St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-04-15
Written for the FARMER.
A Village Ransacked
AND A PRISONER At NINE.

u vIIIdYc nduSoCh0u
AND A PRISONER At NINE.
"a story of scenes and incidents
in st. Tammany parish, during the
late civil war;.
JACKSONVILLE, La,
April 10, 1898.
1t was about December, 1868,
that the Federal troops arrived at
our little village. 1t was just be-
fore sunset, and the snow was fall
ing in minute flakes upon the dead
and decaying grass Well do I re-
member that evening. 1 began
turning gray right then and there,
l was SO frightened. When the
news spread around that the YAM
KEGS were here, it made the blood
run cold in the veins Of every rebel,
and they shuddered to think what
might befall them.
The first gunboats that landed at
our wharf were the st. Charles and
Kate Dale. The former was com.
handed BY Gen. Grover, . New
Yorker, (and . friend Of my father,
who was also from New York. }
The latter, I think, was under Col.
Kimball's control. However, the
troops from both boats, do not
remember how many, but there were
more than l liked to see, began
rashing ashore, and it was not long
before you would have thought all
the 'possums and minks in the
country were in the hen house.
Chickens would cackle, ducks and
geese would quack, the wonderful
guinea or pea fowl could be heard
for blocks screaming ''pe-lo-at,''
"pe-lo-at," and Mr. Christmas
Turkey submitted to his fate with
only his tapping wings in motion.
They continued their havock from
time to time, until orders were re-
ceived to withdraw the troops. It
was a joyful day when all were gone.
The air we brealhed seemed to be
more refreshing. When fowls be-
came scarce they began to kill cat
tie and hogs in all directions, also
two earrings which were my would
be own. How I cried when I saw
the blood on the barn floor. One
bright morning father walked up
the street, and to his surprise saw
hanging ON The boat st. Charles
two or three of his hogs. Going
to Gen. Grover. he babe him good
morning, and pointed to his hogs.
Grover said, "What's the matter!"
Father said. "rhey are mine,"
and showed his mark, which was q
a figure 49, in each ear. Grover
promised to send father . barrel Of
mess pork. This satisfied father,
because he knew it must be, but we
have not yet received the pork, and
l think it will be rather old when il
comes.
GIN another occasion father saw
three soldiers carrying of the last
three guineas he had. He asked
them to leave those for him, as they
were all he had left, but they went
on without answering, and father
followed to see where they went
and TO what regiment they belong
ed, SO he could report them.
After walking about q block they
said, "Old man, you had better 60
back" but father was grit for an
old man, and would not 60 back.
On seeing this. two seized him and
held him fast, and told the other
one to run with the geese, which he
did, and thus foiled my fathers
plans.
There were some very good
men in the troops stationed in our
village. here state that I have
no bitter feelings against the YAM
KEGS on account Of the late war,
but I relate these things ~ they are
the truth, and give our young peo-
pie some idea what the word
''war" means.
Immediately after the arrival Of
the two gunboats, there came .
little steamer named the Clyde,
which was used as . transport, to
bring more troops and supplies,
making two trips daily. In short
time our village was white with
tents, and horses and mules in great
numbers were seen tied to ropes
stretched from tree TO tree. BY
this time things began to be more
settled, and we were not 50 fright
ened.
Our gardens next fell . prey to
sneaks. Night after night our cab
bages would 60, until it became
necessary to try to save some for
ourselves. To this end father con-
suited his friend Grover, who ad-
vised him to give some officer in
the army . room in his house, and
by SO doing he could get two guards
to watch his place, and Mr.. Pea
body and wife were accordingly
booked at home. The guards were
stationed at our house, but still the
cabbages went just the same. Mrs.
Peabody was kind and good lady
to small boys. l was her wood
boy, to cut and carry wood in her
room. That is the way I kept
supplied with fruits of all kind.