Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[82] here, and will only be too glad to be rid of them; but it is to be hoped there will be no long intermission between the pulling down of the stars and bars and the hoisting of the Stars and Stripes, for we should stand a fair chance of starving.

Of course, situated as we are, the news that we hear is vague and unsatisfactory, and it is only worth noting down in order to compare with the “original Jacobs,” of which we hope in a few days to be in possession.

It is probable that you, even as I write, know more of the campaign of the last month than I, who have been an actor in it. It is a fact that no one knows so little about a war, or even a great battle, as the soldier engaged.

We are told that Port Hudson fell on the twenty-seventh of June, the works being stormed by a last desperate charge of our men; and it is this sudden release of Banks's troops, the energy with which they have been brought down the river, and the non-arrival of the rebel force from Arkansas, which have put an end to Gen. Taylor's plans. Vicksburgh, according to the rebel account, was surrendered on the fourth of July, not to Grant, but to Admiral Farragut, and if one of the reported conditions be true, the worthy Admiral could not have acted with his usual judgment. I refer to the rebel officers being released on their parole, instead of being detained, as ours have been. We have a large number of officers in rebel hands, and, especially now that they are threatening to hang those belonging to negro regiments, it is important that we should be in a condition to retaliate if necessary.

Such are the reports of the day; to-morrow may witness a dashing of our hopes. Still the presentiment is strong with all of us that before many days we shall again be under the “good old flag.”

July 19.--This waiting and watching, now having our hopes fed by the downcast countenances and whispered rumors of disaster among the rebels about us, again having our fears excited by their triumphant and exaggerated reports of successes, is beginning to have an effect upon our nerves, especially with such of us who are not well. Every shock of thunder seems to herald the approach of our victorious gunboats, every drum-tap in the night is magnified by the excited fancy to the once dreaded, now longedfor sound of the “long roll,” and at every accidental gunshot from the neighboring camps we listen to the continuous fire of the attack of which it is hoped to be the alarm.

That the rebels are expecting an attack here in their rear is very evident, but whether they will try to evade it, or prepare to meet it, is still a question. Their sick, as fast as they are brought from their forces down the railroad, are moved up the Bayou Teche to Franklin and New-Iberia. The number is very considerable, and our surgeon gives it as his opinion that many of the men are merely shamming, to escape the toils of the campaign.

This Louisiana climate, however, seems to sicken Texans as fast or faster than it acts upon Northern troops, and loud and deep are the curses of the “Lone Star” men upon this “Godforsaken land.” Then the exposure to the heavy showers of this month, their utter want of clean-liness, and often of a change of clothing, and their poorly cooked food, must have damaging effects upon their constitutions. We have still fifty sick here, who are all doing well, but are still unable to travel without transportation ; and that the rebels can't furnish us. These rascals have pretty well cleaned out poor Lafourche Parish of all that is worth having — negroes, cattle, wagons, tools, etc., and if they escape without punishment, their raid may be termed a most successful one. But they have strong fears that they will not escape so freely. Our forces are reported to have reoccupied the Red River (which the late rains have swollen most opportunely) and cut off their retreat to Texas, and in that case, unless they can cut their way through, there is no resource but surrender.

Meanwhile they are occupied night and day in crossing over their ill-gotten plunder upon two or three antiquated-looking steamboats, which escaped capture when the country was first occupied by running far up the Red River. Horses are carried over in barges or flat-boats, while the cattle are compelled to swim the stream. This last sight is novel and amusing. A drove is collected where the bank is a little steep, and, if possible, the water deep. The cattle are then whipped up and spurred on from behind, and driven with much clamor into the water. Then it is the task of boats to keep behind and along the flanks of the drove, keeping their noses directed toward the opposite shore, and goading up the stragglers with sharp sticks and long whips. Sometimes, when the other shore is not far distant, and the leaders are old soldiers, and know it is useless to rebel, they swim over quietly en masse. But oftener, frightened at the broad expanse before them, they will scatter, and the greater fear overcoming the less, shove aside the boats and poles, make for the shore they have left, charge up the bank, scattering and upsetting the drivers, and gallop off to enjoy their temporary liberty. The whole scene is accompanied by the shouts, yells, and war-whoops, without which the true Texan can neither work nor fight; and add to this the roaring and lowing of the herd, the cracking of the enormous whips and the splashing of the water, and you have a very respectable hubbub. I have been told that this method was employed once or twice on dark nights, to victual Port Hudson during the late siege, but they must have made less noise about it.

It is at last, it seems, an established fact that Vicksburgh and Port Hudson are ours.

The capture of the first was the way old U. S. Grant took to celebrate the Fourth, while the last surrendered on the eighth to General Banks, just as the lists of volunteers for the morrow's storming party had been made up. Brave as