Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-05-30

deduction to be drawn from Presl-
dent. Linc0ln's proclamation, that
the rebellion" would be soon and
easily suppressed, still had been
seized with a severe attack OF mar
tial fever, which was not subject to
abatement, until l had an oppor-
tunity to inhale the sulphureous
odor of battle at close range.
Accordingly. l bad adieu to the
professors and cadets, who had not
already severed their connection
with the institution. on April 18th.
1861. engaged conveyance to Alex
andria, where I embarked on the
steamer Grand Duke for New Or
leans the next day.
When / went aboard Of the boat.
found thereon The Bossier Boys"
the first company which had been
organized in Bossier parish, en- route
to Camp Moore. l was soon ap-
preached by a cadet named Ed
wards, who had left the Seminary
two or three weeks previously and
who was one of the Lieutenants.
He told ME there was a vacancy,
which I could have, if I would &C.
cept it. as they needed officers who
had received some military train
ing. I declined the proffered honor.
with thanks, assuring him that I
had already declined to enlist in a
military company at Alexandria,
and was on my way home, where
1 proposed to enlist, as soon as l
found Company that measured up
to my expectations.
Before we arrived at Baton Rouge
1 was advised that l would save
time by disembarking at that place.
as the Grand Duke would reach
there about two hours before the
Iberville, going up the river. in
place of the Natchez. which had
been laid up for the summer.
l awaited myself of such gratui-
tous advice; boarded the Iberville.
and reached Waterproof on time.
Again / found q conveyance, and
soon covered the intervening space
of. twelve miles between the former
place and my home.
Soon after / came home, the
"Catahoula Guerrillas," Captain
Buhoup, was organized at Trinity
Troyville-now Jonesville-and be-
low on Black River, but as / then
had but limited acquaintance in
that portion of the parish, / made
no effort to enlist in it.
The "Tensas Rifles" Capt. Hen
ry, afterwards Capt. Dave Buckner.
had already been organized and
were on duty in Virginia. bad
already enlisted in the ''Tensaa
Cavalry" before the second Com
pany was organized in Catahoula.
But some time in May, or it may
have been in June. Capt. Thos. P.
Farrar, a prominent member Of the
St. Joseph bar. had organized the
Armstrong Guards," and the peo-
pie of Waterproof and surrounding
country had honored them with q
grand barbecue on certain day,
which ] am unable to recall after
the flight of 80 many years. But l
concluded to attend the barbecue
and inspect the Company. with the
view of enlistment, if its personnel
could pass muster, but it failed Ia
mentally in that respect.
To say that was greatly disap-
pointed, is but to express my senti-
ment of supreme disgust mildly.
The officers, who had already been
elected, were gentlemen Of culture,
education, refinement and wealth,
who would grace. adorn and honor
any station in life. But the enlist
ed men were all. or nearly all, Irish
ditchers and steamboat roustabouts.
This class of Irish may have made
and probably did make good fight
ers, but it does not necessarily fol-
low that they were fit associates for
a gentleman. 1t may be easily sur
missed that it required but a very
cursory inspection for me to deter
mine Immediately that the Arm
strong Guards" was not the Com
pany for me to enlist in.
Shortly after l had reached such
conclusion, the "Tensas Cavalry"
finely mounted, well armed and
gaily caparisoned, rode up, and ap-
pealed SO greatly to my fancy, as to
distract my attention, temporarily,
from the supreme disgust and
nausea with which the Armstrong
Guards" had inspired me.