Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-07-03
NO. 50

I,ZO
pluck enough to do his duty and resist any at
tempt at surrender, all the men would join him,
and we could easily thrash these dirty Texans"
1t is generally known now that 'IWiggs is going
to surrender the whole department. to the State
government Of Texas, and still no one has the
courage to oppose him. There i, TOO much dis
trust prevailing; hardly any two Of the officers
dare place mutual confidence in one another.
As for the men, they are sheep led to the slaugh-
ter Accustomed to discipline, they have no idea
Of defying their commanders, and will meekly
submit to any steps the latter may take; but very
few of them will desert the old flag that has
waved over their heads for so many years. If
Col. Waite could but arrive in time. | heard
from him through a courier disguised as Tex
an; he is only three days march off, and push
ing on as fast as he can. They may vet delay
long enough for him to arrive.
February I5th.-Two bodies of men, armed
with shotguns and rifles, and styling themselves
Texas militia, have squatted down some
bluffs to the rear of our camp. They say that a
Gen. McCulloch commands them, and that they
will make us Yankees 'git up and git in a
mighty short time. Their senior officer calls
himself Col. Sargent, and he actually sent word
to Ma jor Ward that he would like us to move
out and let his men take our ground, as it was
better place. DON'T he wish he may get it.
February l8th.-The blow has at last fallen
To-day General Twiggs has had the distinguish
ed honor of surrendering 200 as fine troops as
ever marched to crowd of dirty, ragged, de-
moralized Texans, wearing pants In their boots,
and slouch hats, ornamented with tin star, for
uniform. Many of the men cried with rage and
wounded pride when the order read on par
ade, after we had stacked arms Our friend, the
militia Colonel, has changed places with us, and
has also considerably taken care of our tents,
lest they should be mildewed and rusted. A
large number of scouts are out on the roads by
which Col. Waite is coming, to prevent any dis
patches being sent him.
The Texans tell us that South Carolina has
seeded from the Union, and that all the other
Southern States are going. They say that Mr..
Buchanan holds that any State can leave the
scarcely believe these things; but, if they prove
true, know it will not be done without hard
fight, and these insolent nigger drivers will learn
what Yankee really is.
Three of our officers, Major Ward, Lieutenant
locke and Lieutenant Slate, left us and joined
the State forces, but Captain Doodle did not 60
along, as they would not promise him the posi-
ton he wanted, and his State has not yet seeded
February 24th.-Col. Waite, with his COM
mand, got in yesterday, but only to share our
captivity. The schemes of the Secessionists
were too we'll laid to allow him to escape, and
all hope of resistance is at an end. Had he but
come up with our garrison on the march, we
could easily have retreated towards Ell Paso and
Joined the Eighth, which is, l know loyal
regiment and from there we might have made
our way into New Mexico and been saved. By
the terms of the capitulation we are to be sent
up North, and will not be considered prisoners
of war. circular, signed by Van Dorm, is be-
ing sent round among the men, begging them
not to leave their old officers. |, for one, and |
know few others, would like to hang them.
Indianola, April I9th.-What dreary stretch
of sand this place is. Nothing to do but to catch
reddish in the lagoon back of town, or to stroll
along the beach, looking anxiously for the steam
er which is to take us away. Col. Waite told
Major Sibley about the letter | sent him, and he
has promised that l should not be forgotten. A
Texan rode in from Victoria tonight, and re-
ports that Fort Sumter has surrendered to Gen.
Beauregard; that Colonel Robert Lee has taken
Washington; and that the steamer sent to trans
port us has been captured at Galveston. This
last cannot be true, however, as we can see the
smoke of steamer outside the bar, and the Ma
ior is getting boats ready to take us off to her.
April 2oth.-Betrayed again What we
thought the Star of the West turned out to be a
lot of rickety old river steamers filled with
troops under Van Dorm, who went through the
farce of making US regular prisoners of war to
what he calls the Confederate States; and then
releasing us on parole until exchanged Can it
be that the Northern States are going to give up
without struggle, for that is what these "secesh'
say.
Governors Island, Sunday, June 1oth.-This
morning the inspecting officer noticed my lone
star flag, and asked me how l came by it. Told
him the history of its capture, and he begged
me to give it to him. Sorry as l was to part
with my trophy, could not we'll decline, and SO
l have lost my most precious momento OF Texas
Washington, June 27th.-Am once more a
soldier of the United States, free to serve his
country. Our old regiment has been reorgan-
ized, and am first duty sergeant of Company
B. How glad am to see the Stars and Stripes
once more waving over me, and to know that
there are none but loyal hearts around. We
regulars are all formed into battalion under
Captain Sykes; and great was my surprise and
pleasure to see mounted orderly riding behind
he commanding officer, and carrying my old
lone star flag as battalion guidon.
Iuly 22d, I86I.-Poor Hicks, our first ser
yeant, was killed at Bull Kun yesterday, anu
have stepped into his shoes. What fight it
was mot as bad as that row with the Kicka-
poos-and / swear believe we whipped the
rebels, only we did not stay long enough to find
It out .r
Fredericksburgh, December 14th-This is an
awfully hot place. Our brigade went in yester-
day evening to the left of the Orange Plank
Road. Lieut.. Y. was wounded last night, and
have charge Of the company, which is posted
on the left of the road. took up
my quarters for the night in an old brick tanney
directly opposite. have been in good many
tough fights, but never one like this. ihe
shrieks and means Of the wounded and dying