Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1861-12-04
sus-lhe following letter should have lssa


not reach US until last Friday
Housros, Nov, 20, 1891.
Dsa Dera!d;-I have bsen here aud in
this vicinity for week past, and being un-
,rammelsd by business, have used my eyes
In looking abOu, and noting things gene
rally.
The'irip down the country was nna'iend-
ed by accident or incident worth reeiiinE'
the weather delightfully."- pleasant, aud the
road for the greater part ol the Nay hns'--
We, tihe wri,er an1 boon companion nom
Dallas, rcaelsd Nillean jasl h lime 90 ges
on tLe Tuesday mornings irain' wii''f
brought US to ,he city tafe and sound tue
sane evening. A. Miliean We met several
friends from Dallas, Who came down with
us. and In illeir sommuy We have been cir
eulA,ing pretty freely in this city aud Gal
weston.
Two miles below Hampstead, directly ON
the line of the railroad, We passed the camp
of Col. Parsons regiment Of cavalry At
Hampstead We met number Of gentlemen
belonging to the regiment, among them Col
Parsons and our ancient and well beloved
friend, Major L. W. Rogers, besides a host
of others whose names do not row remein-
ber, all looking in fine health and spirits
The regiment has been at its present camp
since its arrival in this vicinity, but the
Col. has just selected a camping ground on
Sims Bayou, on the Galveston road ana
some 10 miles below this city. II Is sa'a
TO be very eligible camp, and within easy
distance OF the island, should their SERVICES
be needed lhcre ut any time.
This city has decidedly improved since
nv last visit, some lS months ago. Many
handsome buildings have been erec ted and
the city has gradually expanded in every
direction, and there is evidence Of n healthy
and permanent growth Of the Bayou City.
The new buildings on Main St., are models
ofarchitecture, and contrast strangely with
the dilapidated structures which in some
instances Immediately adjon them. The
Morris buildings, nuIchins' new hotel bull
ding. the new Court House, and many 9TH
ers that might name, win vie in beauty
and durability with any buildings in
the South. OF course, the depression in
business Of oil kinds just now has, for the
time being, put stop to further improve
ments; but with the end Of the war or the
raising Of the blockade, fresh impetus
will be given to business in this city that
will make il one of the frat places of coIu-
merce in our. State. have been quite q
frequent visitor at the office of the Telc-
graph. where I found our friend Cushing
hard at work as usual, and ready, as he
ever il. to extend cordial welcome to his
up-country visitors. He left on Monday
morning last fol New Orleans and the Con-
federate capital; but presume he will LOOK
in upon all the important places in the Con-
federacy. This, he told me, would be his
first visit outside OF Texas for over thirteen
years. For over six years, believe, he has
been fixture here, where he has worked
energetically AMI successfully to make the
Telegraph the popular institution that 1t is.
:
The able assistant Mr.. Chas. Gray, is left
in charge during his absence, and the col
umns of the paper will lose none of their
| interest in the mean time.
On Wednesday last we went on board the
Diana for Galveston, reaching there by day
light next morning. Our party tramped
the streets for while, and then got con-
yeyance and drove down to the beach, fol-
| lowing the gulf shore from the fremont
battery up to Fort Point, the easternmost
end of the island. We also took distant
view of the blockading frigate Santee, lying
tabout four miles off. There were two small
schooners near the Santee, on the lockout
for any stray craft that may attempt an en-
! trance to The hnrbor The expected fleet OF
invasion has not yet made its appearance,
but how soon it may, we cannot tell. 1t is
evident that Gen. Hebert is using hisutmost
exertions to make the island impregnable
new batteries are being erected at different
points, and every preparation will bc made
to give Ole Dabe's ships warm reception
Armed sentinels are to be seen ell over the
city, and the white tents Of .he soldiers are
scattered around the suburbs. At each end
of the railroad bridge connecting the island
with Yirrinia Point strong batteries are be-
Ting erected. Col. Nelson's regiment of in
| fantry is stationed at Virginia Point.
| called on our friends of the News, but
had not the pleasure of seeing the proprie-
| tor. however met t,e former editor, Mr..
Willard Richardson, who gave me warm
welcome. How the papers of the Island
City manage to keep up in. theses time is
wonderful, bat both the sheets of that city
apnear to be conducted with their usual
energy and ability.
The affair of the Royal Yacht is just now
the subject of much talk. was on board Of
her, and it seems to me almost miracle
how she was saved from destruction from
the fiery element. There are evidences on
her hull and foremast of a hand-to-hand
fight before her capture, which must have
been soon over
| will not presume to say how many troops
are in and within striking distance of Gal
weston. When the enemy make the attack
that will be known but it does seem to me
that our friends in the interior should be
alive to the Importance of thorough or
panization of the militia, in order to have
an effective and reiiabie reserve corps, rea-
dy and willing to assist our troops should
they be pressed back by overwhelming num-
bers. 1t win do no hatin to be prepared.
We only remained al Galveston one day,
md resnrned 10 Houston BY tle evening