The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-18

me Island City myself being only a
SnerCkee rose and ieit as proud A. the
0thtrs) should return. Our trim Was one
oi pleasure save little marcning acros ;
Louisiana TO New Iberia, where We 10 Ina
steamboat which carried us Ia BerwtrI,
bay. then BY train 10 New Orleans ana
then 10 Manassas, Va.
When l look back to those DAYS and %
those of my return ana the way 90,
back ! say to myself thing are differ
ent; no one TO greet you outside OF your
family. and of those y9u passed soms
would shake your hand and some would
pass you as stranger--thosc same pso-
pie aud some OF those that helped 20 Gro sd
The streets when you left. Then again 10
come home and find everything so differ
cnt from what IL was wncn yAu left H.
some dear friend or relative load: some
got rich by staying home while those OF
us were of 10 that far away STATE of
Virginia Virginia is maine that never
VIII be forgotten by the soldiers who be-
ionged to Hoods Texas brigade. Texas tcina,
cut on from all direct communication. We
we've as you may cali US orphans and that
grand old state OF Virginia adopted us and
nid for us that which many viii never
forget. Many OF It's were taken 10 the
homes and cared for until able to return
TO duty-eovering for our body and Zee,
was sent MS By the women e that STATE.
GOD bless them. their memory Will be
cherished by Hoods Texas brigade
arrived in Houston after long and
weary tramp from Richmond, Va which
is by rail from Houston. the shortest way,
HOO miles, on April rs 1865 TO avoid
meeting Sheridan's raiders many out OF She
way roads | took. walking over two thirds
the distance most OF II in the night, ~
q n hAt tau.
reckless Yankee straggler. Beins dis
charged from service was free to 20
anywhere in the Southern States. but 10
DO SO had TO foot It
Everything went well While in the diff
terent states east Of the Mississippi
After many attempts ! crossed the river
TO the Louisiana side; met high water
and negroes. OF the two chose the high
water, as IL did not talk, aud capture was
less certain. Being in party OF nine we
came across a ildtboat, one white man
and two negroes. The boat was loadad
Tor points back beyond the high water. f.
did not take lis long when We found ciit
the strength Of the boats crew. We put
on 0 bold front marched out with on
hand behind as Il to draw our pistols and
TOOK possession at once ordered the ne
groes to push OF and the white man to
look on After the boat was on its WY
discovered lady sitting behind u pile Of
boxes. She had been to New Orleass and
bought this bcauoad OF groceries. Her
presence was respected and she got home
two days earlier than II she had not met
us. We were swift people. knowing we
We're in the Yankees raiding district
which was done by steam launch from
a gunboat in the river. SO TO speak we
made tracks for safe points. But when !
once more get on to my native soil to he
jayhawed by deserters | call that taking
the cake.
Now. tell mo why should men desert
their commands on this side Of The river?
Surely it cant be from overwnrE. IS to
lighting. time laid heavily on thcir hands
II il had not been for Dick Bowling at
Sabine Pass, cleaning out the entire Yam
kec army, gunboats and all, as he did with
forty-two Irishmeu, the soldiers on this
side would have had all the fighting they
cared for and they may thank Dick Dow
ling fer deprving them of thar chance
And soldier that would desert his cploTs
when there was no eaemy within miles nf
him and zone expected, what would he do
II he had to face them? Well. | tell you
! would not depend on that kind for sun
port in case of a fight.
Time changes, as | sal. thc SHORE time
from my leaving the boys Gas We caieI
NHemj IN tne trenCutS IN irons Of peters,
burg. Cannon and rifle reports. the shells
bursting aud the dead thud of he ninIs
ball striking some one, going ON from
morning till night and from right til
morning again, then TO come into uuc'
native STATE and firi uhe appearap, e OF
some expectation tina; the Yauks m ghs
come. don't grudge these soldiers ttcir
good luck There is nothing like beng
on the safe side, But what ! don't Hike
is; What we did ana how w wliprol
the Yank,' When it all was done by pcN
Bowling and for,y-two Irishmcn at Sa-
tine Pass. Just think Of it! Nine arm
soldiers deserving th~ir co'ors aud holding
ND a wagon train that was out through
the country hunting up provision FOR
them and the comrades so as 20 keep thai;
souls and body tcgether and deriving a
crippled soldier Of having a ride IN the
tail end Of his j-uruey: They stole nine
saddle mules AM III out for Louisiana
ard l hal to foot II again from Pr.mroso's
mill, on the Angelina rive
Yes. time makes MANY changes What
is a Confederate solder 'o'av? \ thing
OF the past; forgotten as on dead To
talk of him is strain on their nerves
with the word 50 often toll YOU those
times are all over--the war is over; whai
do you know Of today
Geo. a, Barnard.