Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-06-06
Our Army Correspondence.
FROM THE EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Or Board sH1r JAS. HovEy,

mississippi River, May II, lSoZ
Mn. EDIroR. Most Of our regiment came
on board this transport on Tuesday, the 9th
inst, and the remainder embarked early the
next morning, when we Immediately got under
way and took our leave Of Ship Island. The
wind was very light, and we made but little
Roadway during the day and still less during
the night, and early in the morning we found
ourselves in only three fathoms OF water,
making directly for land. II the ships crew
were not in motion, and orders given and
obey ed in hurry for few moments, then
am mistaken for once, certainly. Thursday
there being fine wind we ran down TO the
Southwest Pass, having very pleasant time
considering we had almost full regiment Of
men on board a transport that would be al
lowed to carry only three hundred and fifty
emigrants. Friday morning the Colonel went
in small boat to see about steamer to tow
US up to the city. Towards night he came
back without meeting with much success.
Saturday we waited impatiently for the APP
pearance Of a steamer still none came. The
weather being very warm 1t seemed as though
the men between decks must almost suiiocate,
but by considerable exertion on the part Of
all interested sleeping place was found for a
great many men on deck, and 1t really pre-
scented singular appearance to see so many
resgning themselve, TO the arms of " Nor
phcus in such place and in such gtotesque
positions. 1t occas stoned some ludlcrous re-
marks. Early Sunday morning We were
gluddencd by sight Of the steamer Mssissip-
pi bearing down towards as with all speed.
As soon as we wer,s,eertain she was coming
to our assistance, 10 one was wide awake,
and quite a commotion was visible IT, all parts
OF the vessel She soon came alongside, a
hawser was made fast TO each, and we were
soon under way. After passing man-oi-
war and several other vessels that were lying
at the Pass, we came to little place called
Pilot Town, apparently built upon piles,
as 4 noticed that the communication between
the several buildings was by boat One pc
cullar feature, not perhaps understood by
your readers generally, is, that for miles the
river and the ocean are divided by narrow
strip Of land, varying from twenty to eighty
rods in width. About , O'Clock p. NJ. we
came out into the broad river, and felt a thrill
Of pleasure at beholding for the first time
The Father of Waters"
Some very amusing incidents occurred in
passing along up the river, which | hardly
think it best to write, and yet the men on
board will remember them with a great deal
Of pleasure as long as they live They were
occasioned in part by the judilant demonstra-
tons of the negroes along the banks Of the
stream. Everything below the forts appear
o to show a lack Of energy and sort Of
thriitlessuess but when we came to those,
they showed that something had been done,
and well done, too and il is a wonder TO us
how two such forts could possibly have been
taken with SO little loss to our forces. The
ia.
more acres than thrift; but after a while the
aspect seemed changed, and many place was
passed whose broad fields Of waving corn, to-
gether with a general neatness about the
buildings gave unmistakeabe signs of taste
and opulence. Onward was our motto, and
at dark, or rather dusk, we would have been
perfectly satisfied to wait till daylight to fin
ish the journey but had to make the best Of
it. About | clock A. NJ, it being some
what toggy, in making turn our hawser
parted and we cast anchor. Soon as light,
however, another was made fast, and we were
again stemming the current; and | assure you
we enjoyed perfect feast of sights-an ever
varying panorama more beautiful in finish
than the most exquisite touches of the
finest pencil As We came past the battle
ground, where Old Hickory" thrashed the
1
New England had, in 1862, accomplished
what, 10 1915, hT' been undertaken by Old
England, in which she had been loled but
such reflections must needs be disturbed, as
we we're nearing the city rapidly and we're
anxious TO have at least passing glimpse Of
all that was to be seen. Some of the inhab-
itants, as we came past, waved their handker-
cef while others seemed sad and detected.
al v,lo k,, 81,
on our entrance into the " Crescent City
The star Spangled Banner" " Yankee Doc
die, Dixie and others. Atabout o'clock
p. NJ. we quietly dropped anchor off the Gus
tom house, and the Col. and Lieut.. Col went
ashore and made arrangements for the troops
About dark most OF the regiment landed.
and were Immediately qunrtered in yard
hard by, formerly used for cotton pressing,
where we arc comfortably sheltered from the
scorching rays Of the sun and the heavy night
dews so peculiar 10 this latitude. The river
Is very high at present---said to be more so
than usual That our advent is hailed with
delight by large class of people resident
here there is not the least doubt, and that
others esteem our presence as Calling in the
extreme, is equally true. The prices that rul-
ed here when we arrived shows the utter des-
titution which prevailed among the poorer
classes. Flour sold At S25 per DBL; butter,
rs cents per h.; pork, SO to rs cents beef,
40 to so cents; coffee, 81 tea, any price I'M
der IS and, with the exception of sugar and
tobacco, other things in the same proportion.
Business IS almost entirely suspended, and
the streets remind one Of some place which
has been visited by terrible scourge,-and
so 1t has, and that scoWgeis secession.
7. Z. X.
p S.-The Crescent has been suppressed,
by order of Gen. Butler.
Mn On T. - NJ 10 1ocn