New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-05-21
REPoRToRIAL SKETCHES OF THE GREAT
FLOOD OF 1859.

|
FLOOD OF 1859.
| special to the New Orleans Crescent!
VIcKsBURs, May IS. 1859.
Editors Clescent-As mentioned in my last, the
levees the Louisiana side, down to Youngs Point
opposite the mouth of the Yazoo river are upbroken
The break at the plantation of Col. White, q few
miles above this point, still mandates very large
part of Madison Parish, and renders about IL, 600
acres Of fine lands unprodnctive this season. The
crevasse at Young's Point above covers several
thousand acres of cotton land not reached by the
flood of 58.
The whole OF Warren county, Mississippi, lying
above this city, and between the bluffs and the river,
is submerged. Not of dry land is to be seen
in the bottom. Ascending the Yazoo, found the
entire valley both sides Of that tributary only ex-
isting in the memory Of the planters. Not acre
has been in sight since the middle Of March last.
This region was also badly overaowed last year.
The famous Deer Creek bottoms, noted for their
productiveness are overhowed for distance Of sixty
miles up the creek. About two-thirds of the cotton
raised in this section is shipped via Vcksburg. The
lands on westerly side of Deer Creek were partially
overfowed last year. while the opposite bottom was
but little affected.
Hon. Stephen A. Douglas has fine plantation
near the mouth of the bayou, which is wholly nunda.
ted.
The five large plantations Of Mr.. J. Dick Hill, which
were but lightly "wet" last year, and produced some
1000 bales, are all under water and will not produce
pound of cotton this season. This neighborhood
has also lost largely in stock. Several thousand head
OF cattle and hogs have been drowned and starved
ont. Mr.. Hill also meets with large loss in damaged
buildings and fences carried away.
DIR. Mills plantation, adjoining that of the upper
Hill plantation, has eight hundred acres of very pro-
ductive cotton land under The DR.. made about one.
half crop last year.
The plantation of Mr. N. Bradford adjoins, aud con-
tains about 600 acres under cultivation Mr.. B. made
about 300 bales last year, but will not produce bale
this.
Mr.. E. W. Shelby has 600 acres under cultivation !;
was about one.haf under last year. This year he
will not make bale. His brother, Mr.. Thos. Shelby,
has plantation adjoining the last, containing about
800 acres, in the same condition.
The Hunt plantation adjoining the last, contains
about 1000 acres under cultivation. 1t was about
onehird covered last year, but is entirely inundated
this, and will not plant acre.
Mr. Jno. N. Clark has 300 acres adjoining the last
Made about half crop last season. This year, will
not plant.
The two Messenger estates, containing l4OO acres
under cultivation, made about 1000 bales last season
but do not make bale this year.
Above the Messenger estates is the large plantation
of Mr. Robt Shelby, containing about 500 acres un.
der cultivation which last made half an aver
age crop, will make nothing this season.
On the eastern side of the creek, opposite the last
the plantation of Mr. B Powell containing about 700
acres under cultivation mostly out of water last
year, but this year will not make bale.
Next adjoining are the plantations of Messrs. E.
Jones, Harvey and James Wood, containing about
1000 acres cotton land made good crops last year
will not make bale this season.
The Joe Robinson estate, which works about 500
acres made half crop last year. this year will not
make bale.
Miss Helen johnson, on the east side of the creek
has 1900 acres under cultivation made good crop
last year; this year she will not make bale
The large plantations of the Messrs Vick, contain
ing several thousand on the west and those o
the Messrs Bernard the east side of the creek will
not plant an acre this year.
have now given you as succinct an account of the
state of the river, the extent of the country over.
flowed, and the probable loss to the crops between
Memphis and Vicksburg, as the nature of the case
will admit Of 1t was my original intention to ascer-
tain the name Of every planter affected by the over
flow, but soon discovered that to do SO would in
volve an amount of labor, time and expense, COM
pared with which the compiling of New Orleans
city directory would shrink into insignifcance. 1t is
only by ascertDing the nature and geographical Pc
cnarties of the different localities and ranges that
an estimate may be formed to the extent of terri
tory inundated. The vast area of country under wa
ter and the present naccessbiity Of large tracts of
flooded land, render ANYTHING heyond an anproxi.
mate estimate of the damage sustained impracti-
cable.
The figures have thus far given you may, how
ever be relied upon rihin the bounds of the re-
ality, and confidently taken basis of calculation