Smyrna times., 1862-07-17
NJ SCELLAN EOUS.
LETTER FROM THE MISSISSIPPI,
U. s. STEAMER BROOKLYN
OF Baton Rouge. June 18th, 1862. {


Dear Sir:
II has been my intention for some
time to write TO you a short epistIe, but for
reasons which [ will not attempt to explain
COW, 1t has not been done; but having concIu.
dsd to-day that letter from this part of rebel.
dom might prove interesting to you, have de.
termined to set myself about il. You will per.
ceiVe from the heading of this letter, that we
are, tor the preseRt, lying off the capital ct the
reoellIOus State OF Louisiana. which is now &C.
cnPied by Gen. Williams. The inhabitants Of
fhs beautiful town, which Is so pleasa ntly sit.
pated upon the left bank of the Mississippi, are
much better disposed than VIVA, we have found
them TO be in many other places that we have
Sislted' out have been unable TO 6nd much
faVofltssm for the old dag 10 any part of the
State where we have been. Bot have found
even the greatest bsaggar,s to be very subms-
sVe, indeed. and some of them even obseoui.
Gus, wherever they can see the glitter OF Fed
ersl bayonets. but without such meAsces we
mud them very hostile to US, and disposed to
think that Yankees are very inferior even 10
Tue quadroon population Of the chivalric South,
Tor 1hey apply 10 US epithets such, ii taken in
literal sense, might lead the very credulous
10 believe that we are realey the progeny of the
female dog. They will have il that our ul,i-
matum 10 the emancipation OF the "slmighIv
nIgger." This state Of affairs, however, can.
not last long, for they are now very sore in
consequence Of their many reVsrses, and the
Gay Is not tar distant when they will be made
TO acknowledge their cause a failure, and be
glad OF the opportunity of returning again 10
their allegiance. The people Of New Orleans
seem to be as well pleased with Gen. Buffers
administration there as they could be with any
other msa. aud probably better, under the cir.
cumstances. for there is certainly excellent or
der 10 the city. and what have been told of i,s
former reputation, | should say they have bet.
ter order there now than they ever had before,
although II was never my good fortune 10 visit
the Crescent City" until the memorable 25th
day Of last April, and hope it will never be-
again under the same circumstances. We
found the city in the hands OF o lawless mob,
as you have already been informed, and de.
fenesless woman and children, who crowded
upoa the leSee TO see us come up, were fred
and thrown into the river BY the mob because
they made some demonstrates Of glsdness a
again seeing the old flag.
We are this tar on our way up the river fol
the purpose ofdssEoying the batteries at Vicks
burg. and then we shall have accomplished GU
whoie object for coming into this river, for Com
Davis, by this time, has ca piursd III emphis, an
viii probably be a. VIcksbaTg as soon as w
will. -
June l4th.-Information having reached th
Flag Officer, Of guerrilla bands secreting them
selves at various places up the river and Grin
on our transports sRd gunboals ith field pieces
we were ordered yesterday to get under weig
and proceed up, and in obediance to orders, W
weighed anchor about 10 o'clock and starte
on our mission. As usual, we are the " &C
vance guard" for the Brooklyn is sure to
called upon 10 every emergency, but there
no ship in the squadron better qualified to pei
form The duties assigned her, in putting dow
armed rebellion. and am sure, according
the rebels own account there is none that is
greater terror to them than the Brooklyn.
We reached. about o'clock to-day, q sma
town 90 the left bank of the river, called Bayc
Sara. We had orders to land an armed par
there and destroy the telegraph which comm
uieated with Jackson, in consequence. of II
informstiOn which the rebels have recev,
tFOp this place OF our movements on the rive
and accordingly, bgr sailors and the marie
gss'd. pader Lieut.. James Foraey. were w
armed sudianded. The expedition was COT
msuded BY cur executive officer, Lieut.. r,
Lowry, and much praise is due him on this
wel az other occasions for the brave vet ca
Sous fpanuRs in which be executed his ords
Ine meo we're landed 10 beautiful style. al
tWmeejatell they were formed iuto linz.
guard against the cowardly and murgerous 9
iscks OF the guefrillas which now infest n
river, skiraiishera and pickets were thrown q
around the town, sentries posted at yafio
points and q, guard placed il front of the lei
grsph Office. 10 less THAI one hour the cbie
Of thes egpsditioa wse >accump lished, and ,
Were of again for our noble ship. Hsyi
heard OF guerrilla bands being III the town 4
Gays previous. edd not knowing but what tn
might s,lll be there and we would have TO {
gage them. | volunteered to accompany I
ezPedill2h. 30 as TO be on hand if there sho,
Dc anysning TO do in my line. Fortunately
nsd aothing 10 do, in consequence OF whcl
nsd al opportunity of talking with some of
anaoItanis. Some OF the Older and better
formed ones expressed 10 me--is many 9th,
nave done --lb Ell, iaiirs dissa tiafaclion at
conduct Of shtss gueriIlss. and wished fol-
speedy termination of this war. iorthey cons
sfea theIr Cause SOW hopeless, while some
the yossg btoodss with much less brsina.s
pressed their entire scOn6dense tn Beanregs
and Johnson as being equal TO the emeraen.
~ Was my infentioA to give you detail
secoust oithe capture of the rese farts Jas
soa cad ST. Philip, and the Destruction OF
o.aks OF The rlyer batIi was kipt very b.
about that time. nd il was neglected. W
however. relate . few little lneidFnss conneci
1'4stf 49, +ases q hfsfaaste B !