New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-05-28
REPoRToRIAL SKETCHES OF THE GREAT
FLOOD OF 1859.
NATcHEz, May %, 1859.

Editors Crescent My last, of the 18th instant,
brought me down, in my Investigations as far as
Vicksburg. From that point to this city / have
descended the river by degrees, stopping at every
available landing.
For distance of Is miles below Vicksburg, on the
Mississippi side Of the river, the bottom is mere
strip OF marshy land, averaging about half mile in
wdth and bounded on the by the range of bluffs
which extend from Vcksburg to this city, sometimes
retreating, sometimes approaching the river. This
strip is almost entirely Inundated and the levee,
though not broken is not to be seen for miles on
stretch The buildings Of the planters are generally
OF cheap construction and the plantations generally
small The former appeared, as we passed down by
twilight, to be all floating along with in the river
the only dry land in their vicinity being the bluffs
half a mile distant, beyond them.
Warrenton, ten miles below Vicksburg, is even
yet wholly under water and the streets all navgabe
for the heaviest draught dugouts, in which social,
commercial and religious communication is still main
tanned, although the river has fallen about eight
inches below high water mark Of this season. The
floor Of the Presbyterian church, situated in the high
est part Of the town, is covered with water to the
depth of several inches. During the highest water,
couple of coal boats drawing about six feet entered
the back yard of one of the citizens.
Fifteen miles below Warrenton, in the same coun-
ty (Warren), the Palmyra settlement, which, owing
to great bend in the river is the landing and ship
ping point for large number of fine plantations
the bottom here being some six miles in width. This
settlement is wholly inundated about 5000 acres Of
rich cotton lands being rendered unproductive this
year, which last year yielded about half an average
TLn Il
themselves to the high lands and large numbers will
doubtless be lost to their owners through theft and
other causes. The damage sustained in South, War.
ren county, in the way Of fences destroyed and
buildings damaged, is estimated by an inteligen
planter we'll acquainted with the condition of every
plantation in the the river 'front.' at $4,000.
Nearly opposite the Palmyra settlement is New
Carthage, Madison Parish, La. This is small town
of about 200 inhabitants, and is we'll watered.'
AS one of the inhabitants remarked to me, e" the
citizens will have to import all their garden stuff
this year." From few (about six) miles above this
point to vicksburg, the plantations fronting on the
river small, and raise but little cotton. These
are wholly inundated this year; and occasionally a
larger plantation in the back tier couple of
miles back from the river, is oyerfowed. From the
vicinity of Carthage, however, point about thirty
miles below the remainder.of Madison and the nerth
ern section of Tensas Parish, are wholly submerged
! About half mile below New Carthage is the large
plantation Of Mr. JOS. James. Mr.. James cultvates
about 200 acres He was partially overlowed last
year. but made about 800 bales of cotton while this
year he informs US that be will not plant au acre
| The place known as the Cacote Estate adjoins Mr.
James on the south. This plantation contains GOC
acres under the plough. 1t not affected by the
high water of last year, but this year will not produce
a pound of cotton or a kernel of corn.
The three plantations of Mr.. John Perkins, Jr arr
the next adjoining The three places cultivate abou
5000 acresllst year they produced about 1000 bales
this year they are two-thirds inundated and will no
raise any of the staple. The damage sustained b,
these five plantations in fences, stock lost and build
ings and machinery damaged will not foot up les
than s25 900,
This country is Inundated from the Point Pleasan
crevasse, ten miles below New Carthage, in Tensa
parish This break has been one of the most destruc
tive below Vicksburs and above Bonne Care. Sine
the 25th of March last, it has deuged the countr
around with volume of water which nothing cou
resist. Fences have not only given way before it
current but no trace of them are left. The crevass
was three hundred yards in width aud about thirt,
feet in depth. On Saturday last it was closed alte
| having employed about three hundred hands 70
eight weeks, but even if the work proves solid an
does not give way of which have serious doubts,
has rendered at least 100000 acres of the lands
Tensas and Madison unfit for planting this year.
The plantations of Messrs S. W. Doosey Bucknel
NJ. Bland, George Turner and DR.. Hollingswortl
Immediately adjoining the crevasse, comprise ahou
5000 acres of splendid cotton land only partially
say one.third- -overfowed last year; this year thcs
places will raise nothing. Although the crevasse
closed the water falls but slowly and it is suppose
| will cover the surface for q month to come.
The Tensas river bottom in this vicinity is nunda
ted from this crevasse.
The plantation of Mr. c. d. Hamilton, back G
New Carthage, on the Tensas cntivates about 40
acres of cotton laud. Last year Mr.. Hamilton wa
partly overaowed but made about 200 bales. Thi
year he does not plant.
DIR. Foster, adjoining Mr.. H. has 700 acres mad
half crop last year-this year his place is entire!
out.ef sight
The plantations of Messrs. j. W. Burrows, r. Sva,
ingin, r. R. sharky, Wthers and Graves, Hardmar
+. Hines, and NJ. Hunter, containing an aggregate G
$500 acres of cotton land all of which, with the exceE
tion of the Hardiman place. produced about onethir
of an average crop last year, will not make bal
this season. More tomorrow.
| UBIQUITOUS.