Year: 1862

TO the command OF all the State west


Of the Mississippi. The appointment
| is both timely and d good one.


It Is timely, when we consider the
preparations made by the federals fol


the next winter campaign, and the ut
ter absence of energy and initiative
on the part Of our authorities to pro.


vide for the defence of this section OF
the country along the valley Of Red
River. In the face Of the destruction
of so many towns on the Mississippi
after the disaster Of Bayou Sara,
whose ruins are still smoking with
yankee raids at the very doors Of Mon
roe, It is worse than distressing to con-
template the apathy of the officials in
whose hands the defense of this part
Of the country has been entrusted SO
far. The enemy, not content with the
immense calamlties inflicted upon us
through the superiority of his navy
on our inland waters, is constantly in
creasing it. At this very hour, we
see them building three formidable iitn
clad vessels at CINCINNATI and New
Albany, calculated, from their light
draft, to 60 up all our rivers during
high waters. Yet, in such an emergen
cy, what Is there being done for our
defence, BY those in whose hands our
safeguard is now entrusted I The
absolute absence Of all works Of de-
fence from Shreveport to the mouth of
Red River demonstrates it in an
eloquent but sad manner. However,
let us hope that the appearance Of
Gen. Taylor in office will ineugurate
d brighter era, and that his call ON
the hitherto dormant energies of our
officials with meet with prompt atton-
ton. Should they persist in the same
inaction, we hope to see Gen. Taylor
apply the scalpel to their lazy body and
inexorably amputate the inert and
useless members. Men of ability and
willing to do their duty are certain
ly among us; why then leave them a
side and fiji up Offices Of the highest
with those who are either
incapable or unwilling to perform their
duties,


We are already in September. High
waters may commence in January,
leaving six months to send proper men
to visit all the locations on Red and
Black Rivers, where Notifications may
advantagoously be erected. Those sur
veys and the construction of the works
Of defense viii certainly require fully
all that period. Therefore, we think
that immediate action should be taken
to that end. Further delay. If ii was
attended with disastrous results, could
be considered as nothing short of trea-
son. 5e5.s#


TO THE PEOPLE or LOUISIANA


RESIDING WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Headquarters, IFcsera District La,


August 20, 1862


In obedience to the orders Of the
President of the Confederate States, |
have assumed command Of all that
portion Of the State of Louisiana
which lies west of the Mississippi River.
shall at once proceed to place the
Dis in condition Of effective mil
itary organization. 70 accomplish
this purpose rapidly and efficiently,
shall rely upon the Jealous co-opera.
ton of those TO whom chiefly the law
has conlided the defence of the coun-
try. With our homes invaded by
an enemy whose inhuman and merci-
less conduct has justly provoked the
execration of the civilized world, no
man capable ofbearing arms will hes.
itate to abandon his ordinary occupa-
tions and to devote himself exclusive
ly to the work of driving the invader
from the soil


Those, if any there be, who arc 50
dead to patriotic impulse as to be
needless of their country's call in its
present need, | shall compel to the
performance of their duty by the rig
orous exercise of the ample powers
that are vested in me for that pur-
pose


Such as are prevented, by age OF in