Alexandria, La., March 24, 1864.
My Dear Mother:
We have had some skirmishing in making reconnaissance, and
have taken one entire battery, horses and harness. Some four hundred prisoners
and some six hundred horses. General Banks has not yet arrived, but is
momentarily expected. The country on the north side of the river is pine woods
and for the most part barren, though rolling and beautiful on the south side — that
upon which Alexandria is situated. It is exceedingly rich and very highly
cultivated in cotton and sugar plantations. Corn, clover, and other grasses
grow, the clover especially, with wonderful luxuriance. The perfectly flat
nature of the country gives a sameness that is wearisome, but at first view the
beauty of the plain, as one rides through the plantations, is enchanting.
Hereabouts they are all well-watered by the bayous and these can be led by
ditching in any direction. The planters, taking advantage of this, have
beautified their grounds with lakes and wandering streams, upon the shores of which
to the water's edge grows the white clover, carpeting the ground at this season
with its rich green leaves, the sod cut away for parterres and flowerbeds, all
shaded with beautiful pines, Japan plums, pride of China, and others, the names
of which you would not recognize, of the beauty of which you can hardly form an
idea. Their houses are not very elegant. The Southerner as a general rule does
not care much about his house; so that it has plenty of piazza (gallery, as
they call it here), is painted white, with Venetian blinds at all the openings,
he is satisfied. Some of the wealthiest of them have spent their lives in log
houses, and the wigwam at Mackacheek would be entirely en regle as the
mansion house of a sugar estate. They find all their enjoyment in the open air,
and shelter from the rain and night dew is all they ask.
The inhabitants hereabouts are pretty tolerably frightened;
our Western troops are tired of shilly shally, and this year will deal their
blows very heavily. Past kindness and forbearance has not been appreciated or
understood; frequently ridiculed. The people now will be terribly scourged.
Quick, sharp, decisive, or, if not decisive, staggering blows will soon show
them that we mean business. I anticipate, however.
The State of Louisiana founded a Seminary of Learning and
Military Academy, not long since, of which General Sherman, by election, was
made superintendent, and which he abandoned to take up arms for his government.
The building is a fine, large, very expensive one, situate some four miles from
Alexandria, and was thoroughly provided with all the adjuncts of a large
college. It has recently been used as a hospital by the rebels. The people
cherish the name of General Sherman, and mourn his loss. He had great
popularity here. My newspaper dates are to the 14th inst. My news very vague. I
have the intelligence of the promotion of Lieutenant-General Grant, General
Sherman and General McPherson. This is all right. With the old woman I may say
to you, “I told you so.” One year ago there was a fearful pressure made against
all these officers, Grant and Sherman especially. Where are those, now, who
villified them? I do not know if you preserve them, but I must ask, if you do,
to look at some of my letters written during last February and March.
SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of
Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 361-2
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