The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-08-07
OS RoARn STEAMBOAT Missouri. ;
Nlc OsieGHs. Jlig s3i 1916. :

the whole distance Of 23j miles. We rCachet
Memphis about 8 O'Clock on Monday evening
bu, the boat did not stop, as indeed it did not al
any city on the whole route We had however
fine view of part Of the city, from the hurrcan,
deck and i, certainly presents most beautiful
front to the river E,erythin5 so neat, so chaste
and tidy, (if may use such language, in speak.
ing Of a ciry,) that We w;re enchanted. The t.
5. Naval Depot with the many buildings connect
ed with it, erected and being erected near the
riyer, will add 10 its beauty, and give ii more
massive appearance.
From, Immediately opposite the city, as we ap-
+, preached, issued immense cheering, which we
found to proceed from the Tennessee troops who
we're enclmpcd there, awaiting their matching
orders for revas The cheers were most heartily
returned, aud the Band gave " Hail, Columbia."
( From the number of horses there, presume they
were the muuh,ed regiment from ,hat State, as
the fJoi volunteers had marching orders some
time ago
cannot attempt description of any Of the
hat we did not stop at any OF them; but it may
be sad generally o(,hem, that they look new and
neat, without that hugcness Of structure which
distinguishes northern cities of the same size
Another characteristic is that ihey arc SO com
pletely buried in ornamental trees, that they seem
to be built in forests cleared but of the Under.
hFusb 'Ihp AFT q IL
farm, or rather, should say every plantation,
house, with oil its negro hu,s aud ou,-houses,
giving every thing around cool and most inyl-
ting appearance.
"Speaking of planlations,' every one, on his
first entrance into a southern State, cannot fail
to be struck with the large scale upon which
they are man aged. Every plantation sustlins a
| little village in ITSELF There is the stately man.
sion OF the owner or overseer. (for it is frequent
Iy the case lh7t the owner does not reside en- III
in the centre, then comes a long row of neat lit
tie buildings, in which the negroes dwell, and
these are backed by a number Of out-bui ijirgs
II must be said, whatever may b, the ideas en-
tertained al the north, of southern cruelty in
the treatment Of slaves, that they live in more
at least apparent comfort, than nine. ienlhs Of
the independent sovereign Of Suckerdom.
have yet seen little OF either the cruelty or leni-
! ity OF their treatment. We went ashore at but
one Of these plantations, and passed in front of
a long row of these huts. They were clean,
tidy, and well furnished. The negroes were
well dressed, cheerful, and appeared to have
things pretty much their own way. They led
| the soldiers AUTO their melon patches, and let
/ them help themselves, aud permitted them 10 rob
tis-ree OF lis green fruit-a piece OF wan,on-
ness strict master would he apt to hold them
accountable for not stoutly resisting. As set.
off TO this, at Vcksturg, saw males and fe.
males, poorly clad working side by side, loading
and drawing cord.wood, no, rery heavy work, it
is true, bu, it looked most untemi1Hne to my un.
sophisticated eye. Here, also, we met the fret
ripe peaches on our route, aud one Of these poor
negroes went and picked basket full from a
tree at his hut, and brough, it to the boat to sell
5nt no sooner had he put foot on board than the
soldiers seized it, and literally robbed him. The
poor fellow ran away frightened terribly blu, the
officers inierfe'ed called him back, and made the
men pay him well for his fruit.
| From Cairo the further south you 60 the more
rich and beautiful does the country become.
Along the kentucky shore, save few unimpor-
tant villages, there is not clearing or building
to be seen, save an occasional WOOD choppers
cabin. The Tennessee shore presents a few
clOnrngs, butahoreis hardly farm or plantation
Of account except Immediately at Memphis; il,
is only when you get SO far as Mississippi tina,
plantations begin to be SEEM AMI these increase
in number until within 80 miles of New od.ars
when they crowd upon each other SO that both
banks of the river present but continued sue.
cession of these plantation villages, laid of and
ornamrntcd with singular taste, aud presenting
scenes of such beauty and uxurance that the
north is a stranger TO.
! Our trip from Alton down, can speak conf.
IDENTIFY for ALL has been delightful one. The
weather has been clear, sunny, and, doubtless
very warm on shore, but the breeze KEEP, up by
the motion of the boat has kept it of jus, the RICH,
temperature on board. The Treatment, Of all BY
the officers Of the boat could no, have been bet.
ter. Capt. Twitchell enjoys the good opinion
aud good wishes Of every man from our glorious
Col. TO the meanest private. Tothe soldiers ev.
cry convenience they could ask was afforded for
cooking their meals and eating them, and for
sleeping; to the sick, the cabin and berlhs we've
freely given without extra charge; aud to the
cabin passengers every appliance to amuss them.
selves and make time pass agrceably, was freely
extended. Now here, either on steamboats, or a,
hotels, have sat down to better tables than are
furnished by this boat, and nowhere have found
more cleanliness as to beds towels, &c. &c.
say this in justice to this boat, and because il
contrasts :, boldly with treatment soldiers have
received in other quarters, and have been abused
by suborned editors FOR complaining Of it.
write amid considerable noise and jo.,lnr