The National tribune., 1886-12-09

weather. Their presence offered quite
temptation TO immortality on the part OF
some Of the more reckless of the soldiers
until guard was placed on the negro quar-
ters and no soldiers allowed inside. They
were a peculiarly religious people, having
praver meeting every night and baptism
nearly every Sunday. Their eNhortations,
prayers and hymns cannot he imagined by
one who has never heard them, and as ] feel
uneoual to the task of describing them
viii not attempt it. Their baptisms were
performed in the bayou back Of the fort.
Their minister was little grayheaded old
darlley, weighing not much more than 100,
and one Sunday, while baptizing a woman
of nearly three times his weight he found
himself unable to raise her from the water.
He lifted and grunted while she struggled
aud snOrted, but ali in vain, and at last TWO
men had to wade in and assist him in raising
her.
One old negro named Parker used 10 come
TO the barracks and sing for payment OF
two biscuits. lie apparently know only one
song-at least ] never heard him sing any
other. ] remember the first three verses,
which were as follows:
OH dare am soger and he come from dc Mort,
Where de moon shine brigl, an clearly
know dat soger 10y his horse
OH Miss Mary, ubs him dearly,
Take a. soger's horse by de bridle-rein /.
Aud lead him ronn' TO my stable,
Dare's hay aud corn which he may need,
Ill feed him while I'm able.
Take de soper I,y his lily white hand
And lead him mp 10 my table,
Dane's Cnlse and wine which lac may neeo,
III feed hlm while I'm able.
Another negro, named Ephraim, used quite
frequently TO come and sing, but his song
was rather too near his own color 10 be re-
peated in a family newspaper Ephraims
departure from the fort came neaT being a
tragedy. A soldier of Co. B, named Farm
ham. pushed him into the water in sport,
supposing he could swim; but, unfortu-
nately, he could not and the poor fellow
came near drowning before he could be
pulled out Next day he left the fort, say
ing lac didn't dare TO stay wild dem Yankee
s0gers no longer"
One day two contrabands got into fight.
One of them, whose right hand had been
amputated al the wrist struck the other IN
the breast with the stump, crushing the
breast-bone in upon the heart and killing
him instantly He had a sort Of trial and
was punished by being sent away from the
fort
In August, 1862, we had good chance to
see q test of The strength of a negros neck,
ms well as the hardness Of his head. A new
commissary store was built at a distance Of
at least 30 rods from the old one. When the
stores were being moved negro said he
could carry barrel of beef from one build
ing 10 the other on his head, so the trial was
made Two strong men assisted him in plac-
ing the barrel upon his head, and he per-
formed the task, apparently with ease.
In the evening of July A, 1863, some of the
darlIeys had dance on the platform in front of
Co. + 5 cook house. Itwas a big time. The
music consisted of banjo, fife, bones, three
fiddles and a bass horn. Occasionally the
music would rest but the dancing still kept
up TO the patting of "juba by some of the
bucks The c0lOrs on the turbans of the
women would throw a double barreled
rainbow completely into the shade, and the
steps that were taken would strike profes-
si0nal dancer dumb with astonishment.
TROUBLE WITH GUERRILLAs.
Several parties of guerrillas were broken
mp by the csrrisOns of the forts during our
stay. Many, though not a majority, OF the
inhabitants OF Plaquemine Parish were
loyal, and during the first half of the war
suffered considerable persecution from their
rebel nei- -hbOIs; but after the capture of
Port Hudson set Banks's army at liberty,
active dislOyalty became rather a dangerous
game TO play in the parishes east of Atcha-
ialaya, aud the Union men had a rest. In
the evening of Oct "a 1862, a guerrilla
party attacked the plantation of Union
man q 1eH miles from Point a la Hache,
killed woman and child and destroyed con-
siderable property. One of bis friends inn
mediaiely started in his pirogue and carried
news OF the affair TO Fort jackson. A
steamer being fortunately at the wharf a
party OF 100 from the 3lst Mass quickly
went on board and started for the scene oi
the Outrage with the man who brought the
news ar guide, he knowing nearly all The
gueTnlias. They captured about 20 Of the
prominent members Of the gang, and in -
houR from The time of the outrage had them
confined in a casemate at Fort jackson
After that the guide was marked for ven
geance by heremainingmemberso Of the gang
and he had 10 be constantly on his guard 10
escape being murdered. He nevertheless re-
manned at home till the next Summer. Then
the rebels, being encouraged by the long
delay IN the capture Of Port Hudson, made
his life 20 uncomfortable chat, July 3, hC
started, with his family, for the forts Just
as he was starting he accidentally learned
that gang OF 80 had laid a plot 10 cap
ture a Sergeant and 10 men Of the 18th Me.
who were guarding the mouth of a canal
While on his way be stopped and informed
Them of their danger, and the Sergeant, In
stead OF waiting 10 be attacked. took ia,
offensive, surprised and scattered the guer
Tillas, captu ing al their arms. A few dayI
after SeTgt Howard, of Co J., accompanied
the refugee to headquarters al New Orleans
his past actions having shown that he wa
likely 20 be a valuable guide Until Oct. 8
1862,
GEN. NEAL DOW
commanded the post few miles ND rive
was a store, kept by a man whose name,
think was Louis, aud. rs there was for SOM
time no sutler at the fort, the soldiers were oc
casiOnaliy permitted 20 visit the store 10 trade
Some Of Louis's goods could not be measure,
by the yard unless by the number Of wards n
which they would kill; so sometimes soldie
after visiting the establishment would hav
found itqutc difficult 10 march in lock step
One day while party from Co. Il were az III
store one 0i them, who was niclsnamed "Olt
Turk," stole and ate a smoked herring. Shortl,
alter emharking 10 return we found that N
had, apparently, contracted 10 move Louis
stock OF wet Foods and taken too heavy a lon,
that trip. lie insisted that he was an right
only The ID herring was so salt that
made ham SICK, but he soon was so cru she'd be
meath hie load that he became hpitlpeg npd la