Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-03

Brooklyn gives the following interesting
sketch of the passage up the river, and of the
people along its banks =
THE REIGN OF TERROR
''Our routine is this We steam up the
river days, and come to anchor nights. Last
night, as usual, we came to anchor just before
sunset, and also, as is our usual custom. we
sent boat on shore to have friendly commu-
nicatiOns, as far as the people will allow us to
be friendly, with the residents of this vicinity.
Mr.. Lowry, first lieutenant, the chief engin-
eer, the doctor and myself were the officers
who went in the boat. We pulled ashore
abreast of one of the plantation houses. The
house at first seemed deserted. As we APP
preached the gateway, however, the proprie-
tor made his appearance at the front door. and
commenced walking up and down the piazza,
wringing his hands perfect picture of terror.
He met us about half the distance from the
gate to his dwelling, holding out both his
hands in the greatest possible terror, exclaim-
ing: You will not hurt me; my family
pointing to the house-are in the deepest pos
sible distress, and are nearly dead with fear.
But for me, | will not, cannot believe that
you are such barbarlanS as you have been re-
ported will not believe you have come to
steal, burn, ravish and destroy, and conse-
quently l have come out to meet you. My
family have hidden themselves away, and the
servants have also gone into the stables for
fear you will steal, carry them off, and sell
them;' and so on, at some length.
"We, of course, protested against all this,
and assured him that our mission up the
river was for the purpose of restoring and
building up, and not to destroy; and that we
were the enemies of those only who compelled
us to be so, and never of detenceless men or
women and children of the southern states.
1t was long time before he could be made
fully to understand the nature of visit,
and still longer before the remainder of
his family could be prevailed upon to show
themselves. They were finally treasured, and
the whole family made their appearance, APP
parently with fear and trembling-their eyes
were red with weeping from the terror inspir
ed by the southern Vandals. 1t was an inter-
esting famly-all (fve) girls, from eight to
twenty, perhaps-some of them decidedly
pretty. They were at first very shy; hardly
word could be got out of them. Soon they
all grew more talkative, and before we left
their reserve had all disappeared They had
become perfectly reassured and a more
agreeable half hour l have not passed since
left New York than the last of our visit
Everything that was in the house or that grew
on the plantation was at our service our boat
was loaded with fowls and vegetables and
milk, and the next morning, before we got
under way, they had killed a bullock, and
brought it down for the use of the ships COM
pany, and presented to each of the officers
who were on shore the night previous SPLEEN
did bouquet of flowers.
"Our interview with this family shows how
complete is the system of terror imposed by
the rebel government over the people IN inns
part of our country, and that all that is waut-
inr to diSa husa thpr minds is sufficient inter-
course with us to make them acquainted with
our object in prosecuting the war, and no
force would be further necessary to put an
end to the war. This is not an isolated case
REFUSAL TO BURN COTTON.
cat daylight we got under way, and steam
ed up the river AT sunset came to anchor
just below the line that divides the states of
Louisiana and Mississippi abreast of the very
extensive plantation of gentleman who bears
the name of Colonel -. He is owner OF
six plantations, and works one thousand ne
groes. Sent two boats ashore (armed). l
went with one of the boats. Had an inter
view with Col. -, his overseers and ne
groes. This gentleman is in a very bad fix.
He has now five thousand bales Of cotton
stored on his plantation, and received orders
the very same night before we paid him our
visit, to qurn it or remove it five miles fur
Their into the interior. He is very indignant
at the bogus rebel government, and says with
an oath he will die first. He denounces the
rebel government and all its works, and says
there is terrible reaction about to take place
in these southern states, and justice, though
long delayed, will surely have its right. And
he SAYS truly, hundreds and thousands are
like him. They are, since the advent OF our
fleet, bidding defiance to the rebel authority,
and soon that power will be powerless, even