The Opelousas courier., 1896-05-09

changed the compliments OF the sea-
son, and parted each with increased
respect for the other, thoroughly con-
WINGED of the stubborn tenacity and
grit characterizing both the men who
defended their battery and those who
charged for q half-mile in front H it.
You left us in possession of tho field,
but that field was like holding a hot
poker while you were in that n%eighbor-
hood. SO noiselessIy, under cover of
the darkness, we gently folded our
haversacks (not having much else to
fold), and like the classic Arab silently
took Il weary march back to the
place from whence we came. | assure
you not many songs were sung that
night, not many stories were told; for
we were not quite sure that you were
satisfied, and it was barely possible you
might request another interview.
With mingled respect and regard we
look in your faces tonight. One brave
man always respects another who stood
manfully for what we believed to be
right. We recollect the scenes you
passed through. While battling a foe
in front, you were assailed 10y starva-
ton in the real No nobler instances
of courage and elf-abnegation can be
found than where ill-clothed Confede-
rates left wife and children to raise a
little corn and tend the flock whereby
they might exist.
Our forces experimentally knew
nothing Of the agony endured 10y the
men in your ranks. We met, fought,
buried our dead, cared for our wounded,
and gloried In whatever triumph might
come. But you not only fought, but
you fought amid want.
OF tea and coffee we had the best in
the world but Il pound of tea from
Nassau cost you $500. Our army was
we'll shod. Ii IA pair of shoes were worn
out after a long march, the qurtelmas-
ter would issue another pair, but you
were often obliged to go b~arefoOted.
OF hard bread we generally had plenty.
1t is said a Southern captain found II
of his soldiers up a perslmmon tree eat
ing green perslmmons, aud on asking
the reason for such strange action was
told he was eating green perslmm0ns in
order to tit his mouth to the size of bis
rations.
We of the Union army think of the
triumph of our arms, and to us they
were grand F.; but it were well for us to
ponder over the fact that while our ar
mics were fighting the ~Confederates in
front, General Starvation was assault
ing them in the flank and rear. In Jan
uary, 1868, the Virginia newspapers
quoted flour at $25 per barrel, January,
1864, $95 per barrel !; and January,
1866, ST. 900 per barrel. For you, heroes
of Georgia, there was death at the can
mons mouth in front and star9ation in
the rear. In September. 1851, S1.1o
of Confederate money wait equal to
81 in United States god; but in
January, 1865, it took $50 Confederate
money to buy 81 in gold. 1t seemed
that while the money market was going
down lower and lower your courage and
pluck mounted higher and higher. A
Southern paper gave "a list of the dead
and wounded, alongside were dlrec-
tons for the use Of boneset for quiniue.
You made pencils to mark roll call from
medttano bullets poured into the cavity of
small reeds from the canebrakes. The
Juice of the poke berry compounded
| with vinegar, furnished ink while the
goose quill Git was all the yankees left
of the goose) took the place of the steel
| pen to write to the girl you left behind
| you. Raspberry and sassafras took the
place OF Hyson, parched rye and dried
| sweet potatoes took the place OF Mocha.
Scuppernong wine did not continue
| plentiful after the Ninth New York left
North Carolina. While the ladies used
| devices known to themselves, the mel
skewered their trousers with wooden
to show greater pluck and more indom-
| war. U
But | have thought it was during the
holiday seasons of the year the disap-
pointment was keenest, when the little
homespun stocking hung DID the CHM
ney place at Christmas, when your in
genuity was put to the test to devise SO
the d~eprivatiOns you we're enduring
should notadbe felt by the little ones
around yoir fireside. Aye, You might
| have told Gem that the Hawkins ZOn-
ayes had waylaid old Santa Claus as he
was coming through the lines you
might have told them that Noah's Ark,
| with its m%enagerie, the jumping jacks,
| wagons and dolls, had been captured
by the yankees. And it might have
been true, but it. could not soften
| the feeling of regret in your heart, Iii at
| at the hottest season OF the year. Christ
mastime, you could D give your little
ones the best the world afforded.
Brave souls that you we're, you went
forward in the performances of what
you con%scientionsly considered your
dnty, and SO those years passed-years
| Of self-sacrifice, years of devotion to
| what You felt was for principle; years Of
| sorrow, of pain, of death, of graves (;
buttbey we're also years of vaiOr. OF
courage, of conservation to aSgiyen
work such as the world never wit
messed hefore and l doubt if it ever
Il sra l-s-# V,,o I,HID-
lypHr determined resistance, your cour-
| the highest encOmiums OF praise
Now the rance of strife is over, and
| we are enabled to carefully study your
history in the light of contemporaneous
events. Weremember your homes des-
| oIatesby fire and sword, you bodies lily
exposed to the elements, your
lhaeersacks empty, while hungry and
fdesOiate you sank upon the bare ground
to forget fora few moments in sleep
thu struggle through which yon were
| passing. When we recall these things,
/ and then remember the courage exhib-
itedstO Our eyes as we met you on the
field OF battle, we declare we are proud
| to call you this day brothers, country
men, Americansl
Well may Georgia honor You with
Itbenoblest and best SHE possesses. Well
may her orators who meet you at your
annual reunions, and were their voices
as Siivery and sweet as those of angels,
were their powers of description as Wv
vid as the lightning's fash, they would
vet be unable to tell the whole story of
your faithfulness to that grand Empire
State Of the South, as we OF Hawkins
/ Znnavas who took yOur fire and Jaw
your determination and valor as you