Ken, here is one that I found and had forgotten that it did, indeed, have some clues as you will see. I do have at least one, maybe two more that I will try to post later in the weekend. I cannot help be touched by every single one of these I read. What stirring events those must have been.

Co. B, Gray’s 28th Louisiana Infantry - The Marks Guards
“On the previous evening Miss Clara M. Dalrymple presented the company with a beautiful banner accompanied with an address which, at the solicitation of the company, she has furnished us for publication. It will be found in another column. It is a chaste and elegant production, well worthy of the perusal of our readers. Miss Dalrymple delivered it with beautiful effect; her voice was clear and very distinct, and penetrated to the heart of every soldier in the ranks. Lieutenant T. W. Abney received the flag in behalf of the company, accompanied by a short and appropriate speech.”

“Following is the address in full, which was delivered by Miss Dalrymple from the front porch of the residence of Hon. A. A. Abney at Bellevue:”

“Marks Guards, Citizens, Soldier and Patriots:”

“On this eve of your departure to the tented field, there to conquer or die in defence of our liberties and our rights, I present you this banner in the name of its donor, Mrs. Callie N. Dickson. It is made and presented by the hand of woman, and bears upon its silken folds the stars and bars of our glorious young Republic, with the motto, ‘Our Southern Homes,’ and floats aloft unstained by crime.”

“As often as you look upon it, whether in the camp, or on the march, or amid the storm of battle, you cannot fail to remember that you are fighting for your homes, your wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, your honor and all for which men delight to live or dare to die – all imperiled by an insolent and vandal foe.”

“Take it; we command it to your strong arms and brave hearts – to the battle and the breeze – confident that while one of you survive, it will never trail in the dust, though blackened by the smoke and torn by the shock of battle, no stain of dishonor will ever blur its fair folds; but that pure and unsullied it will be returned to us and be received with a holy thrill, hallowed, as it will doubtless be, by heroes’ blood.”

“Our hopes and our fears go with you (not fears for our cause) and constantly our prayers ascend to the God of battles and the God of our fathers, to protect you from the leaden rain and iron hail of our enemies, and from the still more dangerous diseases and pestilence which sometimes broods over camps, and pray for your speedy and safe return to your homes and firesides, when you will receive the welcome congratulations of a free and grateful people.”

“Tis sad to think that we may never more behold some of your manly forms in our midst; that you may never more gladden the sight of those to whom you are near and dear, but your memories will be cherished in our heart of hearts, and you will have a monument in the affections of all true lovers of liberty, more lasting than ever was ninched in stone or marble.”

“We part with you in sorrow, but with pride, because you are in the path of duty – ‘thrice armed, for your quarrel is just,’ – fit companions of a cause as glorious as soldiers ever fought for or woman prayer for. With such defenders we have no fears for the result, for we know that

Whether in victory exulting, or in death laid low,
Falling you will leave not a blot on your name;
With your backs to the field and face to the foe,
You’ll look proudly to heaven from the death bed of fame.

“Our cities may be burned and our fair fields made desolate by vandal hordes, but we can never be conquered – never subjugated.”

Freedom’s battle once begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son,
Though baffled oft, is ever won.

“The blood of Albert Sidney Johnston, Felix K. Zollicoffer, Ben McCulloch, McIntosh and a host of other noble spirits, which has been so freely poured upon the altar of our liberty, has not been offered in vain. Should you be called upon to mingle yours with theirs, we know that it will be given as freely.”

“In the name of your neighbors, your friends and kindred, I bid you a kind and fond adieu.”

Originally published Bossier Banner, May 10, 1862; Republished Bossier Banner, August 14, 1913