Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/33

 Diary of Rev. J. G. Law. 23

quent and soul-stirring address to our brigade, and concluded with a fervent prayer for the safety of our army, and the success of our right- eous cause. The scene was grandly inspiring. Thousands of soldiers stood with uncovered heads while the eloquent divine lifted up his voice to heaven for our protection, and when he read the infamous proclamation of General Butler not a word was spoken, but the firm, resolute look, the compressed lip, and flashing eye of every soldier, said plainer than words could say, that the insolent invaders of our sacred soil should never cross our intrenchments without walking over the dead bodies of sixty thousand determined and indignant men.

I record the infamous proclamation :

"As officers and soldiers of the United States have been subjected to repeated insults from women, calling themselves ladies of New Orleans, in return for the most scrupulous, non-interference and cour- tesy on our part, it is ordered, that hereafter, when any female shall by word, gesture, or movement, insult, or show contempt to any offi- cer, or soldier of the United States, she shall be regarded and be held liable to be treated as a woman of the town plying her avocation."

Oh ! monster of iniquity. How long shall our mothers and sisters be subjected to the insults of the barbarian hordes of the North? The Southern heart is fired, and we will go forth baring our breasts to the steel of the foe, and never, no never return to our homes until the insolent invader is driven from our soil ; our fair cities rid of his polluting presence, and the honor of the daughters of the South vin- dicated. General Polk said that we would go into battle with this motto: "Our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our wives, our country and our God."

May 2ist. — The regiment marched out to the Bridge's House this evening for picket duty. We carried with us two days' rations, and left three in the wagons. We also carried with us two tents. We had reached our camping-ground, and were in the act of pitching tents when an order came to send everything back to camp that we could not march with. This indicated a forward movement, and to- morrow we may expect to see the Yankees, and may the Lord have mercy on their souls.

May 22nd. — The army marched out of the entrenchments this morning to attack the enemy. Our brigade, under General Donel- son, moved out two miles and formed a line of battle ; but for some reason the attack was not made, and we returned to camp to await further orders.