The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-04-18
Gen. D. II. strother in Phil. Weekly Times,

Gen. D. f. Strother in Phil. Weekly Times.
1t was on Friday, the Goth of February,
that we proposed to embark some 400 Con-
federate prisoners on the steamer Empire
Parish to be sent up the river for exchange.
The day was fair, and as turned out for a
walk was surprised to see the usually
| quiet streets filed with people, chiefly wo-
men and children, in full gala dress, all ap-
parently streaming in one direction. Sup
posing it was some holy festival, drifted
with the current, which thickened and hur-
ried in its progress until it at length de-
bouched upon the great steamboat levee,
whore it mingled with the surging waves of
a human ssa of extraordinary extent and
character.
This multitudinous assemblage of excited
and buzzing humanity was composed chief
ly of women, with fair proportion of
children, and very small attendance of
gray-haired papa and beardless youths, all
dressed iu their holiday clothes and all
waving their white handkerchiefs with re-
lentless energy. The warehouses on the
laudward side of the levee were also filled
up to the parapets with the same handker-
chief-bearing company. The cynosure of
oil these sparkling eyes was the steamer
Empire Parish and a dusky mass of Con-
federate prisoners from the midst of which
lowered the tall figure Of Colonel John s.
Clark, of the staff, who was superiAtending
the embarkation. 1t seems that the guard
which attended the prisoners to the boat
had been enveloped, and found great diff
Guilty In preventing their charge being bod
lily swept away by the resistless current Of
female influence. Reinforcements were
sent for, but in the meantime the prisoners,
who had accepted the ovation with cheerful
indifference, reached the lovee beside the
boat In safety. They seemed to have pros
pered in confinement, and were altogether
well clad and in good condition. One fell
low, in marching from the levee to the boat
was so fat and clumsy that he fell over
board, and in rescuing him it was discov-
cred that he was encased in six suits of
clothes. This led to general examination,
which revealed extra clothes enough to
have equipped brigade, besides quanti-
ty of other contraband articles and numer-
GUS letters, some of which contained impor-
tant information for the enemy. Mean
while the demonstration continued to in
crease in volume and aggressive activity.
II was observed that many individuals ex-
hibited rebellious emblems on their broach-
es, bonnets and neckties, and some of the
bolder spirits actually Haunted diminutive
Confederate flags In the faces of the nation
al soldiers. The guard was fortunately re.
lieved from it perilous position by the arri-
val OF regiment of infantry and q battery
OF ligh, artillery. By joint movement of
these troops the levee in front Of. the boat
was cleared for space of about 200 yards.
AS the soldiers we're green and tender
hearted and the crowd composed Of the
softest and most yielding material, this was
accomplished without any tragic results. II
was observed, however, that the mud and
dirt of the artillery horses and vehicles in
spired far more awe than the trig uniforms
and polished bayonets of the infantry.
Ii happened that in their forced retreat
portion Of the crowd took refuge on board
the river steamer Laurel Hill, which was at
tho levee short distance above the prison.
ers' boat. She was was quickly occupied
and futteiing with handkerchiefs from the
lower deck to the top of the pilot-house.
AT the same time feet Of ferry-boats was
seen loided with fair Algerines coming
from the other sides Of tbs river to reinforce
the ovation. At this crisis Provost Mar.
shal Dwight appeared on. the ield. The
ferry.boats were arrested before landing
and obliged to return with their disappoin-
ed feights. Without warning, the Laurel
Hill was cast loose, foated ont into the !,
stream, and thence drifted with the cur