New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-15
correspondence New Orleans Republican
ALEXANDRIA, November II, 1873.

| ALEXANDRIA, November l., 1873.
We arrived here at half-pas one o'clcc
| yesterday, having left Harrisonhurg las
Suuday morning, where the cavalry lett Il
| to take the overland route for this point
| They intended 10 go hy the Way OF Littl
river, French fork and Catahoula lake Il
| Coifax, thence to Pine>iiie, opposite Alex
andria, but failed to reach Coliax, as the,
| took the wrong road They made the tril
without incident worthy Of particular men
ton. They We're treated quite civilly a
| every point, though people demanded ex
cessive prices for all they sold.
Arriving at Pineville about two ocloch
Tuesday morning, Captain Snow tied VI
his horses and the entire force crossed over
to Alexandria, where pckets were stationed
at the principal corners, so that every mau
who appeared was closely scrutinzed and
questioned. 1t had been expected that
several Of the men for whom warrants were
held would be in town, under the belief
that the Ozark would not return to this
point. However, only one man, Stafford,
was known to have entered Alexandria,
but he escaped. Others were probably
there, but nothing was heard of them.
When the Ozark left here last Monday
week, it appeared as if she was off for New
Orleans, but Colonel DekIyne was only
carrying out one Of his plans. We went up
the Ouachita river TO Harrisonburg and to
Starts landing, tying up every night. The
DZark'S movampnts were. sn arnarpptly ar
ratio that even the shire widest CT the coun-
trymen were unable to even form coDjec
ture as to her intentions. Tne mystery was
still greater when we steamed from Har
risonburg up 10 Starts landing, the cavalry
having preceded the boat. Suddenly the
Ozark, with the mounted men on board,
appeared at Harris ,nburg. and Sunday
morning land spies discovered that the
horses and men had vanished, and they
could Onl 7 guess where. Without nOtitica-
ton the boat went down stream, and before
noon was at Trinity, taking in wood. At
this place we head nothing of the cavalry.
so felt quite sure that III essengers could not
reach Alexandra or Colfax before them to
furnish information to the wanted" Cap.
tain Snow and Lieutenant Eankirk had
of the men, guided by Deputy
Marshal Smith, while Deputy Marshal
Stockton carried the warrants. The ride
was long OHe, uuder the circumstances
but the men and horses were equal to the
task
The Ozark left Trinity sunday noon and
sailed along ieisurely until within a few
niles Of Red river. where she tied up for
he night. The next morning at the june
ion of Black and Red rivers, we learned
\ hat boats bad passed up, 50 tie news Of
,ur return could not reach Alexandria uu-
ess the cavalry go. in first. Monday night
We banked about sixty miles below Alex |
ndria. all quiet aud We'll. We arrived at
'nevilla at haltpast one O'Clock Tuesday |
vening. and there !or the first time learned |
hat Hampton Henderson had been cap |
ured and killed. with four others. had |
arely time TO IL III you a few lines concern
az that fact az the stag vas waiting for
be bags.
Officers and men wandered thr Cugh the !
trcets OF Alexandria. out were not par
cularly molested Frowns and scowls
card. Il was apparent that nearly all tie
eople are exceedingly bitter, but their
reiudices did not prevent them taking Ne
opolitan money for all kinds OF goods.
'hile a party of our otlicers were in
,ocery. to themselves entirely, two young
en- entered, and il was apparent that they
ere intoxicated. ole OF ,uen was quite
lpudent and detilnt, asking Why they did
II go out into The piney woods If they
anted fight or meant business. speaking
a very tantaiizing tone. suddenly TWO
'awny fingers met on each side of the
,ung man \ nose and then as suddenly z !
,dy was dashed out OF the door. Cur
trty lhen proceeded on lis way, quickly |
lIDwed hy the tive fellows who seemed |
spoaed to create trouble. Chly thee ct
G militia were armed, and they were net
clined to indulge in a hroi under any cir-
instances SO they crossed the river 70
neville in good order. Tina: night ghe
ark remained at the landing, ali pulet.
e were visited by Lientanants Nt1nI,
,rnon and NedJer, Nineteenth Iufuntry.
,toned in tie old State Seminary grounds.
ev passed a pleasant time. Colonel be !
vne and Tie others wish 10 say that theE
. greatly indebted to these gentlemen tor
pd treatment.
Wednesday. the twelfth, early IN the a
rning, score of arIIcd mounted men t
peared in the streets Of Alexandra, and t
vas reported that they were the refugees L
% had shown themselves by way OF def T
.e The Hickman brothers were with a
'm. The fog on the river did not disap- Ii
IT before the sun as rapidly as they did Ia
en- a horseman Landed fro :! the Ozark. b
quite forgot to mention little bit of
nicality that occurred while The cavalry
5 making the overland march from Har :,
,nburg to Alexandria. When at a halt :,
est and eat at the house of an Old she'll :,
k, the proprietor took hasty glance at =
men and thought he discovered some
pred in the ranks. which incensed nim. 80
called private NickeTaon aside and -.
ed him about l. NickersoE indignant
?, answered that i. was all a mistake, 40
t the men would not under any circdm- =
lces remain II the ompany minute If
,lored man was in it. The joke lies in y
fact that Nickersan is ., color~i man -
self. -
n the twelfth instant all was prepared g,
A return home, and at II A. NJ. Colonel -
ID sounded the boats WEistle, for all y,
gglers 20 be on board Of we went, an
4ct of great interest to the AleXandrians'
, had given up the task of trying to
SIS at our moyeme nts. They tclt sure No
were going up stream, and rumor lo