Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-01
W. ID. WALLACH.
NEW ORLEANS.


The commerce Of the city, which was its main |
support, has been totally ruined, and thou
sands Of the people have fed to the country, or
anywhere they could find a scanty subsistence
while other thousands have been drafted into
the rebel army. The city is the emporium Of
the Mississippi Valley, and Is situated on the
left bank Of the river, about hundred miles
from its mouth. The old portion Of the city is
built on the sonvex side of bend of the river
which here sweeps around in a northeast, east
and southeast course. From this location it
derives its familiar soubriquet Of the &C Cres-
cent City"
In the progress of its growth MP stream, the
city has now 30 extended itself as to fll the
hollow Of curve in the opposite direction, so
that the river front presents an outline some
what resembling the letter 8. It stretches or
struggles along the bank Of the river some six
er seven miles, with an average depth of one
mile, it only being possible to build on the
narrow strip Of land lying Immediately on the
edge of the river, the highest point being in
front, and then rapidly sinking in the rear
until lost in interminable sWamps. In the rear
OF New Orleans, a half mile, perhaps beyond
the suburbs, is the Metarie ridge, a narrow
strip Of high land two or three feet above high
water mark, of an average Of q half mile in
width; then you come again to the swamp,
which continues to the shores Of the lake
beyond, almost as dense any in the sur
rounding valley, gloomy and peculiar, and
unlnhabited, except by slligators and bitterns.
The front Of New Orleans is, cf course, on
the river, and, from the pecalsrity of the
country and levee which serves to protect the
city from being sverhowed by the spring rise
our feet, when 1t reached the city, must have
been above the ground on which the city is
built, and commanded it as from an eminence
This circumstance, with the fact that the break
ing OF the levee by a cannon shot ,or few min
utes' work with the spade, would submerge
the whole place, makes New Orleans with It's
defenceless rear, the weakest and least pro-
tected place Of any commercial i'm portsnce in
the world. What has become of the rebel gun
boats and rama, Of which we have heard so
muea, 1t is hard to conjecture.
The most important railroads terminating
at New Orleans, are the New Orleans, Jack
son, and Great Northern, which, until lately,
united 1t with the great railroad systems of
the Eastern and Northern States, and the
New Orleans, Opelousas, and Great Western,
extending westwardly q short distance into
Texas The great avenue, however, of the
trade and commerce Of the city is the Missis
sippi river. Along the river front OF the city
the levee, or artificial embankment to keep
the city from inundation, Is extended by a
continuous series Of wooden wharves. A sort
of esplanade is thus formed, several miles in
extent, which, during the busy season, pre-
sents scene Of wonderful variety and anima-
ton. Cotton bales, sugar hogsheads negroes
and mule-drsys are in great abundance
Among the notable buildings are the branch
mint Of the United States-which the rebels
year sgo stole and part Of the coin-the
custom house, one Of the most massive struc-
tures in America, but not completed; the Ca
thedral Of st. Louis, and sixty other churches;
the st. Charles Hotel, which cost $500, 900;
the hospitals, banks, and benevolent institu-
tions. On Jackson Square is q bronze eques-
trian statue Of Gen. Jackson, by Clark Mills.
The New 0rleanlsns will new remember Gen
Jackson as the man who said, The Union
must and shall be preserved"
The population Of New Orleans has long
Been remarkable for the diversity Of its ele-
ments, About one-hslf Of the whites are of
foreign birth, and among these the French and
Spanish are predominant. There is also q
large number Of NortherneTs. Those who
know the city beat believe that il would sur
render when the forts defending it should fall
The mass Of the permanent population iscom-
posed Of intelligent men, and the commercial
Interests have always had q more clear idea of
the folly Of this rebellion than the people in
the interior. At sll events, after the forts al
luded to fall, and the gunboats, which are not
really formidable, are taken, New Orleans is
helpless-more helpless, indeed, than any
other city can be.
The commercial Importance OF New Orleans
il 80 patent that it will hardly require statis-
tics TO make the fact apparent, but they will
prove interesting. It ranks next to New
York upon the American continent. It,is, or
has been, the groat receiving and distributing
point OF the West and SouthHest. 1t was the
most important market for cotton, sugar, and
molasses, and held high rank in coffee, bread
stufls, and provisions Its banking capital,
at the time Of secession, amounted to about
twenty millions, the insurance capital to about
nine millions.
New Orleans has heretofore been noted as a
city containing population extremely con-
seryative in their political belief. From the
date Of the formation Of the old Whig party,
up to the hour Of its demise. the city voted
strongly Whig When the American organi-
ha nf hat
could alWays count upon New Orleans as
stronghold. In 1855, the city voted by large
majority In favor Of Millard Fillmore for Pre-
sidsnt, and, in 1860, for John Bell. At the
last Presidential election, Douglas obtained
small majority over Breckinridge, and Ii can
hardly be doubted that two-thirds Of the sup
porters Of Bell and Douglas were unqu ualifedly
for the Union. The following was the vote
Bell, 5,2l5; Douglas, 2, 998 Breckinridxe,
2.646;-plurslity for Bell, 2,2l7. In the year
1857, we believe, the opposition to the Ameri.
can party Of New Orleans determined to de.
feat the candidate for the mayoralty-Mr.
Gerard Stith. They got up a reform or vigi-
lance association, barricadsd the streets, and
declared martial Law; Gen. Beauregard,
then in the employ Of Buehanan az supsrin-
tepdent Of the construction Of the u. s. Mint,
was nominated as the candidate of the reform
era. But, notwithstanding all the exsrtions
used by the opposition to Stitb, that gentleman
saecseded by the small msjOrity Of enc him.
dred and Fifty. When the Secession difficulties
commenced, New Orleans was firm for the
Union; but finally, an election for members of
the State Convention was held, and Secession
ticket it Is claimed, received q majority. The
truth is, the opponents Of Secession did not ex-
ereise the right OF suffrage but 70 limited
extent. At some Of the polls in the city It was
&C much As q mans life YEAS worth to spproaeh
the ballot-box with Union ticket Alto
gether, some six or seven thousand votes were
east out Of more than twelve thousand.
- 4 n H. ntkr ill rs.I l.
bells Of the Southwest to fight their last battle
on their present line Of operation. Reauregara
is pressed, If not already assailed, by Hailenk
in front; Gen. Mitshell will prevent his re-
treat toward Mobile; Batter forbids his ap-
proach TO New Orleans; and our gunboats can
pass up the Mississippi and attack Memphis in
front-acting in conjunction with Com Foote
aboye The yay IL also opeued for the oun-