Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-05

columns Of the London Times. We make the
following extracts:
THE NEGROES AT vICKsBURG.
Many little negroes ran about in attendance
driven hither aud thither by the commands of
their white SsulOuque-white- teethed, pen
siVe-cyed, but sad as memory. "Are you
happy here?'' asked I of one of them who
stood by my chair. He looked uneasy and
frightened. "Why don't you answer" '"I'ss
feered to tell dat to nassa." Why, your
master is kind to you?" "D Berry good man,
slr, when he not angry wild mel" And the
little fellows eyes filed with Gears at some
recollection which panied him. ! asked no
more. Vicksburg is secessionist. There were
hundreds Of soldiers in the streets, many in
the hotel, All nv host said some hundreds of
Irish had gone of to the wars, to fght for the
good cause.
THE GOVERNOR OF MISSISSIPPI.
/ called on Mr.. Pelters the Governor Of the
State of Mississippi, according to invitation,
and found IIn Ia the State House in a very
poor room, wish broken windows. and ragged
carpets and dilapidated furniture He is a
grim, silent man, tobacco -ruminant, abrupt
speechod, firmly believing that the state of
society in which he exists wherein there are
monthly foul murders perpetrated at the seat
of government, Is the most free and civilized
In the world. He is easy of access to ALL and
men sauntered in and out Of his afice Just as
they would walk into public. house. Once
on umeI lnoeed, tne GOVern0r was deer
hunter IN the forest, and lived far sway from
the haunts of mon, and he is proud of the fact
He Is a strenuous seceder, and has done high
handed things IN his way-simpie apparently,
honest probably, fierce certainly-and he lives
while he is Governor, on his sslqry Of four
thousand dollars year in the house provided
for him by the State. There was not much to
say either side. / can answer for one.
SAVAGE PRACTICES or THE REBELS.
Next day being Sunday, L remained ut rest
In the house of friend listening to local stories
not coHisHT DE rose, but Of deeper tint
bloOd-red-how such a man shot another, and
was afterwards stabbed by a third; how this
fellow srd his friends hunted down in broad
day snd murdered one obnoxious to them
L. at;er tale, such as 7 have heard through
the 5 bulh aud seen daily narratives of in tue
papers Aceldamai No security for life
Property is quite safe Its proprietor is in
lmminent danger, were IL only from bullets
when he turns corner. The /" bar" the
l. drink" the savage practice of walking about
with pistol and pOinaTd-UHg0yernable pas
siOus ungOVerued, because there is no Law TO
pun sh the deeds 10 which they lead-these
are the cIuses of act which would not be toler-
ated IN tho worst days Of COrsican rsndette
and which must be put down, or the countries
N which they are UNPUBLISHED will become as
52IOarOds a. Jungles OF wild beasts.
"AT ONCE SAYAGH AND CHILDISH"
Among our passengers were gentlemen from
texas gong 10 hiclmond to offer service to
Mr.. Davis. They declared the feeling in their
State was almost without exception in favor of
secession. IL is astonishing how positive all
these people are that Eoglsnd is in absolute
dependence on cotton for her national exist
ence. TGcy are at once savage and childish
If England does not recognize the Southern
CDntsderacy pretty quick, they will pass u re-
solution not 20 let her have sLy cotton, except
d, Suppose England does ever recognise a
cOnfeder itiOD based on the principles Of the
South, what guaranty is there that in her alb
s0!ute dependence, If it exists, similar ceerciye
steps may not be taken against her? "0h
we SD III be friends, you know :" and so on.
DESCRIPTION or THE REBEL DEFESCEs NEAR
MEMPHIS.
have just returned from a visit to the works
and batteries at the en- renched camp at Ran
dOlph's Point, sixty miles above Memphis by
which it is intended to destroy any iotiIls
sCmiug down the river from Cairo and to op
use any force coming by land to cover its
n4nk and clear the left bank of the Mssis-
s'ppi. The first work inspected was a plain
parspet OF earth placed some City feet above
the river, and protected very slightly by two
slali aankiDg parspets. SIX guns, 32.poun-
ders, and hOwItzeTs Of an old pattern, were
mounted en bGrbst's, without any traverses
Whatever. Thecarriages rested on rough plat
forms, and the wheels ran ON a traversing sem
i-ircie Of plank, as the iron rails were not Yet
ready. Two gunners, a pain-lOO king BODY
Cf mon, very like railway laborers and me-
oHanicS, sithou. uniforms, were engaged at
Til. 1t was neither quick nUr good work
about equal 10 the average Of a squad after a
couple VI days exercise; but The men worked
earnestly, and 1 have no doubt. if the Peder-
A!ists give them time, they will prove artil-
leTymen in the end.
Turning from this battery, we visited another
nearer the water, with four guns (32- -pounders)
which were well placed to sweep the channel
with greater chance of ricOchet; and higher up
ek l. IA. a
ing the Mississippi, here about 200 yards broad
and n small conhuent which runs into il, was
another battery of two guns, With n very yreat
command; but only I'll for she'll As the fire must
be blunging. All these batteries we're very
III constructed, and in only one was the mags-
zine under decent cover. In the first ID was
IN the rear Of the battery, up ths hill behind
It Parapets were Of sand or soft earth, m
provided with merlOBs. The last had a lew
sand bags between the guns. Riding ue a
steep road, We came 10 the camps of the men
on the wooded and undulating plateau over
the river, which is broken by wateroourses
iafo rayines covered with brushwood and forest
trees.
For Eve weeks the Tennessee troops under
Gen. Pillow, who at the head of the forces of
the State, have been working at q series of Gu
rIOus entertainments, which are supposed to
represent au entrenched camp, aud tohieh
LOOK, ike an ass D4bLGge Of mud JeaUer dams
IN a word, they are 50 complicated that they
would prove exceedingly Troublesome to the
troops engaged in their defence, and it would
require very steady, experienced regulars to
u N them so as TO give proper support TO each
other. The maze Of breastworks, Of hanking
parapets, of parapets for field pieces, is over
done SsVerti Of them might prOVe useful
- az attacking force. In some places the
WOOD was cut down in front so as to form q
formidable natural abitis; but generally here,
a. in the batteries below, timber and brush.
wool we're left uncut up to easy musket shot
e The works, So AZ 70 screen an ADJ ance Of RI
fssen, and 70 expose the defending force to
Considerable annoyance.
BIndvlph's Point is, no doubt, very strong
ssition The edges Of the plateau command
tls rear ofthe batteries below; the rayinss in
the bluff sOuld give color to = lsrge force Of
ri1smen, who could render the batteries un-
tenHbls If taken from the river face, unless the
emp IN their rear on the top Of the plateau
wgs carried Great loss Of life, and probably
f"lur'. would result ifrom any aitscA on che
, ,rks ffom the river merely. But q fotilia
IN ha svvffb -