New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-21
THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.
BY WILL.a HowARD Russell, LII D., Bauistsr aLsv, the
Special CORES Jondent OF The Londo" i."e'.
PROM MONTGOMERY TO MOBILE.
MOBILE, Alabama, May II.
The wayfarer WHO eonfdes in the maps of strange
country or who shoud rely upon even the guide-boos
OF the United States, which stil lack Murray or
bradshaw, may be ut times embarrassed by unsuper-
able bulls aud lnnayigable rivers. When, however,
SAW the three towering stories Of the high-pressure
steamer Southern Republic, on board of which we
tumbed down the steep bank Of the Alabama river at
Montgomery, any such msgvings vanish from my
mind. So colossal an ark could have ascended
10 mythical stream aud the existence and capabilities
Of the Alabama were demonstrated by its presence.
Panetuality is reputed rare virtue IN the river
steamers Of the West and South, which ssldom leave
their wharves until they have baeged fair compile
ment Of passengers although steamiDg up and ringing
gongs and bells every afternoon fr a week or more
before their departure, a. if travellers TO be
swarmed like bees. Whether stimulated by the infec
,ous activity OF these "war tines,' or convinced
tat The "pOliteness OF kings" is The best steamboat
policy, the grandson Of Erin who owns aud commands
The Southern Repnblic casts oft his fastebings but
half An hour after his promised start aud the short
puff of the engine il envened BY the wild strains of
u steau,-organ called "cslhope, which gaddens MS
with the assurance that aIe in the Incompatible
"land of Dixie"
X serving for cooler hour the attractions OF The
ove hoor-a Hadcs consecraed 10 machinery, freight,
and Negroess betake ourselves to the second land.
ing, where we find Il long dinin.bal surrounded by
tiers VI state rooms the upper one accessible by
stairway leading to gallery, which divides the
" saloon" between floor and root. We are shown TO
our quarters, which leave much to be desired and
nhi 10 spare and rush from their su'ocatng atuo-
sphere the outer balcony, where faint breeze strs
tie air. There il rooted balcony above us thpt cor
RESPONDS 10 the ecOnd tier OF sfate roOs from which
ii party Of exci.ed Sece-sioniss are di.ehsrgng
voere at the dippers esurace and the cranes on
the banks OF the river.
After we have dropped down FIVE or six miles from
Montgomery, the whstle approach
10 "A landing aud as there il no wharf ia view
wat h curiously the proce,s by which our top heavy
caii, nider the sway OF four-snot current, is 10
swir round TO her invisible moorings. As we
draw nigh to a wagon-won indentnre IN the
bauk, the " scream" siteDs iuto the dulcet pipes
Of "calliope," and the steamer doubles nt"n
her track, like All elephant turning at bay, her
two engine. being as independent OF each other as
secediDg States, and, slowly stemming the stream,
lave her no-c upon the bank aud holds IL there with
the judi ious aid of her paddles nnril long plank
is run ashore from her ow, over which three passen-
gers, ith valises, make way for PLANTER aud bis
family who come on board. The Yang-plank Is
biu!td in, the steamer turns her head down stream
with the expertness Of whale in canal, and we
resume our VOYAGE. We renew these stopPages
various times before dark, landing here barrel and
there box, and occasionally picking mp passenger:
After supper, which IL served on series of parnllel
tables running aihwart the saloon, we return to ENJOY
from the tal.ony the cool obscury OF the evening in
,hi- climate wLere liyht meaus heat. As we cleave
the gass, surface Of the black water, the tmbercld
banks seem TO hem in more closely and to shu up
in the visa before Us, ard while We glide down with
rapiiity wn,A xod.d ueed but the Of rapids 10
prefgu,s cerat hey opd we yield to the caprice Of
fancy nstituting comparisons between the dark per-
spectiye ahead aud the mystery OF the future.
Az ain scream and roddy light flashes from our
PROV and deepeps the shades around This proceeds
from the burning of light ~oOd'-a highly resinous
pine--in wire basket hung on gmbas and held like
landing net below the bow OF the steamer, 30 as to
guide without binding the pilot, who Is ensconeed like
a Hanson cabmau npon its roof. The torch.bearer
raises his crcsset az steam up to the bank, and
plants it in socket, when hawser Is. seized
round q tree and the crew turn ashore 10 I" wood
up.' There 10 steep high bank above us. and
while dusky forms are fitting TO and fro with
food for our furnaces We survey long stairway
nscendpg the bank ut sharp angle In a cut, which
Ia lost IN their sheds that crown the euinence over
head This stair Is ankec.on either side by the bars
of an iron trInway up witch freight Is banled when
landed, and parallel to 1t Is wooden slide, down
which bales OF cotton and sacks Of corn are sho. upon
the steamer. Que or two passengers slowly ascend,
and voice iu the air notifies us that team If at hand
with load Of l,dies who shortly after pick
ing thei way down the flight of steps, The crcsset is
constantly repenished with fresh light wood and the
shadows cast by its 1icheiing flame make Us regIet
that we have not with us Turner to preserve this
scene, which woald have been study for Rembrandt
or Saivator Rosa. .rr. 80.
AT midnight we halted for couple Of hours at Selno
ri.ing tow :" which has taken u start Of late, ow
ing TO the arrival of branch railway that connects Il
with Ter nessee and the Mississippi River. Here q
huge ep6urrQ3fre several stories high, fastened
tJthe side Of the bank, and affords opportunity
OF stepping ont from either story OF Tie southern Re
public upon corresponding landing. Upon one OF these
hosrs there are hackmen and erunnc competing for
those who land and indicating the proximity OF town
if not tiiy. Our captain had resolved upon making
but short stay, In lieu of tying up until morning-h's
usual hen acquaintance comes on board
and bess Lin to wait hour for couple OF ladies
and some children whom he will hunt up mile D.
out of town. 4 NEE are hurd, and the captain very
cheerfully consents not insen.be 10 the atterug In
siuuation: " You know our folks never 10 with any
one but you II they can helPt." iaa
The next day and evening are a repetition Of the
fc,egoug scenes, with plantations In view and
general air OF tillage ana prosperity. We are struck
By the uniformity Of the sc which everywh seems
FERTILITY, and by nnvarylpg breadth
vi the stresm which, but for is
sinuositiee, might pass for broad si canal. Mc
elso remark that the bluffs rarely sink into ootohs
susceptible ii overflow, and admire the verdnie u
primitive forest tangle of maguoas IN fnii nower o'
Mnrei. nnd of various oaks peculiar 20 this region
and which, though never rising TO the dignity ol
that noble tree Ia higher !a,itudes, hte many o.
them extremely graceful. All this sylvia OF moderate
a Al are l. ieerwned with creepers, and az interva'
we see the Spanish moss, indicating the malaIion'
exbslaiions of the soil beneath. Tie lndun corn
upon vb,cl the Souhsrpes rely principally for food
h.s attained hight OF TWO feet, and we rare tola Wal
In oil the war; Il sowD ~ greater breadtl
than usual. Tie cotton plant has but just peepeo
sls q.