New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-30
FROM THIE DEPARTMENT OF THE
GULF.
Things ut Baton Rouge, La'-Prisoners
and Fugitives-A Visit 10 tho Battle
Ground of Last August.
From Our Special Correspondent.

BATON RorGE, La, Dec. ~, lbZ
have but little news properly so called, to COM
muncate to you, but that little may justify an idle
letter. written in jealous mood, 20 meet the pos
sible contingency Of gunboat returning 20 New
Orleans in time for to-morow's mail.
Contrary 10 our expectations, no fight nos even
skirmsh, has ensued, since our peaceful resumption
of the capital Of Louisiana. Tie Rebels postpone
action until we shall necessitate il by a further ad-
vance up the river. We have Baton Rouge our
pickets stretch from three to five miles inland oar
transports and gunboats ride TRANQUILITY at anchor
on the nuddy Mississippi, whose waters are rem
dered additionally turbid by innumerable boats con.
yeying men aud munitions on shore; the cold north
wind which seems to have accompanied us, blows
the duet 10 and fro about the sunny streets Of the de-
serted CITY, and that is all. We expect Gen. Augnr
m in day or two and then, perhaps, ho for Port
Hudson ana what lies beyond II. Minor incidents
are occurring, OF course. | write only OF them.
From either shore Of the river negro iugiiiyes
come to us-those from the western bank with sto-
ries how they have been hunted with bloodh0uDds
TO compel their return. The gentleman who told
Gen. Banks here temporarily on the staff Of Gen.
G. 0yer-added that lie should take III early oppor-
unty 10 make a raid for the purpose OF exlirpating
these quadrupeda aduncs to Louisiana civilization
And as the Major Is Il man very much in earnest
and "A soldier who has seen service on both sides OF
the Atlantic, he ID likely to be good his word
He would have 10 such brutes or donge ms those, be
said, in has vicinity.
Beside these accessions we have Others, voluntary
and involuntary. By the courtesy oi Gen. Grover
WIS allowed 10 visit them.
Passing barrack in which a negro man and
woman, aud subsequently two queer lutte figures Of
children looking like dwarf paiodes on their elders.
were dancing for the amusement Of about twenty
good fellows Of the Massachusetts flsi, 4 and my
party came 10 bare whitewashed room. hesorc the
door, ss entrance Of which stood two sentnels with
crossed bayonets. These being raised, we found
Culaelves in company with upward Of IA dozen
there may have been iifieen-pfisoDers The ma
iority Of them stood slouching IN IA little group
lounged against the wall, converting with or Gu
giouslv eyed by bOIne soldiers assembled outside.
One vat ON a stool box, the only convenience for
that purpose Ia the place. another recined YEARLY
on a scinty blanket spread ngainst the wall on the
bare floor. The last was desertsr; The sitting man
IA Rebel Lieutenant; the rect with one exception, 10
be presently dscrimDaied, were people belonging
TO Baton Rouge the Immediate vicinity, generally
Of the poor white order.
The lieutenant, young man with good forehead
aud intelligent French face, suggesting bis lineage,
eat, attired in one Of those loose blhnket-coats,
frinReI III ends of the sleeves and skirt affected
by Rebel oilcess, little aloof from the rect lie
wac evidently gentleman, should cay OF .cione
and kindly temperameIt ana with head thrown
back and hands in trowsers pockets, he looked
upward with an expression of que, nouchalauce,
not unalloyed with little latent contempt for the
prOmiscuous perrOns Whose captivity he shared.
They did not speak 10 him, and were eager enough
to be questioned, - make complaints, to ask what
was 10 be done with them. lie kept silent until
addressed replying then with perfect courtesy with
Il French accentl, Jut volunteering nothing Really
the man whs superior 10 circumstances, and though
a Rebel 10 the very marrow, respected him.
lie belonged TO the llth Louisiana Regiment; his
name was l.. G.. El.er. When the Rebels evacuated
the town the morning Of the l7th, bis horse had
been stolen by some Of them land he, tick man, lad
delayed TO pay his hotel bill until il WA too late to
escape. He thought nc had plenty Of time, for our
mnval proved surprse 10 everybody. Arresled
on issuing from tie door Of his lodgings he had been
examined BY our officers and then brought hither
/ inquired how long be Tad served in the Con-
federGte army. Two year, with a smile" al-
most entirely in Mississippi aud Louisiana" Ilehad
fought at Shli0n, and been 10 Richmond, Yirgpa Us
an amateur" What did he think oi inc prospects OF
his side nowl "Our people viii fgDI yet: they
believe they are right" uttered with all the ann
plicity of perfect conviction. You must conquer
such u man very thoroughly, or resolve him back
into his original elements before you VIII get Seceg-
sion out Of hin.
One of my companions asked not too iudiciousy
how many Rebel soldiers there were at Fort llud-
son. 4" l do not know, and If did should not tell
you. am one prisoner, not fpy!' was the ALI
bWer. bOlnetnDs being tau OF negro troops, and the
question put whether the ranks Of the enemy con-
tanned such, "No person Of would ask It" he
responded. When superluously informed that slaves
had been compelled 10 load the cannon before York
town. under the fire OF sharpshooters, he waived
the matter with, g can have nothing TO say TO
that" Evidently an Improbable man. master Of
his position, OF whom we should make nothing.
Close behind stood three singulary repulsve men
--one II cOar-e, squat Spauiard The keeper Of a |
small store IN the town, shaking with cold aud
delirlum tremens. The next. IA farmer, with dull.
hazel eycs, sailOw complexion, cOarse hair, and "A
sinister expression OF cOuntonancc he'd bis arm in
sling and his hand bound up, IN consequences as he
informed me, OF IL stat, received in brawl; he
lived twelve miles inland, nnd WAS arrested when
within our Lines, coming 10 town, az he said 10 |
obtain medicine for rick Wife or, Ak was equally |
probable, to act us spy. The third, his neighbor,
an ugly dwarf, hldeouoiy twisted about his lower
SAID httle or nothing. All complained
Of the cold and Of their detention.
turned to the deterter who had come in early |
that morning. lie was rimply rustic, clad In a
rough salI OF gray -bfown, surnOunted by narrow.
bnmmed felt hai. lie lad IL leayy, o6tuse beatd |
ess face, not unpleasant Of GsJ ect. Ills answers
were almost mOnosJ Liable. Lousiangn born.
from locality with name which 1 found il impos-
slble 10 discriminate he had deserted because he WINS
- tired iis comrades had been led "pretty
we'll on fresh meats ald corn Tor the lat six
months, but had shoes until after our eyacuatton
=. "NN'l VIA III SiOtiiCo. lie /
sUred us cINlny III his replies, buy knew or commu-
licated nothing. There are thousands lac Lim in
he Rebel armies.
All this time there paced up and down, sloof from
he others, weli'dressed ana really inieligentlook
ng negfo-a oxeiter also. lie paused in ms walk
when Approached him, and told his story huently
nd with animation, yet wlthou, any objectionable
iIr Of prOpItihlon. lie had belonged TO Major
Bynum OF the 4th LOUISIANA, once editor OF The la.
Oh Rouge AdU0cate, teiDg his body servant. OIL
hat regiment lie nauled tho following oficers; Cnn.
aims Burlington, Burnett ana Chinn; Iieutenants
)gnier, Herbor RiciaTdson and Dural. Coils Jor.
an and Chinn brother oil tie Captain just namedl
,eIe ID command Oh our arrival; Tue ioruer had