From The Mississippi Squadron

U. S. S. Kickapoo, Oct lat, 1864. Mr. Pond : - Having for a long time been an attentive reader of the Michigan Argus, and alwayB reading witl) intere?t letters from our soldier boys io the army and navy, now that I ara one of them, trusting that a few lines from this far off región will be acceptable to its many readers, I will endeavor to give a little sketch of our trip down the Mississippi. We had lain on the receiving ship, at Cairo, for nearly a week, when the welcome news sounded throngh the ship, to pack our bags and get ready for a t-ide. It waa about noon when the transport which was to convoy us to our home hove in sight, and when 8he carne along nhe was hailed with delight by the bluebacks, who longed to see soraething new, for Cairo bad grown old in one short week. At three o'elock P. M., Sept 9ih, all were on board the transport impationtly waiting for the good ship to loose her line and heave off. Soon the bell rang, and amid con feidyrable puffing and blowing, wuslowly begaD to move out on the muddy waters of the Ohio. As she gradually turned her prow down strenru, many a lusty shout was raised on the -Receiviug ship for our welfare and good future, by these who were left behind. We were soon plowing the broad bosom of the great Mississippi, feeling gav and happy, and enjoying ourselves generally. In order thiit I might seo what was to be peen, and enjoy the 'jen efit of a cool breeze, I took a good tion on the rorecatle 1 tie river being very low, it was impossible to see mtioh of the country over the high bauk, so we had to confine our observetions to objfeuts along the shore On one side was a broad sand bank, exteiiding iar out into the country, wilh scaretly a blade if gtass or anything green growing upon it ; on the other. tho tall forest trees of the South Fifted their lofty heads high in the air, nodding them in the evening breeze. Al! of which, tinged with the last lingering rays of the sun, mado one of the most beautiful scènes I ever witnessed ; and to add still greuter variety to the scène, an innumerable number of bnzzards were flying hither and thither, mnking tbeir peculiar noises, and now and then we would pass a large blue or white crane riding down the river on a piece of drift vood, carrying bis boad as raajestioally as thotigh he was monarch of all he surveyed. Soon darkness closed in upon us, and we were obüged to abandon the beautiful objects spread out before us, and consign ourselves to our h:mrnocks. Being aomewhat'tired, it wae not long before we were sleeping as soundly as though wo were in our own beds at home. At midnight the continual whistlingand ringing of the bcll aroused us from our sluaibers, and by the time we caraJ to our senses we were safely moorcd at the wbarf at New Madrid. Il being 60 foggy it was not expedient to go larther that niglit. At 4 o'clock we starled again on our trip. We had not proceeded iar when the order wns given to haul up to the ehore, make fast, and wait for the fog to clear u p. It was 8ufficiently clear at 9 o'clock to eee our way among the snags, and again we started, with the fair prospect of a cool, beautiful day. New scènes continually met the eye as our noble ship moved on, and it seerned as though I never would grow weary of 8Íght-seeing. Here was the dilapidated mansión of somo rich rebol planter, with the negro huts scattcred around, who a a few yuars sinco flourished on the banks of the Mississippi, with nis scores of " nigggers" and blooming fields of cotlon. Here was a small farm-house, surrounded with its little patch of corn, which had escaped the ravages of the rebel and Union armies, and was now, by appearances, cultivated by nogro women, as any numbor of them could be seen on the bauks, waving their handkerohiefs as we passed. Thesu " blooming" maidens apparently the only inhabitants along the shores, wèi'ö nearly all dressed iu white, and tteir delicate garb eontiasted spleiididly with their dark faces. We had no time to stop and make minute observations of tho preiaises, so wo hurried on to our destination. Bunduy night, at 10 o'clock, we passed Memphis. As the city carne in view wo were surprisod at the niagnificenco of an illumination, vvhich just tlion seenced at its Leight, t!iü cuusu ui' wiiioh wo did r.ot understand until we came down. They were rejoicing over the fall of Atlanta. The city was a perfect blazo of red, white, and blue liyht-i, ir,d large bonfiree shot up froin most every street, presenting a splendid appearanee fi'om our position on the hurncane deck. In a few momonts all was out nf wight, and wo returned to our beds once inore. Sunday morning carne, and wo were still pushing on without püying the least respect to that holy day. It was a warm, pleasant rnorning, and we thought how nico it would be if we could orily tuko our accustumed seats ia church at oíd Aun Arbor. But it was entirely out of the question, so we quietly resigned ourselves to our sit.uation. During the d;xy wo met several steamboats, all laden with soldiers. Some said they were dischiirged, and were on theil' way home ; and others that they were going into Kentucky, for the purposo of making a raid. We were now coming into the very i heart of Rebeldom, and some of the i boys, thinking that the dense forests ' along the river looked rather suspicious, and fearing some wicked "reb" rnight I show himseli, kept inside, The rebels i have amused themselves of late by i ing into transporta and tin-clads, and it is very natural that we should be 1 er ely. But not a ono dared show i himself, and we had a very q;iiet ride. In the afternoon we arrived at White River station, wbere a regiment of Illi nois cavalry was stationed, and also an iron and two tin-clads were keeping watch for Forest's cavalry, as he had been roving about in that country. The suft was just nsiug above the tree-tops, Monday morning, when we passed that celebrated ptronghold, Vicksburg; and many were the battle scènes and bloodly strifes which rushed before my eyes, as I recalled to mind the account I bad read of that noted siege. Hero and there some one would point out a building whkh had been conipletcly riddled by cannon balls or shells, but I thought most of the city was still standing, and all looked as qniet and still as thougli it never had witnessed such teirible scènes as will be recounted on the pages of our future histofj. It was here we heard tho iirst cannon, and were under fire for the first time. Many thought their time had come wlion the hugegun commenced belening f rth such immense volumes of smoke and fire. but the balls went whizzing and plowing in the water far ahead of ns, and we ran the block' ade without receiving any injury. They were only firir.g for a little amusoment; suppose. We passed many towns of esser note as we carne farther down, most of thötn dernolisked and deeerted, ,he perfect picture of ruin. Yesterday morning, at 4 o'clock, carne along sido the Lafaycltc, the flagship of Captain Fostku, commanding this división. Here wo left some of the boys, and ia the afternoon started again dowü the river, leaving the boys on the several gunboatw as wo feli in witb them. The country aloDg the bank now looked inoWeivilized, and was in i more flourishing condition ; for iu placo of dense foresta, abandoned seUlcnients, and ruiued plantations, were beautiful thriving villagos, cultivated fields, and a more thickly settled country. ' During Wednesday night we airived at Donaldsonviile, a strongly fortitied place, where the Gen. Pkice lay at anchor, the last boat wc were to visit. Here, again, we were utider fire, as they were practicing with their large eleven inch gujjp, which made everything shake for quite a distance round. We were al! in hopes the transport would go on to New Orleans, as it was only seventy-öve miles distant, but at 9" o'clock she very provokingly turned her prow up stream, and we com. menced our upward courso. The boat was now going back over traversed ground, and wo thought the rest oí our ride would not be 80 interesting, but in this wü wcto agrooably disappointed ; for the places which we passed by in the night coming down, we now had a view of by day-light. Our Captain, being a very kind heartd and obliging man, landcd us at a small town on the Louiiaua shoro, and gave us permission to take a little stroll ifwewished. You can imagine it did not tuke us long to lnap on terra firma and olimb the steep bank, and in a very few moments we were running hit her and thither over the thick, downy grasa, bent on finding something. Some run for a neighboriog field, whioh seemêd to be wel! slocked with cattle and uiulus, and somo startod for a phinter's house, whioh stood near and looked vcry nviting. As for myself, I thought a liulc milk would oot taste vory bad, so I took my cup and etarted in pursuit of a nico looking cow ; but jnst as I was making tip my mouth for a good drinksome of tha boys carne teuring up, mounted on a con pie of oíd mules, and away went my cow, tnilk and all. Seeing an old Degro woman coming up from the shore with a pail in her hand, we thought we would go and see .vvhat she had. Every one had a question to ask, and it was almost irnpossible ior her to answer them fast enough. Said sbe wa8 mighty glad to see us, and would like drefful well to go with u She was about one hundred and fifty years old,(?) and oarned her living by catohing ?hrymps. A few took pity on her and gave her a little tobáceo, whioh she received very thankfully. The well known sounds of the stoamboat bell wero now heard, and we had no time to ask any further questiona. Eai'ly Thursday mormng came on board ibe monitor, Kickapoo, lying at anohor near Port Adama, about ten miles above Red River. Sho is a very nice boat, and porfectly impenetrable, being covered with heavy iron plate. and entirely under water, excepting the upper deck and the two revolving turrets. Iü each are mountud two eleven inch guns which are a terror to all robs. There are a great many fine boats on this river, but this one ie confessed by all to be the best, and to be commanded by the most gentlemanly set of office rs. The rebels are very thick in the coun. try back from the river here, but they daré not show themselves. A paity went out scouting two or three weeks since, and shot a couple of mail carriers, but did not have the good luck to catoh them. This boat has only lost sevén men .since fihe left port, three nionths ago. One poor fellowi while attempting to get a paper from a steamboat that was passing by, was drawn under the water-wheel and suuk to rise no aiore. The others have beeu picked up by guerrillas, or have deserted. Hoping these few lines will be worthy of vour notice, I remain yours,