The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-13


stern discipline without which raw men
cannot be converted into soldiers. Inc
Confederate government-then seated
at Montgomery-resis the enlistment
of regiments for the war, preferring to
engage them for twelve months. The
same blindness smote the question OF
finance. Instead of laying taxes, which
the general enthusiasm would have
cheerfully endured. the Confederate au
thorities pledged their credit, and that,
too. for an amount which might have
implied pact with Mr.. Seward. Should
war unhappily break out, its dun alton
was to be strictly limited to sixty days.
The effect of these cardinal errors was
felt throughout the struggle.
Gen. Bragg occupied Pensacola. the
United States navy yard and Fort Bar
rancas, on che mainland. Fort Piokens,
opposite the latter places, on Santa Rosa
Island, was held by United States
troops, commanded by Maj, Harvey
Brown. Several United States war yes
sells were anchored outside the harbor,
movement should be made on either
side without notice. Consequently.
Bragg worked at his batteries, bearing
on Pickens. while Brown strengthened
with sand bags and earthworks the
weak landward bastion Of his fort, and
time was pleasantly passed by both
parties in watching each others occu-
pations. Some months before, when
Florida enforced her assumed right to
exercise exclusive control over all
points within Der limits, some fifty
United States artillerists, under Lieut..
SIemmer were stationed at Barrancas,
where they were harmless and help
less. After much maneuvering. the State
forces of Florida induced Slemmer to
retire from Barraneas to Pickens, then
garrisoned by one ordinance sergeant
and at the mercy of q corporafs guard
in % row boat. Fort Sumter. in Charles
ton harbor, was in a similar condition
before Anderson retired to it with his
company. The early seizure of these
two fortresses would have spared the
| Confederates many serious embarrass-
| ments but such small details were much
neglected at that time.
NY visit to Pensacola was brought to
a close by information from the Cover.
nor Of Louisiana of my appointment to
the colonelcy Of the Ninth Louisiana
Infantry, q regiment just formed
at camp. on the railway, some
miles north of New Orleans, and
under orders for Richmond. Ac-
cepting the appointment, l hast
ened to the camp, inspected the com
mand. ordered the lieutenant colonel,
Randolph, ian uncommonly we'll in
formed officer for the time) to move to
Richmond by rail, via Chattanooga and
Lynchburg, as rapidly as transporta-
ton was furnished, aud went on to New
Orleans, as well to procure equipment
in which the regiment was deiicient-as
| to give some hours to private affairs.
1t was known there was @ scarcity of
small arm ammunition, owing to the
rapid concentration of troops there Tin
| Virginia), and ! was fortunate in OBJ
tanning, from the Louisiana authorities.
one hundred thousand rounds, with
which. together with some field equip
ment. ] proceeded by express to Rich
mond. There l found my command,
about q Thousand strong ust arrived and
preparing to go into camp at the Fair
| Grounds. The town was filed with
rumor of battle away north, at Manas-
sas. where Beauregard commanded the
| Confederate forces. A thousand wild
reports. all equally inhamed, reached
my ears while looking after the trans
portation of my ammunition, of which
[ did not wish to lose sight. Reaching
camp, | paraded the regiment, stated
the necessity for prompt action, and
| hoped it would approve an application
to be sent Immediately to the front.
Officers and men were delighted with
the prospect of active service. and
| largely condoned their experience with
their zeal Ammunition was served out,
three days. rations ordered to be cooked
for haversaoks, and all camp equip
age, not absolutely essential, stored.
These details attended to. at about
! 5 p. N. | reached the War Office,
presided over by Gen. l.. 7. Walker,
OF Alabama. When the object
of my visit was stated, the secretary ex-
pressed much pleasurs, as he was most
anxious to send troops forward. but had
few in readiness to move, owing to the
lack of fixed ammunition, etc. AS | had
been In Richmond but a few hours. my
desire, seconded by that of my men, to
move. and adequately prepared to do SO,
gained me some ''red-letter" marks at
the war office.
The secretary thought train would
be in readiness for me at 8 that night.
Accordingly the regiment was marched
to the station, where we remained sew
eral weary hours. AT length, long after
midnight, our train made its appear
ance. AS the usual time to Manassas
was some six hours, we confidently
expected to arrive in the early after
noon This expectation our engine
brought to grief. 1t proved q machine
of the most wheezy and helpless char.
acter-creeping snail like on levels, and
requiring the men to leave the carriages
to help it up grades. AS the morning
wore on, the sound Of guns-re-echoed
from the Blue Ridge mountains on our
left-became loud and constant. AT
every halt Of the wretched engine the
noise Of battle grew more intense, as
did our impotence. l hope, that day
the attention OF the recording ange
was engrossed in other directions
Later, we met men. single or in squads
some with arms, some without, moving
south, in which quarter they all aD
peared to have pressing engagements
At dusk we gained Manassas juno
tion," near the field where on tina
day the battle of first Manassas o
Bull Run had been fought and won
Bivouacking the men by the roadside,
SOUGHT through the darkness the head
quarters of Gen. Beauregard, to whom
was instructed TO report. With mucl