Daily Advocate
Baton Rouge, May 2, 1861
New Orleans, April 28, 1861.
Editor’s Advocate—The military enthusiasm both in the city and country has reached a high pitch. . . The women are firing up and are as enthusiastic as the men. In passing a point in Iberville where ten or fifteen ladies were assembled, one of them stepped forward, presented arms, and gave us two shots from a double barrel gun. The only drawback is that although they can wave handkerchiefs very well they cannot cheer “worth a shuck.”
Going down Canal street this morning we met a column of over five hundred volunteers from the country, who were marching from their camp on Metairie Ridge to the Jackson Railroad Depot. At the head of one of the companies (the Lafourche volunteers) marched a young girl in bloomer costume, and in the gray Louisiana uniform of the company. She was the Vivandiere of the company, and although they were marching in a long swinging trot, she led them on at the same pace. . . .
The whole city is a blaze of excitement; rich and poor, liberal and mean, are vying with each other who can do the most for freedom, from the dollar-archy of the North.
Visitor.