The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-06-22

despair, succeeded by the presence of
bright winged hope, thetreasured thoughts
and pleasant dreams of the future, the Bit
ter agony of perishing expectations, 1.-The
inward struggles of light and darkness, are
as sealed book to the probing gaze OF the
world But one mission was theirs-to de-
fend to the last extremity the city wherein
centred all their pride. Whether they did
so, let History record, and the world deter
mine. /
June 25th. Warm and hazy. The heavy
Parrot gun on the peninsula kept up de-
structive fire on the lower portion of the
city, doing terrible execution on the build
ings. Along the lines it was comparatively
quiet early in the day. Just after noon
the enemy sprung the mine beneath the
Third Regiment, which they had been SO
long preparing. Six Mississippians, work.
ing in the counter mine, were buried alive
in the earth. This counter mine counter
acted the force of the explosion. The en-
envy Immediately charged in heavy col
umns the gap made in the works, when a
fierce hand-to-hand struggle ensued. The
heroic and brave men of the regiment,
sadly depleted in numbers as they were,
undauntedly faced the foe, using their
muskets and rifles with deadly effect upon
the close columns of, the Yankees. THE
Sixth Missouri Regiment of Bowen's Brig
ade, led by Col. Erwin, reinforced the
Third Louisiana, and after a short struggle
the enemy was repulsed with terrible loss.
Col. Erwin, a grandson of Henry Clay, was
killed in this engagements EditorB Banner
June 26. Clear and warm. The firing
was kept up very lively, as usual. During
the night the members of the regiment re-
paired tee damage to Fort Beauregard,
and were ready for the foe once more, with
spirits as determined and undaunted as
ever. The enemy succeeded in enfilading
the bitches, and compelled the men to leave
a portion of the works, while they fired
into them. In front, the Parrot guns were
used with some effect, killing and wound
ing several gentlemen and ladies in the city
June 9th. Cloudy and very warm and
the place full of rumors. At this period,
the fortieth day of the siege, Vicksburg
presented fearful spectacle, have the ap-
pearance of being visited with a terrible
scourge. Palatial residences were
crumbling into ruins, the walks torn up by
shells. Delicate women, and little
children, with pale, care worn and hunger
pinched features, peered at the passer-by
with wistful eyes, from the caves in the hill
sides. Human language is impotent
to portray the true situation of affairs.
June %. Another Sabbath morn. The
unusual warmth. One of the lower bat
teries in front succeeded in silencing d
PARROT gun across the river, and lively
Smelling in the woods compelled the sharp
shooters to beat hasty retreat.
The Catholics of the city held services
in their Cathedral, notwithstanding the
danger of such proceeding. As the con-
gregation was emerging from the building
the Argus eyed enemy across the river
discovered the unusual number of people
in the streets, and instantly opened on them
with Parrot gun. AS the shells came
screaming wickedly through the streets,
exploding or entering the building, men,
women and children hastily sought shelter
to escape the danger. Several persons
were struck by fragments of shells, but
fortunately, no one killed. Such an un-
heard of, ruthless and barbarous method
of warfare as training battery of rifled
cannon upon an assembly of unarmed men
and worshipping women, is unparalleled in
the annals of war.
Meat at this period became exhausted,
and orders were issued to select the finest
and latest mules within the lines, and
slaughter them, for the purpose of issuing
their flesh as food to the troops. A half
pound per man was the ration of this new
species of flesh. Several Spaniards be-
longing to the Texas regiments were also
busily occupied in jerking this meat for
future consumption.
This meat was also supplied to the citi-
zens from the market and sold for 80 cents
a pound. The first meal which we remem-
Der to have eaten of mule-flesh was at the
house of Mrs. Robert Henderson, whose
husband commanded one of the heavy bat
teries on the river. We assure the igno-
rant reader that the food was consumed
with keen relish worthy the appetite of a
gourmand, or an epicure over the most