The Memphis Daily Appeal
Memphis, Tennessee
June 23, 1861
Letter from Mississippi.
Camp Vaiden, Carroll Co., Miss.,
June 19, 1861.
Editors Appeal: You will doubtless be interested in all matters connected with the war, and therefore I will write to tell you of our doings in these parts. The Carroll Rangers is a cavalry corps, under command of Captain Hudson. We have just got through an encampment of two weeks, held in some woods about three miles from this, on the property of Dr. Vaiden. Adjoining is a splendid prairie about three quarters of a mile long, beautifully adapted for drills. We have had pretty hard work, and in addition to the regular cavalry maneuvers, we engaged a gentleman of good experience and skill to instruct us in the saber exercise, especially. He has been drilling in the Adams troops of Natchez, and the Grosse Tete Rangers, of Louisiana, and under his care we have made great progress, as his mode of teaching is excellent, and comprises the practical combinations both against horse and foot. On Saturday last we had a grand parade and flag presentation. There were at least 2000 persons collected under the umbrageous shelter of a grove on the prairie, where all could see and hear. The flag was presented with an appropriate speech by our special belle, Miss Maddox, and received with the accustomed honors. Our parade was a successful one, and as the majority of those present had never witnessed such a sight before, it created great interest, especially the saber exercise, the bright blades flashing in the sun’s rays, making a brilliant scene indeed. We are now anxious to be off, and our captain leaves to-day for Richmond, to endeavor to arrange with Gov. Wise for our immediate departure to join his brigade, which if we do, we all trust in common with our Southern brethren to leave our mark upon our invaders. Yours respectfully,
A Carroll Ranger.