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"down The Mississippi."

"down The Mississippi." image
Parent Issue
Day
31
Month
July
Year
1863
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Correspondence of the Argus. VlcKSBüKct Miss., ( July 15, 1803. $ )ear Arqos ; - VVhen I wrote you lastfrom Pittsburg janding, more tlian a year ago, I promsed to writo again as sooir as the impending battle was decided ; but I did not ake the chances of war into account, and you know that a man "shot in the neck" cannot be expeeted to keep his engagements. UdcIc Sam sent me home on account of that shot, and I tried the pro'essorial chair for a while, but it did not agrec with my eocstitution, for I always kept thinking of the boys down south. July 6th, while the Union was ringing with the dofeai of Lee, I left Chicago for Cairo, and founcf the little city wild over the capture of Vicksburg. Glory enough for onó day surely. Down the magnificent Fatlier of Waters to Memihis. How many exulting feelings stir he heart on this triumphal ridef here you pass Columbus, Bclmont, Island No. [0, Fort Pillow, Memphis, and how many nore to Jackson's battle-field? The Mississippi will be one of the most historical as well as the grandest rivers of the world. I took an exquisite pleasure in standing on the bluffs of Memphis where he citizcns had assembled to witness the Yankee fleet destroyed. They had a splendid view of the battle. To complete the pioture I walked up the principal street where thoso Yankee officers ïad walked to receive the submission of he proud, beautiful city. Business was somcwhat lively, but it was principally military. Sentinels stood on almost every corner. Hospitals and Quartermaster's stores abounded, yet the jusiness of the place seemed in no way discommodcd, and for a town under martial law, the people enjoyed theniselres very well. The streets were full of gay carriages by day, while the theatres were thronged in the eveuing. There are few objects of interest asidc froin the anny. The business strcet3 aie lined with substantial brick mildings, and there are many fine residences, besides a few fine churches. In the center of the business part of the city is the Court House square, a beautiful lifc,1c park, covered with fine oaks and conaining in the center an excellent bust of Jaskson, in marble, with inscriptions on 'our sides. That on the right is the grand fiat "The Federal Union : it shall je preserved," but alas ! the word "Federal" is nearly hacked out and the sacreigcous hand had commenced at the word Union" when, perhaps, hc was arrested ay the thunder of the Federal gunboats. Mr. Editor, did you ever try to get a pass from Memphis to Vicksburg ? if you didn't, don't try; if you did, don't try again. What, with Provost Marshals, Comníandáñts, and deputicj your soul will bo wearied to death, unless, happily your good genius whispers you as mine did. I was two days trying before I heard his whisper, two days in the hot streets of Memphis, with old Sol 97 in the shade, but when I heard the whisper of that good genius, straightway I went to Maj. Gen. Ilurlburt's headquartei's. After waiting till my turn carne I was ushercd into the Genesal's presence, and a goodly presence I found it. He is a remarkably quiet, kind-hearted gentleman and on hearing my case readily granted me pcrmission to procced. With a light heart I walked out, in a hurry to bo in time for the boat, but in the midst of bliss we are in grief, I was just in timo to soe the steamer rounding a point on the Arkansas shore and pass out ol my sight. WclI, no help fur it, two days more in the Gayso House - a very pleasant place if you can Let acquaintcd with the officers that are always coming and going. On the boat 1 met Col. McCook, a menibcr of the great army family, who spoke of all his battles as a young man wuuld of the parties he had attended, with cenuine enthusiasm, but never of his own action oxoept incidentally. ' He is just tweuty-six, has five or six brothers, offieers in the army, besides two killed, one, Gen. McCook, murdered. His father is paym.ister. That is a Uniou war lamily ! [The father was killed at the recent fight with the Morgan raiders, near Buffingtou Island, Ohio. - Editor.] But thrce hot days made me weary of Memphis, where everything paleable is JCar and poor; poaches püed a la militaire liko cannon balls soll tb one dollar per dozen, lemons, two dollars ; but thia is nothing to tho state of things farther down the river. ïraveling bclow Mem1 phis begets a new spice oí interest, the I Bpice of danger, E"erj boafc hs her j shot marks to teil of past peril, and though gunboats line the river, it is wonderfulhow few serious accidenta occur. One would think that a striall battery anywhefe oh the shore, in tho thiok underwood, could cripple one of these cumbersomo steamers in fiVe minutes, but the ivorst which háa yet happened is a boat elayed for a little trhile or a few men njurad. However, ncthing is certain n these matters, as the loss of boats even pon the Ohio too plainly telli.' On Sunday, the 12th, about noon, we ame in slglit of the hills of Helena, so eeently the scène of another signal reulse of tbs rebels. The hills about be town are admirably disposed, and with a few stout hearts are impregnable o almost any force. Here the few passngers on board went ashore to renew heir passes. We marched along to the Jrovost Marshal's, an anxious set of Arsansas travelers ; sanie returned with a tnerry step and some to pack up their 'doins" and return by the first steamer o the North. Helena is a small village with a few frame buildings, among which s the "Eclipse" and the "States' Rights," )oth southern inarks. After leaving Helena an incident ocurred on the Mississippi shore whieh might be viewed frora a scientific or poitical standpoint. - Agassiz might cali it n exhibition of the of the action of rivrs producing Geological changes; otir Gen. Lee - Brig. Gen. A. II. Lee of iansas - who was on board nïight calí ií n exhibition of the slippery condition f the Southern Confederacy. Mississippi, shamed of her company, and especially ïer eon Jeff. was hiding her head in the dark waters of obliviorv. The fact is, a ieee of the shore fifty or sixty feet long )y twenty wide, covered with trees erad ually settled into the river till the tops f the trees were buried in the water. It was evening when we passed the mouth of the White river, which looked s placid and beautiful among the green ress as though no horrid deed had deiled its fair bosom. Looking up the 'air stream and walking the quiet deck of the "White Cloud," which had been Col Fitch's headquarters, peace and war n such contrast, I prayed that this reat peoplo might soon be brothers again. The fleet of Col. Ellis is at this )oint, midway between Memphis and ficksburg. The saucy gunboats plying up and down, and the regiment of shore marines always ready, keep the guerrillas n wholesome awe and protect the transorts which otherwise wonld be at their mercy. Here we Iay all night, and on tfonday morning, in company with other ransports, and escorted by the gunboat jexington, commenced our voyage, passng in a short time the mouth of tbc rkansas and the pretty village of Najoleon. The scenery of the Mississippi bas little variety. Low, thick-wooded, ever-winding hores are almost continuous, with here and there a beautiful opening, through vhich can be sean the farm houses and the lave cabins crowding together. But the bold bluffs rising hundreds of feet above the water, and the beautiful islands swimming on the river form charming exceptions to the general sameness. 01 the bluffs the most noted are Columbus and Fort Pillow. The former is very imjosing; standing on a bend of the river, oats from either way sail right into its race for milea. Why the rebels gave it up so easily cannot well be understood by one who only soes it from the river. Of the islands, the famous No 10, containing over a million acres, is the only one wel known, but there are many fine ones studding the river all the way down around which the giant river throws its loviDg arms ana seems ïotn to part. - The time may come when the most fairy 3pots of the contiaont will be on this grand old river. From Napoleon to Lake Providence, La., our progress was aggravatingly slow. The gunboat with a toot toot every few miles, brought us to halt, while it went cautiously along the wooded shore in search of rebel battcries. In niany places the spots were puinted out where the deadly encounters took p'ace, trees freshly cut by the cannon and ottier marks of battle, but we passed safely down without a scratch. Tuesday evening we came in sight of Milliken's Bend. From there to Vicksburg every eye was gazirig witli interest on every spot whieli has become historieal. The Yaüoo started out on our left, on the right was the famous Canal through whioh the waters of tho Mississippi will never flow. Uut suddeuly the cry of "Vicksburg" rung out cheerily, and in the twilight glistened hundred of lights on the hills right before us. It was a beautiful sight; every patriotic hoart beat proudly as we gazed with ravished eyes on the famous rebel stronghold. Mr. Editor, my letter is already too long. I shall ramble about town to day, and may try the patience of your readers again, if they listen to my prattle about Vicksburc.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus