The New York herald., 1862-12-29

k iron coAtiag hs then steamed down here end lay q
Baton Rouge Monday and yesterday and the rebcla
ha4 determined 70 show their spits by attacking her.
ascerAsned thaa they had brought some artillery
Town from Port Hudson asd very busy this mornins
Axng ~ battery the bank OF the river, op
pasite Baton Rouge. Tue object attacking from the
side opposite the town was tho belief that
IN such the gunbosts would nol shell tho city. In
shis however, thsy wcald have found themselves ms.
tseu. AZ 10 was determined that Ia case attack tho
gas q the Essex should Immediately be brought 10 bear
on tho city The une 20, tho attack was fixed a ten
olck this lno-nios but the eeted appearance or
cei caused thom 20 change their mind, and 10 make
Oh hhthsr suLs al tue top Of their speed.
rRoos4
1t tho lime o. the coming Of feet the city was 90
oopcd by small achment Of troops, Quartsred In the
old Peatcaary building After diligent inquiry In
gard 70 the strength OF this rebel force, satisHsd
not three hundred, and also that this thrce
hucdrcd ran with . spscd quite unnecessary Tney
wcat in 50 much Of hurry thss they left
svcryth'rs behind them, except their muskets. Tho
spois, however. were OF value They consisted OF
broken bsdseads mxttrsses old cartridge boxes,
ss shoes, and other articles not worth the picking up
which eagerly seized BY the negroes aud carried on
n triumph.
uIxsvaw sErwRES MAYOR n0LS Axp GEHERAL GROVER
Sn after Genera, had taken possession Of tho
sowA he was waned upon by NJ. Holt Mayor or Baton
Nsgc The Mayor Is tall, well buii. and intelligent
booking man and dressed IN SNUFF co,ercd olothss
iittis ,hs for wear and cvidnatly of domestic
manufacture. Having Introduced himself ts ths en~rsi
- said be had called inquire Of 0rncral his nten
tcns regarding tho townwhethcf he meant to shon It
an1 whc,her twas safe for the inhabtants rsmaiu
General Grover replied that he haa intention Of
shong the city unless It became military necessity
Mayor Holt said ths people Of Baton Rouge wore a.
nnch opTescd to lighting hero anybody could bs.
do you BY that !" asked General Grover, "that
<he people u Baton Rouge loyal 70 the government Of
the United Stases:" 4
"Oh, no., replied the Mayor ~ do moi mean 10 say
sAa mean that they opposed lighting here They
are hcasss and In your power
"Certainy, sir" replied tho General
"Aud suppose you could reduce the city 70 asAes at
asy time you chose 70 DO its continued tho Mayor.
''csrtsinly sr' answered the General; "n 10 Ia my
power 70 destroy The city 10 six hours tms mo-
nent's notice. should u become necessary"
sAnd In that case" replied the Mayor 81 should hope
you would give the inhabtants saeent notice that they
might leave tho city"
"YsuwiIl understand" replied the General ssthat
must defend myself and hold position and should the
encny attack me- the irst consideration win be to repe
him 4.
tho Mayor took HE leave evidently impressed with tho
tdos that General would hesitate shell the town,
even without notice. shoud II become necessary In order
70 hold his position.
About ten O'Clock In the msrning troops being in
ouot possession Of the city, Executive Ocer Parker Of
the Esscx, proceeded 10 the State House with deach
mont Of men, and raised the Stars and Stripes which
greeted with shout shout from the soldiers
shore and on the decks OF the various transports.
AZ the foot sr the Ocer Parker found rebel ss.
cal nag attached cane and this the only seces,
boa banner found in tho city.
STROLL ABOUT TOWN.
Az soon - our troops bad landed took stroll around
ths city could be There wss very little
70 10 except tho buidnss and thsss nearly al
closed The people had shut themselves uP their houses,
not % oshut BY the "Yauksss Negroes alone were visi
Ne At arst but after had walked few blocks few
white mon showed themselves They I'll professed 70
know nothing Of the rebel soldiers how many hsd beea
thsrc. who their commander whence th~- came or
whithsr they went. They knew that there bad been
colonel Ia ccmmand, but could NOT learn Shat he
sAid colonel had name or belonged anywhere. One
Asserted that hs was Colonel odehau aad belonged 70 IN
ArkAuaas regiment; bat thn was inmedassly censss-
dictsd BY anoshsr.
rovnry AxD Rsax rncD.
Ne people seemed to ~ n condition Of great povsr-
RS q llfe. visited ths psncpa market, aad found
New Yerk.
swhss Is nouy WORTH" inquired.
There ainr nons," was the answer.
"what ID Il worth whsn II 10 70 be hadi'
"Tws bits the pound"
"what d. you mean BY two bitss'
ssTwsHty ave csats."
ssIhaa is dlty dcllaTs barrel" remarked
sYss. worth afty dollars barrel" the reply,
sand can't ga II At that. woad ~ vsy glad pay
any dollars for . barrel Of neur."
"what IL meat WORTH" asked.
"Two bits the pound"
Everything high in proportisn 80 FAR q inquired
eoafsdate notes and shinpasters shs only money
70 b found. Among the prevalent shuplasters were
aotcs Of Eve cents, ten ssnts. &C. Ths City Of Baton
Rouge" and on "Ths Parish Of East Baton Rouge"
lady out Of Q house with neat garden In front
and spoke 70 party saying shell bad burst in
yard that morning. and asked II would like to sse It,
We replied In the Affirmative when she led the way but
unable 70 find any trace Of such destructive
missile. Shs then said she had not herself u, bu
Der servants had informed her or the fact. II had ex
poded the dosr and frightened her nearly
70 death.
YAyKEs uERor0
"And she added, "and they (hs servants) would not
oondesoond 70 come and show you where IL struck" I"
Whether she regarded condesesnsion In herself she
did not inform She told size came from Vermont
al Yankee" she said, "and have lived here all
through the troubles and have not stirred Of my
house for any Of the battles lam afraid Of shsh
en- 20 used TO them don't mind them st ALL am not
coward myself, ana IL makes mad 10 sss coward.
uevsrthe,ess hope shall not be disturbed In our
property,
wsassured hsr thai General Grover had issued strict
order foroddng plundsrins OF any description and
ths Of our conversation, alusou having been
made gsatemsn connected business with her hus-
SAnd who Ind had molasses seized by the govern.
nsat, she said, He 10 . German and dopr belong TO
aobody"
There great scarcity Of provisions or every kind,
end the people seem 70 be condition of sxtrome want
ne nrst capture of Bstoa Rouge By our troops rs
suited In the release Of Ill the prisoners the Psni
tsntaary, and Of the prisoners actually became