The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-09-17

| meant long chance dad dey would lose
DER cotton altogether. De commander
and soldiers at Fort De Russy were very
| sore over de cotton pizness, and only too
| glad for a chance to burn both loads, If
dey could yAnd out where dey we're, rather
than let dem go to de Yankees If dey
could be slipped by dem, dere vas Admiral
Porter coming up de river. nit a pig
fleet, and gObbling efferythins in sight as
prizes for the navy"
Rather betwixt the devil and the deep
sea, l should say" commented Shorty.
Yes; yes, but OATS generally de way
of de cotton pizness nowadays. A man
who has heart disease ought never to med
die NIT cotton. Finkenbein Il Spitzbube
saw a kvarter of a million dollars of DER
good money fluttering around like night
moth between the rebel fires at Fort De
Russy and the greedy Yankee prize hunt
ers. Dey begged me nit tears in DER
eyes to help dem out in some way. l said
! | would if 1 could, but l couldn't see how
in de verdi I was going to: started off
de last of February, for Brashear City,
nit booklet full of kreenbacks, several
more full of Confederate money, and two
yalises, one of dem bullying out NIT hoop
skirts, lace handkerchiefs. silk dresses and
other chm-cracks for presents to officers
wifes. l had also some gold cord, braid,
santlets, and other things for de officers
demselfs. Bresents go great Ways nit
some peoples. and l knew l vos going
where / should need favors. At Brashear
City. Cheneral Franklin gate me good
horse to ride, and a mule to carry my
valises. and l struck out on the Vermil-
lionville road for Alexandria, 175 miles
away. AS soon as l got outside our lines
| 1 could hardly speak English enough to
ask my way. All de people up dere are
French 'Cajans, and think France de
roc in, do vortl Il haI
come across de ocean from Paris. on inn
bortant pizness with Gen. Polignac.
had letters and cards NIT de crown Of
France in gold, and basses from Kirby
Smith and Col. Broadwell. and dis opened
de way for me everywhere. At ChOctaw
Bayou l turned off de road to look up
Finkenbein & Spitzbube's steamboats, and
cotton. Young Zimri Finkenbein. Lewis
nephew, who was in charge, was in de-
spair. His chance of getting home and
marrying Leah, key Spitzbube's daugh-
ter, depended on his getting de cargo
through safely. and he saw no hope.
"'Dere is nothing like de water in Bayou
du Lac and Bayou Huffpower dat we
eggspect at dis dime Of year, he COM
dem Offer into de Atchafalaya is gone.
Driest time ever known in dis country.
De reppels ofer in Fort De Russy are
porn defiils. Dey care no more for cot
ton, worth So a pound, dan dey do for
dry leaves. Dey want to purn it up wher-
ever dey see it. Dey say de rich men who
own it are staying at home and making
den, do de fighting and starting, While
dey're selling DER cotton to de Yankees
and swelling around like bull-frogs. I've
got Cheneral Walker, who commands de
troops, sqvared, but he cannot control his
men, who are pent on purniDg de cotton.
"'DO dey know you half de cotton up
dere?' l asked him.
ono he said. All de people around
legs. Dey can't even drink whisky in
English. Dey get drunk on claret vine in
stead. 1 hat only had dem to help me,
and deg couldn't tell where de cotton is if
dey tried
things might turn up to help him out,
and he marry Leah after all. Mighty
I'd do all could to help him, and maybe
I'd find way at Shreveport. 1 vas 60
ing to Keep him in my mind. because
l really took qvite fancy to him. He
vas very vine young fellow, and Leah
Spitzbube's one of the incest girls know.
and very much in love nit him. told
him to keep a stiff upper lip. and I'd pc
pack soon. found dat Col. VIM. Broad
well was so anxious to meet me dat he
had come down on steamboat to Alex
andria. l settled up NIT him fair and
sqvare for his share of de cotton dat had
peen brought through, baying him de last
cent in gold and crisp new kreenbacks,
so dat he vas entirely satisfied, and ready
to help me in any way he could. l made
him still more solid by presenting him NIT
a vine silk dress and de latest style of
hOop-skirts for his daughter, who was go
ing to pc married TO de young Captain of
a Louisiana pattery. l took him into my
confidence apout Finkenbein 6 Spitz-
bube's cotton. and he said he'd fix dat. He
at once wrote note to Gen. Walker. and
sent it py q messenger. He wanted me
to go pack up to Shreveport NIT him OH
de poat, and / vas very glad to accept |
his invitation, and get look at de river.
Around Gen. Banks's headquarters at
New Orleans dey we're very anxious to |
know joost how things we're on de upper
Red River, rs to de stage Of water, forts. |