Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-31

~ \ Acoifecponoc< -raest-Ts
with tho Banks expedition, has the following;
An Atmssphsries Phsnss~s.a.
On Monday evening, Dec. sth, ths sky be.
tokened the near approach Of B storm. The
heavens grew dark, and on the leewsrd side OF
the steamer q most beautiful phenomena pre-
scntcd itself In the heavens. We were thon of
the northern coast Of Georgia, and a. the clouds
Increased In their intensity and blackness, there
was visible on the distant horizon what at fret
sight appeared TO be vessel on fire. This un-
usual and extraordinary spectacle awakened the
greatest amount Of excitement among all the
passengers, particularly the various newspaptf
correspondents, who, with trembling hand upon
note book, stood on the hurricane deck, intent
ly watching the progrcss Of the flames as they
leaped from mast to yard arm, and finally n
kulphed the entire vessel within their fiery
vortex. Every available field and marine glass
on shipboard was speedily brought into requlsl-
ton, and most powerful battery Of lorgnettes
was levelled at the burning vessel In an incred-
itably short space Of time. Matters were be-
coming "no better very fast" and the spccula-
tons Of the eager witnesses were as manifold
as sublime, and as ridicnlous as exciting.
But the Ultima Thule of the excitement was
not reached until there gra iually hove In sight
another burning vessel, which came Into view
at the sight Of It's Inflated mate, as if to con-
time the illumination for the benefit of the
fusion OF ideas among the crowd, that ended In
some very amusing conjecturcs as to what
might be the cause Of the catastrophe. There
was In tho minds of many every reason to he
lieve the scene the result of tho peregrination
Of the piratical Alabama, who had again ap-
piled the pirates savage torch to either Gov
ernment or merchant vessel. Rumors Of this
tenor, and hundreds Of others equally as absurd,
passed through the excited throng; and 1t may
seem pitinll, and for newspaper correspond
eut who is expected In such pcrilous times as
these to produce news Of the real sensational
order-it may, l say, be considered decidedly
unfortunate that none of these thrilling rumors
were well founded, and can never bo verified.
This sublime spectacle ended In most mag
nncent failure. The success Of the dclusion
was perfect, and had II not been for one Of ma
turc's grand side scenes intervening, there Is
no telling how far this mystery would have car
ricd our excited and specializing passengers.
As the sky gradually darkened the vision began
to fade from view, and its disappearance was
as unaccountable and as magical as the first
appearance.
The tom ensemble was exceedingly fine in the
closing scene, and by the happy termination Of
the spectacle, all fears of visit from the dread
ed 800 were dissipated. The blackness OF
night increased each moment, until its gloomy
veil descended, and gradually curtained from
our sight, this atmospherical phenomena.
Again, this writer says:
The view, as the steamer passed up the Mis-
sissippi river to-day, was very fine. As seen
from the deck, II constituted one vast moving
panorama, not exactly beautiful, hut yet novel
and at times Picturesque, where some planta-
ton would heaye in sight with Its whtcncd ne
gro huts, and the cool inviting residence of the
planter, with its Gothic and galy-colored ye-
randahs, often surrounded with groves of orange
trees, and here and there stray cypress and a
sycamore.
As we steamed along the muddy river, the
negroes were many Of them very Jubllant In
their manifestations of delight. Al one place
in blue, was wild with enthusiasm, and she
evinced It by indulging In one Of those monde
scrpt Terpschorcan eyolutions that Ia peculiar
to the darkes on the plantations, and which
gymnastic exercise the sable female continued
till the steamer was out of sight.
1t was amusing to witness the negroes as they
lined the shore, and threw up their hands, Hin
doc fashion, to greet us,-but the remarks from
the soldiers were mirth provoking In the cx-
, tremc, and gestures and information, with keen
and ready wit, flowed as plenty as at an evening
entertainment, at the Ethiopian Opera House
of Morris Brothers. Pell and Trowbridge. We
saw hut few white people, and these were the
occupants of those miserable huts that are
found on the banks at the entrance of the river,
and whose Ignorance begin TO fear has never
been exaggerated, five may he permitted to
| Judge of their vacant starcs and the meaning
I less expressions upon their countenances, az
they gaped at our craft and its warlike cargo. Al
one of these shanties, We were assailed TOR the
| ilrst time, By the most violent pugilistc demon
strations from a veteran "secesh" shoulder nit
! ter, whose disgust for the yankees" knew nc
bounds, and with clcnched fists he threatened
for several mlnutcs.to snnihilate us all. The
last wa remember of this brave cavalier, We
saw that defiant ilst shaking with secession
palsy, as thoagh all hope Of recovery wac lost