whole United States on every 8th of January. At 10 o'clock, a.m., myself and several of our company got permission from Capt. Small to go to the city of New Orleans and see the sights on the 8th of January. After we arrived in the city and walked around a little, we came to the St. Charles Hotel and of course took a drink and lunch which is as good (as John Newman says, and he ought to know for he boarded,) as many a dinner set out in Philadelphia boarding houses; all for ten cents, drink included.
The military paraded, and I must confess turned out strong and marched and looked well, they were accompanied by several bands of music and a large number of citizens. The procession passed the St. Charles Hotel, marching through several principal streets, flags were flying and banners waving over almost every house-top, the cannons sent forth their deafening peals of thunder which made the very earth shake beneath our feet.
On most every public, as well as private dwelling, the flags of our country and the portraits of Gen. Andrew Jackson were hung out or stretched across the street. The procession finally came to a halt in one of the public squares, where the citizens listened to an oration delivered to them by an old patriotic gentleman who spoke for one hour with great force and eloquence.
In the afternoon we went to the circus performance under a large tent and stayed there until the show was over, after which we started for camp, at which place we arrived about 8 o'clock, p.m., well pleased with the 8th of January, 1847.
Saturday January 9, 1847.—This morning strict orders were given to our sergeants and corporals to drill every man thoroughly in the way of loading and firing; also company drills twice a day which will be good exercise for the men.
At noon Co. D, or "Killers" as they call themselves, went out skylarking as they call it, they came to a Frenchman who had a whole lot of poultry, they broke into the poultry-yard and carried off about a dozen chickens, besides geese, turkeys
