, 1862-04-02

alont. tlc~bank, broken in many places.
Through the breaks, the water rushes madly
The only living things visible are the buzzards,
azi1y soaring il circles, with eyes keen for
any unfortunate hog or other animal, the food
may have oyertaken, or perched upon some
dry stump, with dropping heads, goTged with
their lnte repast upon some rotten car
although VIC puff along directly under them
and envelope thcIn in the long black ribbons
Of smoke from the chimneyes They are no
unfit cmblems Of the Southern Confederacy
and eertsinly most apTopos to this wretched,
tumble-down, God forsaken river country.
Thus we steam along until VIC reach James's
Bayou, 4 vide creek setting inland from the
river for some three or four miles, then los
ing itself in dense cypress swamp and again
emerging in the shape of an extensive, deep
slough, emptying opposite New Madrid. The
accommodating down the bayou, and NC are
left to admire the beauties OF the settlement
at this point
The place is familiar to all river men. In
summer it has been q regular landing for
provisions and taken on freights Of corn;
when horse racing was the fashion, and cut
ting and slashing with bowie knives the
amusement Of The day. In winter, when
trade was dull, James's Bayou was was in its
Gs fsy Tent Tas rsf9tS 51 ef @sy " ~sfe
squandcTcd at draw poker. The small vices
we're abundant, and the larger ones not squint-
cd at when occasion demanded The war has
been the ruin Of James's Bayon, however. No
steamers stop there for supplies. There is
no money towastc at draw poker, and the
young men Of tue settlement have been i'm
pressed into the rebel service, so that it looks
old, dllapilated, decaycd, oycrhoWed and
thoroughly Wretched-
The settlement is composed of about a
1ov n.r,1,o orfl hos all
standing in the water. The houses are mainly
log cabirs and the Inhabitants, like those Of
Venice, the pride OF the sea, navigate the
streets in dug-onts, very unlike 4 gondola,
however. Did You ever navigate in dug-ous?
II not, Yen hare missed al opportunity OF
proving the maxim that we arc the creatures
Of circumstances. The sawnill is fast going
to pieces under the influence Of wind and
weather. The wharf boat is a decided curios-
iiE. The upper story WAS formerly used as
Detel Int the rooms now are Uttered with
straw beds, broken bcdsteails, old coats and
hats, and remnants Of rebel newspapers. 4
sign upon the lower story shows that the con-
CEN WAS occupied by Wilson e. Gardiner,
boat store, forwarding and commission mer
chants-" The only stores in this quondam
scene Of busy life are some heaps Of corn, i
barrel OF ancient pork, brood Of chickens,
and a litter Of hogs which have sought protcc-
tion from the Hood and are living sumptuous-
" in the rotting concern The filthy huzzaris
flying over the settlement, two or three frowzv
women standing in {: doorway with dirty
aprons over their heads, and a contrabaud half
clothed and half terrified to- death, complete
tire picture of one Of tile effects Of war
We remained at the Bayou for an hour wait
ing the return Of the pilot. During that time
We were an object Of interest to several ma
tives. who padded up very much as the Iudi-
ans came to visit the first white settlers.
IHey repeated the same stories VIC have
heard all along the river. While the rebels
were ut Columbus and Hickman, officers
came down frequently, robbed and pluudered
as they pleased, and impressed all the able
| bo6icd men into the service. Of the resources
were mysteriously ignorant. They only
! knew that the rebels had fortified the entire
| river bank down to New Madrid-an assertion
T absurd On the face of it,
Our pilot returned about two o'clock. The
results Of lis accommodating it would be i'm
| dcred in the case Of the newspapers now pend
irg at Washington. It is sufficient to say that
they were Of little importance. G.P- T.
LATE2.
MONDAY March, 3Ist--Tt,c Wilson has Just
| received orders for CuiTo and Improve the
| time to add to nly letter a few items Of in
tercst which would seem to Indicate differ
| ent line of policy upon 1lc part oftherebe1s.
From orr position while communicating
| with the Benton, by the aid Of a glass could
| discover gangs Of men and teams at work
| upon the upper battery, which We had sup
| posed was Completely silcnced The lower
! part of the battery is submerged, but the up
| pcr portion is being repaired. Upon tic
main land long line Of new Notifications
llarc been thrown MP, and several intrcnchcd
I camps established. This would seem
| to corroboratc the assertion of
tho Memphis papers, that rcinforccmcnts
| had been cent to the Island; at least, within
| the rast day or two the rebel camps have
largely Increased upon the Island; also ;12z
| battery has been erected and transports to.
| day are plying busily between the head and
foot Of tic Island. Everything encmyward
Indicates desperate struggle. Cheering news
| co1ngs frem Gen. Pope which cannot detail.
| The Gay Of our deliycrancc is at hand. Look
| cut for stirring news. e. F. u.