Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-03
COMMODORE FARRAeUr,s FLEET.

From Nsp Orleans to Baton Rozgs-UnioB
feeling Manif nifsstsd-RefusaiO of a PlaRtsr
10 Bum his Cotton.
Extract from private letter from an officer on
board the U. 3. gunboat winona, Mississipp
IIgsr:
FRIDAY, May BY order Of the Flag Oficer
we started up the river along with the Brooklyn
and the gHnbOats Sciota and ltaska- little
above the city we saw earthworks, with a number
Of guns mounted, on both sides Of tie river.
Tney had been abandoned on the approach Of
our vessels. We cams to anchor for the night of
q plantation, where we bought chickens and
eggs
followed the Brooklyn up the river. AL along
both banks there was q succession OF fine planta-
tions, most OF them growing sugar. The people
were all gathered upon the levees and In the
porcbeI to gaze at US a. we passed; and well they
might for so stately and formidable q vessel az
tue Brooklyn had never passed that way before.
cultivated like n garden, and much more popu-
Ious than had been led to suppose from anything
had ever read oft
Either there had never been sucha universal
sidered large home guard necessary, for we saw
aOle-b bodied men enough to make quite army
In the course Of the day. There were no mani
festations Of ill-feellng observed on the part Of
the Inhabitants, and we saw no secession hags
tying. On the other hand, ladies waved their
hsndkerchiefs to and once the stars and stripes
were shown. OF course We responded most
heartily to the demonstrations At nightfall we
came 70 anchor near the river bank a. before.
SUNDAY, MAY Ave got under way early In
The morning and proceeded up the stream again.
As we were starting man came OF in a boat
and advised US 70 sheer on point we were ap-
pToac hing, the water was shoal there. We
kept steadily on all day, stesSIng against the
powerful current The river iShnusuallY full al
ihis time, and small additional rise would
carry II over the levees. The latter are about We
feet high on average, and all along inside be-
tween them and the plantation fences there 10
road on which, as we passed up the river we
could see the tops Of carriages and the heads Of
men on horseback bobbing mp and down as they
rode. We passed, In the course Of the day DON
aIdsOn and Plaquemine, small places on the
right bank Of the river. IL being Sunday, the
negroes well as the whites were gathered In
groups upon the banks, gazing at us. There
were no demonstrations Of any kind except OF
plantation, in front Of which on the levee,
there q young woman waving Secession
hsg and gesticulating In a most theatrical style.
She was surrounded by group OF negroes shout
ing Justify IL was an amusng scene, and caused
4 hearty laugh among Us AT night we came to
anchor of plantation, eight miles below Baton
Rouge. Our boats were sent ashore and OBJ
iained supplies Of chickens and eggs. The
planter seemed to be quite a reasonable man, and
Told Us that when men had ridden along the
river advising all the planters to destroy their
crops he had refused to destroy bis.
MOSDAY, May 5.-We passed Baton Rouge in
Ine morning, without stopping The whole river
which had been scattered on the water evidently
70 make a show. IL was said that 90 bales had
been DESTROYED the day before. After passing the
town, however, we saw little more floating cotton
during the day. We had heard Of batteries at
Baton Rouge, but saw nothing Of them
, ABws went on, the plantations became more
scattered, and seemed newer. The greater num-
Der were devoted 20 the culture Of cotton instead
Of sugar. 90 below. The country grew higher,
too and there were some high bluffs. We an
chored at night on lonely beach Of the river.
Tuesday, May 6-kept on up the river I'LL
night seeing nothing worth recording except the
burning Of cotton along the river banks, and
greater quantities Of Il floating down the river
We came 10 anchor At night OF large cotton
plantation, the overseer OF which said he had that
day burned 7CO bales OF cotton, by order Of the
owner. He was very unreasonable, and refused TO
sell anything TO us.
WEDSzsD1Y, May 1T was found that the
SciOta's engine had given out, and that our coal
turn back the Brooklyn, taking the SciOta In tow.
Early In the afternoon we met the Oneida coming
Up Affer q parleY she turned back also, AID we
Kept on till, toward nlghtfall, we met more Of
our gunboats coming up, when we all came TO
anchor.
Before starting down In the morning, a small
boat, with four or five men, from above, came
alongside the Brooklyn. They stated that Fort
Pillow was being evacuatedi that a great battle
was daily expected al Corinth; that there was q
Mcclellan had been defeated, with The loss o!
90 90 men-the Confederates losing 30IO0, and
their two Generals, Lee and Johnson.
We heard also Of number Of formidable iron
cladI at Memphis
THuRspAY, May s-We have been taking in
to Baton Rouge, while we go up the river with
the Oneida and other gunboats. l will send this
hack by the Brooklyn, hoping that It may soon
each you.