The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-11-12

MEETING OF GATES AND BURGoYNE-In IT.
wings life of Washington, we find this inter
esting chapter:
Wilkinson, in his memoirs, describes the first
meeting of Gates and Burgoyne, which took
place at the head of the American camp. They
were attended by their stats, and by other gen
eral officers. Burgoyne was in a rich royal
uniform; Gates in a plain blue frock. When
they approached nearly within swords length,
they rened up and halted: "The fortune OF
war, general Gates, has made me your prison
err" said Burgoyne: to which the other re-
turning his salute, replied, Il shall always be
ready to testify that it has not been through
any fault of your excellency''
"We passed though the American camp
writes the already cite4 Hessian officer, :'n
which all the regiments we're drawn out be-
sides the artillery, and stood under arms. Not
one Of them was uniformly clad; each had on
the clothes which he wore in the field, the church
and the tavern They stood, however, like
soldiers, well arranged and with military air.
in which there was but little to find fault with
All the muskets had bayonets, and the sharp
shooters had rifles. The men all stood so still
that we were all filed with wonder Not one
of them made a single motion as if he would
speak to his neighbor. Nay more, all the lads
that stood there in rank and fle kind nature
had formed SO trim, SO slender, so nervous, that
it was pleasure to look at them; and we were
surprised atsuch handsome, and well formed
race" In all earnestness," adds he, eng
llsh America surpasses the most of Europe in
the growth and looks of its male population.
The whole nation has natural turn and tai
ent for war and a soldiers life.''
He made himssl somewhat merry, however,
with the equipments of the officers A few
wore regimentals; and those fashioned TO their
own notions AS to, cut and color-being provi-
ded by themselves. Brown coats with sea-
green facings, white lining with silver trim
mings; and gray coats in abundance with buff
facings and cuff, and gilt buttons; in short, ev-
cry variety Of pattern.
The brigadiers and generals wore uniforms
and belts which designated their rank; but
most Of the colonels and other officers were in
their ordinary clothes; musket and bayonet
in hand a cartrid ge- box, and powder horn over
the shoulder. But what especially amused
him was the variety of uncouth wigs worn by
the oficers-lngerings of an uncouth fashion.
Most Of the troops thus noticed were the hasti-
ly levied militia, the yeomanry of the country
There were regular regiments also,' he said,
(Which for wantsf time and cloth, were not
yat equipped in uniform. Thc,7 had standards
with various emblems and notices, some of
which had for us very satirical Specification. %
'sBut must say to the credit of the enemy's
continued he, "that not man was
to be found therein who, as we marched by,
made even sign Of taunting, insulting, exul-
tstlon, hatred, or any other evil feeling on
the. contrary, they seemed as though they would
rather do US honor. AS we marched bv the
great tent of general Gates, he invited in the
brigadiers and commanders of regiments, and
various refreshments were set before them
General Gates is between fifty and sixty years
of age; wears his own thin gray hair; is active
and friendly, and on account Of the weakness
of his eyes, constantly wears spectacles. At
headquarters we met many officers, who treat
ed us with all possible politeless.'
We learn from the Mobile Tribune that the
work on the northern portion of the Mobile and
Ohio railroad is now advancing rapidly. The
company have purchased two thousanftons of
iron, which will complete the track from Co.
lumbus, Ky, to the Tennessee line, and as the
road bed is now ready for it, there will be no
delay in putting down the hack.
This road is now completed fretn Mobile to
Macon, Mississippi, and its earnings, during the
month Of September last, amounted to SAC, 900;
it is. expected that they will amount to at least
100000 during the present month 1t is esti-
mated that the funds for building one hundred
and forty miles of this road are provided, and
that that number of miles will be in operation
by the close of the coming year. One hun
dred and thirty-fve miles Of the distance be-
tween Mobile and Columbus, Kentucky, will
remain to be built, for which the money has
vet to be raised
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New sugar is arriving at New Orleans