The National tribune., 1902-02-13

"war is hell" as Gen. Sherman aptly re
marked-and he knew.
II is true that in this approach TO Port
Hudson the United States Army had nj
mighty hills to climb-only n comparative
ly level country to pass over, n creek oil
two, some undulations and ravines; but
they passed every obstacle boldly anC
rapidly and threw their lines OF hu
manity and steel around the COnfederates
and which no man could pass through as
| dispatch bearer, as the writer and others
( learned to their sorrow; others, attempt
| ing to pass ont by crossing the Mississippi,
! trHly found that
when they reached the other shore
! 1t was the Jordan they'd crossed o'er.''
In addition to this line of steel Gen.
I Banks soon had heavy breastworks, with
cott0n-bale forts" erected under our fire
/ by night and a burning sun by day, and
upon these were mounted siege guns and
light artillery, while the ships below and
the mortor fleet especially made it intense
ly lively and interesting to the defenders.
Receiving reinforcements rapidly, Gen.
Banks soon had a force of over 10000
around Port Hudson, not including the
feet. and this number was later added to
until nearly 10000 boys in blue surround
ed us.
Against this large and splendid army of
veterans Gen. Frank Gardner, the com
mander of Port Hudson, had but $500
men all told; viz. Brig.-Gen. w. \. z.
Bcale's Brigade, AIiles's Legion. DeGnur-
ney's Louisiana Heavy Artillery battalion.
three batteries Of 1st Miss. J.. A.. and
several unattached commands. n fighting
force of 1900 soldiers. all veterans. (See
War Of Rebellion. Official Records, Series
|, Vol 26. Part l.
II is true that the works Of Port Hud-
son were fairly substantial, but the Con-
federates had no barbed-wire fences and
other iHhuman Spanish methods to keen
back a foe; for, having fought Standards
in Cuba, as an officer under the Lone Star
flag, the writer knows that they have lost
none Of their cruelty since the days Of
the InquiSition.
Port Hudson at the opening Of the siege
was well provisioned and supplied with
ammunition and medical stores: but the
United States soldiers were good shots
then. as now, and the third day after
opcning upon us they set fire to our Quar-
tcrmastpr and Commissary stores, blew up
several magazines, burned a medical
storehouse. killed our cattle, sheep and
hogs, demolished our quarters and brought
MS down 70 short ratiOns and little cloth
ing. while scarcity of food grew beauti-
fully less as the siege heightened.
So short did the rations become that
the garrison was reduced to mule meat"
while not few men hunted rat-hoIes.
with ramrod in hand. to spear rodents
which the boys called "hOuse squirrels"
and dogs and cats became n luxury for
stervs
The writer recalls "Iamb stew" he
had out of a household pet purchased from
n poor woman, who sold the puppy be-
carsc she could not feed it.
The late lamented and distinguished
Y A.
X. Fellows. then from Arkansas and n
Cartain and Assistant Adjutant-G General
on Beale's staff, was one Of the guests,
and he greatly enjoyed what he had been
led 10 believe was 'young muttOn:" hut
when he became coGpizant of the exact
Ingredients Of the stew he was mad clean
through.
But Col Fellows was n royalty good
fellow, and, peace be to his ashes, he
readily forgive the writer for the decep-
ton, and when he got hungry came to
ask for. as he expressed it, "some more
OF that dog-Gonc stew
Sugar and molasses the Confederates
had in plenty, for il was Il sugar country,
and the soldiers learned the art Of making
themselves sick on candy in the morning,
and of course wanted nothing more to eat
during the day.
Gray-haired men could be seen relig-
iously pulling candy" for a living; but
the longer they pulled it the backer it
got, and with good reason. when one
looked at their hands. for the river water
was luxury not to be despised as it had
to be brought by night in barrels and
hence was supplied only Tor drinking and
cooking.
The Union sharpshooters across the
river prevented bathing by day, and the
water gotten at night being in whisky
barrels that had not lost their favor. could
not be wasted for ablutions-hence, the
candy-pulling cleansed the hands.