Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1861-12-18

interesting letter received ffon q gentleman
OF our county, now visiting his home In
Tennessee;
CANTON, Miss, Nov. Goth, 1861.
DR, c. X. PRYoR-Sr I'll arrived At this
place this morning, having missed the con-
neetion at Jackson, aud consequently de.
iainei there and here, We had q stop OF
some two hours at vieksburg, which place
IL in perfect blaze OF excitement, believing
that city In imminent danger Of an attack,
n thing had not though of until near there
Aud from reports along the road, one might
have expected 10 have met large force OF
lhclcnemy upon arrival, The ilrst thing
that hove In sight at our approach, was the
gunboais at the landing, with n huge foat-
ing battery, of which would like TO give
you description had the time. will
however mentian the most important fea-
tures She is two hun lred feet long by
about seventy wide, mounts twenty guns
ranging from six 10 sixiy-four Founders;
her deck is sheeted with iron, with grad
ual slope to the water. The most peculiar
thing about her construction Is the power
of sinking and raising her at pleasure, and
being able to keep her deck if they choose,
twelve inches under water, making the
monster perfectly bomb proof. She will
make many blue.bellicd Yankee drink
more Mississippi water than he can well
appropriate. She, with the gun boats comes
from New Orleans, and bound for the great
battle at Columbus, Kentucky.
The Railroads are lined with soldiers, he.
ell rt xvtth
hundreds OF ladies cheering the soldiers on
to the protection oihis much abused country;
it seemed that everything honored their ap-
pronch and dcparturc,-thc very dogs bark
ing God speed. If q man can pass such
scenes ard not feel that he would like to he
q soldier, he is only fit for "trcason, strate-
gem and spoils.'
On last night while at Jackson, | had the
pleasure Of listening to ex-Gov. Brown, OF
this State address the Legislature, on the
issues of the day,-which he did in quite
statesmanlikc manner He is clear and
cogent rsasoner, with but little claims to
oratory. His speech was quite lengthy
scanning in its course all the important is
sues of our times, and at the same time Civ
ing remedies. I only heard part Of his
speCcH, Hot SciIlHR ticrc ia tiiuc. liis 'uc-
ory for circulating medium for the carry
ing on of our government, was upon cotton
basis, which would take too much of the
few moments have, to give his exact views.
He was hard down on spectators, who want
to make money out Of our troubles, and
urged the Legislature to take steps to stop
it, While on this subject he, with much ex-
ctement, said that such mon ought to be
taken by the throat and their very souls
choaked out Of them, and had he .hc power, he
continued he would send them to the lowrr
eternity in minute. He complmented the
Southern ladies, in the higheat terms, COM
pairing them to the Spartan women, he said,
Talk to me Of Spartan mothers, Sparta
never had such Mothers
The State house at Jackson, is quite fine
building, we'll finished, and on last night
was well filled with ladicsand gentlemen. l
neglected to state that his Honor is now
Confederate Senator, elected by the body he
addressed. looked over members as we'll
as could, saw many intelligent looking
gentlemen with now and then hard look
ing case but TO take the Legislature of
Mississippi rs body and from what could
see thought it would compare favorably with
the most Of the States.