The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-08-17

ing force. In some places the wood was
cut down IN front SO as to form formi
dable natural abattis; but generally here,
as in the batteries below, timber and
brushwood were left uncut up to easy
muskit hot Of the works. so as to screen
an advance of rifen,en, and to expose
the defending force to considerable an
noyance.
y
Randolph Point, is, no doubt, very
strong position. The edges of the plateau
command the rear Of the batteries below;
the ravines in the bluff would give cover
to large force Of rihemen, who could
render tee batteries untenable if taken
from the river face, unless the camp in
their rear on the top Of the plateau was
carried. Great loss of life, and probable
failure would result from ano attack on
the works from the river merely. But q
fiotilla might get past the guns without
any serious loss in the present state Of
their service and equipment; and there is
nothing | saw to prevent the landing Of
force on the banks OF the river, which,
with combined action on the part of an
adequate force of gunboats, could carry
the position. AS the river falls the round
shot fire Of the guns will be even less ef-
fectiye
Having returned to the steamer, the
party proceeded up the river to another
small camp in defense Of battery of four
guns, or rather OF small parallelogram
of soft sand covering a man little higher
than the knee, with four guns mounted
in on the river face. No communication
exists through the woods between the two
camps, which must be six or seven miles
apart The force stationed here was COM
posed principally of gentlemen. They
were all in uniform. a detachment work
cd one of the guns, which the General
wished to see fired with round shot IN
five or SIX minutes after the order was
given, Fire. The gunner pulled the
lanyard hard, but the tube did not ex-
plode Another was tried 4 strong
jerk pulled II out bent and incombustibie.
\ third was inserted which came out
broken. The four h time was the charm,
and the ball was projected about 90 yards
to the night and about 100 yards short of
the mark-a stump, some 200 yards dis
tant in the river. 1t must be remembered
that there are 10 dIsparts, tan gents, or
elsvating screws TO the guns; the officer
was obliged to lay it by the eye with
plain chock OF wood The General ex-
planned that the friction tubes were the
=
TO manufacture them, bu; ! agreed with
one Of the officers. who muttered in my
ear, The old linstock and por,tire are
darned deal better
There were no shells could see in the
battery, and on inquiry learned the fuses
were made of wood AT Memphis and were
not considered by the officers at all trust
worthy. Powder ia so scarce that all sa-
lutcs are interdicied, except TO the Gov
crnor of the State. In the two cams there
were, was informed, about 1 600 men
Ny eyesight. rs far as ! went, confirmed
me of the existence Of some 800, but
did not visit all the outlying tents On
landing the band played God Save the
Queen, and Dixies Land; on return
ipg.swe had the Marseiles' and the ma
tional anthem of tho Southern Confcder-
alton and, by way Of parenthcsis, IL may
be added, if you DO not already know the
fact, that Dixies Land Is a synonym for
Heaven 1t appears that there was one a
good planter, named Dixie, who died at
some period unknown. to the intense grief
of his animated property. They found
expression TO their sorrow IL song, and
consoled themselves 10y clammoring IN
verse for their removal to the land where
Dixie had departed, and where probably
the revered spirit would be greatly sur
prised TO find himself in their company.
Whether they were ill-treated ter he
died, and thus had reason TO deplore his
removal, or merely desired Heaven in the
abstract, nothing known enables me &c
assert. But Dixie land is now generally
taken 10 mean the seeded States where
Mr.. Dixie certainly not at this present
writing. The song and air are the compo
sitIon Of the organized Association for the
advancement OF music and their own profit
which sings in New York. and il NAV b.
as we'll TO add that IN all my tour in the
South, heard little melody from lip:
black or white, and only once heard ne
groes singing in the fields
!, On the train coming north, my com
panion was a very intelligent Souther,
gentleman, formerly an editsr of news
. paper We talked of the crime Of til,
country, Of the brutal shooting and stab
, bings which disgraced it. He admitted
their existence with regret, but he coulC
: advise and suggest no remedy. The
r rowdes have rushed in upon US, so tina
, we can't master them" "ls the Law
{ powerless p We'll, sir, you see these mel
get hold of those who should administe
the law, or they are too powerful or to'
B
reign of terror-of mob rutfianism y =" |
don't hurt respectable people much bu
t I agree with you it must be put down
When-how p We'll, sir, when thing
Y are settled, we'll just take the law in ou
I own hands. Not man shall have q yot
|. unless he's American born, and by ds
e grees, We ii get rid Of these men who di:
g grace US" Are not many of your reg
: ments composed of Germans and Irish
Q of foreigners, in fact?' "Aes sir" ! di,
g not suggest to him the thought whicl
L rose in my mind, that these gentlemen,
t successful, would be very little inclined t
:, abandon their rights while they had arm
e in their hands; but it occurred to m
l. as well that this would be rather poo
n reward for the men who were engaged i
!, establishing the Southern Confederacy.-
s The attempt may fail but assuredly,
[. have heard it expressed too often to doub
f that there is a determination on the pa,
a of the leaders in the movement to tax
II awav the suffrage from the men whor
d they do not scruple to employ in fghtin
!. their battles. Ii they cut the throats {
d the enemy they will stifie their own swes
= voices at the same time or soon afterwar
II "a capital recommend to their emigran
it soldiers!
d At Union City there were about Goo
IS men, if is said-rude, big, rough fellow
@ with sprinklings of odd companies, con
,f posed of gentlemen of fortune exclusivel.
o. The soldiers, who were only entitled
s. the name in virtue of their carrying arm
Is their duty, and possibly their fghtin
|, qualities, lay under the trees playing card
o cooking, smoking. or reading the paper:
" but the camp was guarded by sentrie
2. some of whom carried their firelocks undt
t. their arms like umbrellas, others by tn
,e murzle, with the butt over their shoulder
N one for ease, had stuck, with the bayons
ID in ,he ground, upright before him; othe1