. Leaving all our
trunks in Jackson, We got into the cars going to
PoDtchatoula on the 23i of December, as if we
were merely going into the country short dis.
lance. We encountered ourselves with nothing
but our travelling blankets. Wereached Pontcha-
1oula On the afternoon Of the same day, aud taking
a crazy old vehicle, drove back to a friends
house, situated at the head Of a small bayou some
ten miles from the railroad. Our object was to
reach the banks Of the Mississippi anywhere
within federal lines; as, once within them. we
Al IL
we might need. before catching passing boat,
at the houses Of some of the planters most OF
whom welcomed any conner from the Confederscy,
especially one who could bring them news or pa
pers, with both of which was well supplied.
Once at Maj. WIS. we found, to our astonish-
ment. that we were more than twice the distance
from the river that we had expected TO be. A
strip of sixty miles wide of impenetrabls tangled
cane brake, without other path or road through
lay between and the bourne of our desires.
There was no help for 1t and we would have to
90 through the bayou In one Of the wretched skifs
used by The wood cutters TO carry wood TO the plan
tations on the river Our only chance of finding a
skiff and Darsman was to visit the cottage of
the cbieltain," as Mrs. w. laughngly called him,
of the runners Of the underground railway. He
was negro man living near her, devoted to the
Confederacy and perfectly reliable in every way.
NY companion fastened at once to seek the
amiable and intelligent contraband. He was
amenable 10 reason, and promised to place us on
the banks Of the river by twelve the next day, If
ewouid start at once and row all night. Time
was precious not moment was to be lost unless
we gave up our idea of passing Christmas at
home. SO we bid Mrs. W. good bye, and found
myself fairly embarked upon what / at the mo.
ment looked upon as a most perilOus adventure.
On passing from the shade of the long natural
avenue OF pines that extended from the house al.
most TO the bayou, | found myself suddenly upon
its banks In a wild romantic SPOT where il WIDEN
ed into small landOcked bay, with no visible
means of egress. dense jungle Of reeds, cane
and other marsh plants, grew down into the
water, and impaired dark gloom TO its still
depths, that caused an Involuntary shudder. In
the background stood tall, ghostly cypress, their
weird brbBches stretching forth like arms tossed in
denunciaupn Attn foot of the largest and just WIS.,
lille, was hut Of bamboo, shaped like an Indian
wigwsm. An old blanket, hung before its one open
ing, served as door. A number of little negroes
were rolling around. A boat aud herculean oars
man now Shot out into the bayou and approached
uB rapidly. AS saw our gOndoier "a gigantic
African, upward Of six feetl and felt that 10 few
moments we should be entirely 10 his power I
almost wished that Gen. p. had stopped my
flight. Every tale Of midnight murder, ever read
or dreamed Of, flashed across my excited mind as
stepped on board the crazy boat. few mo.
ments mere and the plantation house was out of
sight, and we three were ioating on the dark wa
tiers of the bayou. In many places the tail cy-
press nearly met their arms overhead aud shut out
the blue sky, the long MOSES draping them
waved in seeming triumph their gray fuaereal
boards IN the fast deepening evening breeze. The
shadows cast by the trees we're so deep, the
waters looked SO profound, that / felt az if al.
vanciDg TO where
"Alph, the sacred river ran
Through caverns, measureless to man,
Down 10 a sunless sea-"
There was nsught to disturb this silence but the
regular dip OF Jessy-Our goudOlier's oar and
now and then the sbrin whistle of the southern
nightingale flying to his mate in some lofty pine,
or the splash OF an alligator. as disturbed by
approach, be rolled suddenly into the dark waters
of the bayou. The scene was not conducive TO
jests or laughter, nor was the silence broken till
late st night. Near eleven when Jessy said he
could no longer see aud that we should have to
land at an old deserted hut to wait ill
" The wandering moon
Riding near her highest noon -
Should give sufficient light to enable him to navi-
gate the remainder OF the bayou, which was filed
with snsgs and quite dangerous.
But, Missus," added the good natured old fell
low, don't be afeard, | will prop up two plauks
Tor yoni to lie on and give you good cup of
coflee."S
''why, Jessy," exclaimed, where did Won
get coffee from? | have seen none since | left
New Orleans u
"hissus W. guve Il me for you and see Use
got my coffee pOt"-an old tin pan.
Well Jessy, shall be glad OF both coffee aud
rest, and to make me forget my hard bed, you
must tell me story"
Very good, Mssus" rep led Jessv, "but les
you wsit here while get some wood to build de
hre-csuse de snakes am bad aroundp
bright fire soon cast q cheerful glow over u.s.
but treble the gloom beyond. Inspired by its
light opened my lunch basket aud in true com
Tsde style shared its contents with my two COM
panions. Jessy with much pride presented me
with cup Of coffee, strong-and at the moment
thought good-but the bare remembrance of
which for weeks afterwards gave me the most
dreadful qualms, as learned the next morning,
Oh kind reader, that Jessy's etrainer or dripper
was the leg of a sock-not new one, as family
hoped, but that (as the old man Indignantly as.
sufed me, when questioned hm), " was one dun
wore out" and washed clean by his wife Jubs.
At the moment, quite exhausted with the days
varied excitement, after my slender supper /
sank back, glad TO rest, upon my blankets
folded over the bed of planks that Jessy had
promised me.
The scene was rot reassuring; behind me, and
on either side, was dense swamp, filed " for
certain with allgators, snakes aud coons," as
Jessy said; but as my Imagination tsd me, PEG.
.uled with midnight assassns and runsway
negroes, who, attracted by the fire, were watch
ING US intently. Before me lay the bayou. over
shao owed with trees hiding the sky; the flicker
ing O anciDg heht OF the fire threw thousand
Wild fal Elastic shades around, and 10 the branches
Of the ia u sycamore, beneath whose boughs we