New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-02
THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA!
Tr,e Southern states.
by HovARD RUssRLL, LAD Bsrrister al Law the
special eorTespoudent q The London TfHa

yesterday morning early ieft Mobile IN The steamer
Florida which arrived in the Lake of Pontcharrain
late at night, early this morning The voyage, If
can be called 50, would have offered, in les exciting
times, much that was interesting certainly to
stranger, good deal that novel-for course
lay inside chain, almost uninterrupted, Of reefs,
covered with sand and pine trees exceedingly narrow,
that tho surf and waves Of the beyond could
be rolling in foam through the foliage Of the for
est, the white beach, while the sea lake which
our steamer speeding lay in broad, smooth sheet,
just crisped by the breeze, between the outward bar
rier and the wooded shores of the mainland Innumer-
able creeks, or bayous as they are called, pierce
the gloom of these endless pires. Now and tien q
sih could be made out, stealing through the Of
the marrhy waers. If the mariner knows his courso
he may iind deep water in most Of the channels from
the outer sea into these inner waters which the
people OF the South will greatly depend for
any cOasing trade, and eupplics coastwse, they
may require as well for the safe retreat Of their
privateers. a few miles from Mobile, the steamer
turning ont Of the bay, entered upon the series OF
these lakes through n channel called Grants
Pass which some enterE rising person not mprobably
OF Scottish extraction, constructed for bis own bch00f
10y an ingenious watercut and for the use Of which,
and Of little iron lighthouse that he has built close ~
hand on the model Of pepper casier, he charges toll
passing vessele. This Island is scarcely three feet
above the err il il not 20 yards broad and 80
yards long. A number7of men were, however butily
amid tents pitched around the solitary wooden
shed in u center. schooner lay at the wharf, laden
with two guns and sandboga, and passed through
the narrow channel eeyeral men in military uniform,
who were board took their places in boat which
pushed Off for them, and conveyed 10 their Iny
station, Of which one shell would make dusheap.
Tie Motiians are iOrifying Themselves ar best they
can, and seem, not unsdysedly, jealous Of gunboas
and small war steamers. On more than outlying
smdbauk toward New-0rleans are they 10 be seen
at work other batteries, and hey are busted 10
repairing, as well az they can, old Sfauish and
United States work. which had been abandoned,
which never completed The news has just been
reported, indeed that the batteries they were prepar
ing on Ship Island have been destroyed and burnt by
a vessel Of war OF the United Staies For tho whole
day we saw only few c0astng craft aud the return
steamers from New-Oreans; bu. in the evening
large schooner, which sailed Ae witch and was
cnmmod with men, challenged my attention, and on
locking at her through the glss could make out rea
soils enough for desiring 20 avoid Ter n one was
quiet, sb0rt-harded, well-flled old merchantmen.
There could be 40 mistake about certain black objects
on the deck. Size lay low ~ yacht, and there
were some fifty or sixty men N the waist ana fore
castle. On approaching New-Oreana, there are some
settlements rather than ciee although they are called
by the ht;er title, visible On the night hand, en-
lowered IN woods and stretching along the beach,
SueI are The "Mi~is-ipFi City, Pass C1gogla, and
Pass Christinn, &c-all resorts OF the inhabitants
OF New-Orleans during the Summer beats and tie
elideuicB which play such havoc with lie from time
to time. seen from sca, tiese huge hdnlets look
variety OF architecture painted brightly and
staud in garcens in the midst Of maguolas and rhOdo
dendrors Very long and slender piers eafiar into the
zen before the very door, and ~ the extremity OF each
there il a bathing box for the inmates. The general
es.t of one OF these settlements, with itse gt domes
aud spife-, lJug hncs of white washed ralIugs ana
houses Of every hue set n tie dark green OF the pines,
j. yefv pretty. The steamer tOGched al two 81 tbrn
T.ere was motley group OF c0'Orrd people on tie
etty few whites, Of whom the males We're near oil
il uniform few bales Of goods were landed or put
on board aud that all one could see Of tie lie OF
ta place. Our passengers never tea'ed ttlkiug OIL
ties all day. except VIXEN they eating or drinking,
for regret 20 say they can continue 70 chew and TO
spit while they engaged In political discussion.
some were rude proyincidls m uniform one wa. an
acquaintance from the tar East who had been len
tenant on board Of the Minnesota, and had resigned lis
comm zion in order to take service under the Conede-
rate Tag. The fercest among them all was thin Little
lady. who uttered celtan energetic aspirations Tor the
possession of portions OF Mr.. Lincoln person, and
who was kud enough express intense satisfaction at
the intelligence that there WAS smallpox among the
garrison at Monroe In the evening little difficulty
occurred among some OF the military gentlemen, onr,
ing which one Of the logiciaps drew revolver, and
presented it at the head OF the gentleman who was op
posed TO his peculiar views, but am happy 10 say that
an arrangement, 10 which was an unwilling party,
for the row took place within a yard oi me, was en-
tered int0for fight TO off on shore in twodays
after they landed which led to the posiponement OF I'M
mediate murder ,
The entrance to Poncharran Lake is infamous for the
abundance
satisfaction that we experienced a small tornado,
thundsrstorm, and breeze OF wind wbicn saved us
from their fury. IL is adisma canal Though swamp.
At daylight the vessel lay alorgslde a wharf sur
rounded by small boats and bathing stations rail-
WAY -shed receives US shore, and train u soon
ready 20 start for the city, which Is SIX miles dsaut.
For few hundred yards tie line passes between
wooden houses used rs restaurants, or Festaurats,
ns they are called hereaway, kept by people with
French names and using the French tongues then the
rail plunges through a swamp denfe as an Indian Jun
Gle, and with tie oveThoWlngs oil the MlsSi3.lppi
creeping in feeble shallow currents over the black
mud Presently the spires of churches risng
above the underwood and rushes. Then we come ont
on wide marshy plain, in which iocks of caIte up TO
the belly in mud are foundenng TO get at the nch
heritage on the unbroken surface. Next comes
widespread suburb of exceedingly broad
lanes. lined with small one-storied houses. The
inhabitants are pale, lean, and sickly, and there
il abOnt the men certain look, almost Pecuu 10 ,n9
fsny iieshy populations Of Leyanine towns, whioh
cannot describe but which exists all along the Aedl-
terranean seaboard, and crops iout here again The
drive through baoly-Iaved streets enables us TO zee
that there Is an air Of French CIVILIZATION about new
Orleans The streets wisely adapted TO the stua-
ton they are not so wide as TO permit the sun TO nave
n ali bis own way from rsiog TO setting. The shops
ara magasins;" cafes abound. The colored popnla-
ton looks well dressed aud Is gong 10 mass OF Set
in the early morning The pavements are crowded
with men i'm uniform in which the taste OF France ls
generally followed. The carriage stops at last, aud
rest comes gratefully after the stormy night the mus,
ketoes "the noise OF the captains lat the oar' ana
the shouting.
MAY 2-The prevalence of the war spirit here is in
everything somewhat exaggerated by the fervor Of
Gallo origin, and the violence Of popular opinion and
the tyranny Of the mas are potent az in any place
in the South The great house Of Brown Brothers, OF
Iiveroo and New-York, has closed its business here
:, consequence of the intimidation Of the mob or, as
the phrare is of the citizens" who were "excited'
k.l ,kaa,fk kaH IN hQ NaxV-