Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-02
EXCEPTED FROM vIDALGA.
BY MOSAIC.

Previous to the disagreement, be-
tween the North and South, our gts-
a-ujs ueighbor was simply point at
which court business was transacted,
in those days tie court buildings, tav-
ern, few lawyers offices and some
three or four private residences, COM
prised the makeup OF Vidalia. 1t
was nothing like the mart of to-day /;
no mercantile business being transact
ed there whatever. 1t was, neverthe-
less, q lively little place, aud during
court days especially, many high
old time was had by its visitors, and
not u few jolly episodes are still ex-
tant OF the days long since passed.
Among its citizens were numbered
distinguished members of the bar,
and for years to come, Stacy, Spar
row. McWhorter, Shaw, Rowley,
Frost, PoiDdexter, Veazie, and A. G.
Hunter, oflegal lore renowned, with
Tom Edwards, Vernon, Brook White,
James Edwards, and others of like
ilk, will be borne in memory. Its en-
viroDs were the resort Of those who
sought to settle by the ''code" all diff
ficulties, and the crack of the rifle
and report Of the pistol were followed
by the outpouring of the lfe-b blood of
the duelist.
On the outbreak of the war, Vida
liza, small as it was, furnished its
quota of gallant men who were ever
to the front, and conspicuous for their
gallantry. Among those who volun-
tered in defense of what they believ-
cd to be right, was one who was nur-
tured among the hills of New Eng
land, but in early life made the South
his home, locating in this section, fol-
lowing the vocation of training the
minds of the youth in the neighbour
hood, finally drifting into the prac-
tice oflaw, and journalism. But the
clash of arms came, and by his noted
bravery he rose rapidly, until he won
the wreath and stars Of a Brigadier.
At all times ready for duty, he was
invariably the recipient of the enc.
my's favors, as his scars testify.
From the furlough list in time for a
fight, wounded" was scored against
his name on the Adjutants report.
An incident is told of HIM, and vouch-
ed for. that whilst Oh the amputating
table having limb Topped off, the
news Of an engagement and advance
Of the enemy was received, and, con-
trary to the wishes and orders of his
surgeons, he left the table to again
chance it for his country's cause
Another episode Of his military ca
reer can be here taken in, the more
specially as the scene is laid in Vida
Tia. At the second battle of Manas-
sas our Vidalian received an ugly
wound in the neck, and his medical
advisers insisted that to avoid paraIy-
sis he should seek warmer climate,
as the rigors Of "A Virginia winter
would do for him what the Federal
bullets had failed in. He therefore
left on an unlimited Through and re-
turned home, bringing with him his
stable of horses, one of them a thor
oughbred, and as feet as the wind.
At home, the change of climate, and
from camp to real life again, soon
made Richard himself again, and he
longed for the excitement and dan
gers OF the tented field. He was soon
to have his desire grattied, but not
exactly accordingto the regime of
Lee and jackson.
The Federal gunboat Queen of the
West had passed the Vicksburg bat
teries and Coasted down, cleaning in
formation from negroes. Landing at
Vidalia, she put off a detachment in
charge OF Lleutenants. Our Vir-