The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-15
mo. s.

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| went and saw him, (kecping ca'm,)
He wanted men to build dam,
Said my promise was a sham,
And that | wished to leave him;
Swore he would write to Abraham,
About me, tho it grieved him.
| Who prod and con'd each day just so,
| On plans and schemes of what to do,
He swore I'd Natchez in my view,
! / could not well deny it;
Says I, if rations don't come through,
Why, Porter, | must try l..
Ten sleeplcss days and nights we pass'd,
lsebs near and river falling fast,
Was ever, Kirby, men harrasscd,
| AS and Porter now,
What was worse, we'd killed our last,
Our very last old ke-ow.
70 crown the whole, just then learn',I
Some freight and boats had been burn'd
Below by rebs, and others turned
Back to the City "kiting,'
To charge on gunboats unconccrned,
Is, Kirby, not fair fighting.
Red River closed, Dick Il. in sight,
With rcbs on left and rebs Oh right,
My braves not anxious for afight,
What could |, Kirby, do?
Except to move my base by night
III leave the case to you.
Porter was working night aud day,
banning in his peculiar way,
He mixed up oaths with bricks and clay.
And doublc-damncd Red River;
While he has made his damnins paw,
I've damned myself forever.
| A rise, however, same about
In mic % time, and helped him out,
He showed his guns all up tho spout,
And cmptied every boiler;
This saved both him and me, no doubt,
From being now at Tyler.
When Porter rang risready bell,
| tell you what, it pleased me well,
My troops struck tent and all pell-mcll,
Quick off with what they had,
And had they been reprievetl from hell,
They'd not been half as glad.
left as usual in the night,
And as my soldiers wanted light
TO see to rob and vent their spite,
| set the Town on fire;
Our latest law says, might is right
With us no law stands higher.
AS heretofore, Dick was awake,
He knew the road we had to take,
And OH our TANKS and in our wake
His rebs kept rather nigh;
But as I've said, when homes tile stake
My braves go through or die.
The road was good, our baggage slim,
Just in what's called running trim,
Each, therefore, quicked it with vim,
That is to say, went Free;
Ny colored braves eyed every limb,
And every leaning tree.
No dire mislap or great event
O'ertook or met us as we went,
Until near Marksville, where the scent
Of rebs again grew strong;
| slirewdly guessed the rascals meant
10 DO me some great wrong.
Soon, as feared, their artillery,
The same they lately took from me,
Belched forth perfect jubilee
] thought my time had come;
sail my prayers quite hastily
Prayed that | might get hum. j.
But desperation mixed with skill,
Will force passage cen through hell,
Yet, (altho' Long Bridge fills the bilI,)
My braves got through at last,
Except few that are still,
Who could not well get past.
We had the rebs now in our rear,
And tho it might seem rather queer,
This fight. re-greascd our running gear,
SimmsFort was now near by;
Once there, Ia not the slightest fear
I'm brave when Porter's nigh.
1 reached Atchafalaya's shore
First man, and felt myself secure,
But scarce had time to breathe before,
heard the rcbs again;
Their cannon made the welkin roar,
BY chance we saved our train.
This was another hard fought field,
| Dick would not and | could not Weld.
| Night loancdus in time, her shield,
Which hid ms from their view;
Embarked, VIC all Aevoutly kneelcd,
So, Kirby, now adieu.
| It you should sec my old friend Steele.
| Please tell him, sir, how bad | feel,
And that my trip up here to steal,
| Has ruined me forever;
And that he'd best not try to deal
With rebels up Red River.
Nota Bcne-
Friend Porter says he's just received
| a note from Abe, and that's he gricy'd
10 tell me have been relieved,
Please make Unknown to Andy,
Old Able, lie says, it is believed,
VIII give my place to Candy.