Arrived at Opalousas. This was the third capitol the rebels
had made for this state since the rebellion. We expected to catch some of their
honorable bodies, the members of the Legislature, but they were too wary. The
saying, “A stag oft hunted grows wild,” was true in this case. The authorities
surrendered without opposition. Opalousas ordinarily contains about 6,000
inhabitants, and is situated in one of the richest farming sections of the
state. Watered by the Teche and Atchaffalaya Bayous which divide and subdivide
forming a network of bayous which are navigable for steamboats a considerable
portion of the year, which while they irrigate and fertilize the land, afford
at once a cheap and easy means for the conveyance of the rich products to the
sea and to the markets of the world. Cotton and sugar cane ordinarily are the
staple products, but this year it was planted mostly with corn to feed the
armies. Colonel Holcomb ordered me to turn my gun and equipments over to the
quartermaster and act as lieutenant of Company E.
SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from
a Soldier's Diary, p. 48-9
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