, 1863-05-05

R1cHAosp, La, April Is, 1863.
zen. Mcfherson's army corps left Mill
kcn's Bend carly this morning, and long be-
fore nlghtfan all were nicely in camp In this
little village.
For the first three miles, our route lay
through beautiful plantations and along the
margin OF splendid cotton fields, once teem-
Ing With natures richest treasures, now oyer-
grown With weeds and wild flowers. It il q
sad picture Of neglect and desolation, these
plantations, and bitterly must the rebels rue
the hour they raised their hands to DESTROY
the authority Of the Federal Government.
Beyond the bottom lands VIC enter the forests
which border Drushy Bayou. This bayou is
most appropriately named. It Is full OF c.
press trees and thick undergrowth Of brush
which edectually impede navigation. It is
through this bayou that steamers are expected
to navigate from Duckport to New Cay:h,ec.
Judging from what I saw to-day, I am in
clined to think this expectation will not be
realized.
After reaching Richmond, Bruehy Bayou
joins Roundaway Bayou! From Richmond.
this bayou is wider and deeper, and presents
lever obstacles TO navigation.
Richmond lies in the angle Of the two bav-
ous, and is village containing perhaps flfty
houses, all told. There are d few dwellings
surrounded By flowers and shrubbery: y1icf,
seem to be owned by people Of taste and ~,
fnenlent. One Of these is occupied by Gen
Mcpherson as his headquarters. Gen, Logan
occupies another. Th2 latter belongs 10 4
"Cnion 1nan'-astropg Union man inst nov
f-n n 1rf,n
AcAltAurs troops entered Richmond, He
then fired his musket at the Yankees Us fierce
y as he now swcars by the Yankees, There
,s M hotcl-the Orange House-and Court
House in the village, the former large raulb-
irrg structure, looking for ali the World ike
Il New England barn, anu The latter m iii.
shaFed and worse contriyed brick building
~ INC centre ofan enclosure, filed with beau.
inui tfees and cyergreens. There arr two or
nn;at 1n,ce ioot-patas winding about the vill,ge,
ayiyid Imagination would call Streets. "
Col. Fred Starring Of the 72d-Board of
faccFcE'ment-1ste temporarily in command of
the post. Gen. Stevenson is cnca,nnrd ~, 41,a
south side Of roundaway bayou "A stream sacrcd
10 alNga1ors ahd mosquitoes. 1t is not quite
are numerous and large enough to comnen.
safe tor their absence They will be n1entr
enough shortly. Meantime We hive an,ntaa
employ mcnt for our leisure hours in stuIrtn@
the history and habits Of the swar1ns OF mos,
qnitoes, buffalo gnats, bugs, fees caterpiliars,
snakes; snakes and every other flying. buxzing creep.
ing and crawling indigenous abominatIon.
At Tattoo" this evening, all the bands in
tue division, and every drum and fife were
called into rcauisision, and the people of this
GOD od-feariug country were treated to choice
collection Of national anthems and martial
music. The cn1lycning strains fell round and
full oyer the water, and made musical the
evening air. There were "Thc Bould Soldier
Boz, The Low backed Car" "Lorrna,'
The Moeking Bird, aud Yankee Dood1c.''
We die not learn how this musical treat was
appreciated by these good Union" people,
said
"The man that hath no music In his soul,
1s ut lor Ic*eon, etratsgcms and spols."
I am inclined to think his "hcad Was
level"
Tomorrow nc move toWards New Carthage.