The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-14
PRoPos of the present high water
in the Mississippi river and tho

Y in the Mississippi river and the
am reminded of trip that made across
that river forty-one years ago where 1t
was forty miles in width.
This was IN April, 1862 had accom-
panied my mother to Texas and was on
my return journey, intending to join the
Confederate army. then at Corinth. Miss.
had attached myself to a small party of
Texas soldiers whom 1 found at Shreve-
port La, and we took passage on a
steamer loaded with supplies for the
southern army, the captain of which
thought he could reach Red river mouth
and run up to Yicksburg ahead of the
Yankee gunboats which were coming ND
the Mississippi from New Orleans. At
the mouth of Red river, however. we
found the enemy already there, and MOTH
Ing was left us but to return to sbreve-
port. l was only Il years of age but was
ready for any undertaking, no matter
what, that promised to bring me to nv
comrades who were fighting the battles
of my country, and which, in my youth
full ardor. l was fearful would end be-
ticipatlng therein.
From Shreveport we started overland
to Monroe, La, where We expected ar
engagements could be made for reaching
our destination. At Monroe we were told
that the Yankees had cut the levees above
Vicksburg and that further progress
would be very difficult and dangerous, as
the entire country from there to Vicks-
burg was under water. Nothing daunted
by this, we secured two good skiffs, with
an experienced negro oarsman for each,
and at Delhi, station on the Yicksburg
and Shreveport railroad. forty miles west
of Yicksburg, we started on our voyage
filled, as 1t was, with unknown perils.
We were nearly three days and two
nights In making this trip The first night
out we ''camped" in our skiffs tied up to
the tops of the trees on the line of this
railroad. This line, like a dull ribbon of
water stretched far out through the for
ests ahead of us. was our sole chart and
compass, and while in the forests it was
safe guide. but we were often out over
large plantations, and then It was like
being at sea with no land in sight, and
then we were obliged to steer by such
landmarks as were available these prov
ing to be mostly the chimneys of SUBJ
merged houses. We passed a number of
these with only the roofs and chimneys
above water The second night out we
stopped at one of these houses, which
proved to be a typical southern planter s
home
mil
Yicksburg but l have forgotten the name
of its owner. 1t was built for comfort
rather than style, but was handsomely
furnished throughout. The family con-
sisted of the head of the family, his wife,
two grown daughters and three smaller
children. He had received notice of the
coming flood. and had hastily gathered
his stock, together with several hundred
bales of cotton. and all of his negroes
into a small enclosure around his home
and had sought to protect these by an i'm
provised levee. There was no sleep posi-
BILE for those thus imprisoned in this
water besieged fortress, for all were APP
prehensive of the disaster which came
upon them about daylight, when 1t was
found that the walls would not hold
against the storming of the water with
out. A rush was made for the boats that
had been provided for this emergency,