New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-02
Arrival Of Gen. Banks ut BHton Rouge
A Mares Nesi-Pitiful Story Of Poor
L..

Arrival Of Gen. Banks NJ nHsoh ho"se-
A Mares Nesi-Pitiful Story Of Poor
Elaveowner.
From Our Special Correspondent
BATON RouGs, La. Jan. 20, l96S-Noon
Gen. Banks arrived here, this morning, on days
visit of inspection. suppose this fact justifies my
writing letter to THE TRIBUNE; otherwise the
week intervening between this date and that OF my
last has afforded nothing Of interest beyond the bar
est of tems--such might be stereotyped as new
itably appertainiDg to the military occupation Oh a
fourth-rate rebel city, Such as they are, however,
shall chronicle them, putting the General IN the
foreground as an apology
We had been told TO expect him by the advent OF
Gen. Anger, who came here on the litb, taking mp
his quarters in q handsome house on Third street,
not a stones throw from those Of Gen. Grover. He
did not assume command of the post, over that Off
GER until the 18th. Then il was generally under
stood that Gen. Banks would follow him, just nc
soon as be could spare time to do 80, not however,
to remain. AND to day the New Brunswick brought
him and portion OF bis staff also Gen. Wetzel.
They will return tomorrow, and your correspondent
with them, trusting 10 that opportunity TO inform
YOU OF anything more important than review, that
may, by any possibility, take place. In the mean
| time as the Ssliie Robinson proposes to start a.
some perfectly indefinite hour during the afternoon
or evening, avail myself of the opportunity for a
/ little fugitive itemziDg.
| Some few DAYS ago, negro was arrested just out
side our lines, whittier he had gone from Within foi
the purpose OF concealng sundry wagonloads OF cot
ton, by depositing them in wood, by order oil ms
master. OF course tbs cotton will be conhs-
Gated. The exowner of tho slave had prudently
fled before the carrying GU. OF bis inetructions
On the night of the 10th, the report OF another ar
rest involving details Of start ling character excited
suTprise-alnost ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the camp
1t WIS asserted that upon the person OF man appre
bended while endeayoring to pass our outposts had
been discovered maps and plans Of our intrench-
ments the disposition OF our forces, their numbers
armament, &o.--even copies Of the morning. brig
ade reports-in short, everything that the enemy
could desire TO know. Alec, that upon the spy's
being conveyed TO the presence OF the Lieutenant
Colonel Of the regiment OF his capor that gentleman
had politely allowed him to 40 about his business !!
A little inquiry resolved all this into veriable
mare nest. One Coutte, Creole resident OF Baton
Rouge was, it il true, arrested by Capt. Homer Is.
Sprague of the 18Th Connecticut, who took from
INN TWO letters, one pal ably feminine, the other
purportiDg 10 be so. They were written 10 friends
outside, and contained few uncomplmentary alu.
tions to TIE " Yankees relating how they turned
OUT like iools, last Sunday, evidently expecting that
our boys were coming" with few local particulars
but nothing of real importance. Coutte had hs
Vass--an old one-taken from him, as ample punish
ment.
| AmOpU
our scouts are three SOLDIERS from the 9Th Louisiana
Battalion, one of them IA corporal. They were taken
on the other side of the river, and more than
sus eeed of being deserters, though they srenuousy
deny the impeachment, possibly III dread OF the re-
seutment of those with whom they are coLiined.
Recently, both at Clinton and Port Hudson, they
declAre there are but go men at the former place,
all suffering great hardsbips from want OF food
IND clothes aud that the latter derives ts entire snip
plies from the Red River two boats laden with
7 lin suir .arbx zeal
ne gunboat Essex, long the terror of the Rebels
in and above thu part of the nver, has discovered
torpedoes sunk in It's bed two miles below Port
! Hudson. Attaching string 10 one OF Them, 1t eX-
ploded with nose plainly audible at this place.
The two others being brought to Gen. Grover a. cur
osities. There are doubtless more in the same
vicinity.
TIE ron of Col. Hunter, formerly Rebel Provost
Marshal Of this place, is now Under arrest When
brought into town by Capt. McGee, his captor, a
small band of sympathizeTs assembled round him.
and two Of them, young men, exhorted him 10
" hurry up and get lis psrOe," with deri1ve TO-
marks as to the ease with which be wonld attain
bis freedom, for which indulgence they were incoI
tiDentIy deprived OF thor own. saw them IN jail
This morning when one assumed bragRadocO air,
but looked withal very much inclined 10 cry. lie
II, by the way the son Of my involuntary landlord
the owner Of the house assigned 10 myself and two
comrades as quarters. An Ilinoian by birth, a.
ice merchant by trade be resides on the other side
frst occupation Of Baton Rouge, abandoning the
house-one OF the hsDdsomest IN the place-so the
alternate possession of the Rebels and our troops.
believe no has the reputation of beng Union
man; at all events be withdrew his from the
Confederate army when that yOnog enthusiast ran
away from school to JON It, The father visits us
almost every day, crossing the river az pleasure.
When was introduced 10 bim, az correspondent Of
The TRBrsR, be was good ehough to remark
" that there were plenty Of people around who bad
/ ~ -
RESPONDED by quoting the fret sentence OF Mis-.
Glasse celebrated receipt for the cooking Of hsres.
He owned but one slave, negro woman, who
| Joins with her husband in giving him Tie best Of
characters adding aeo that AT the beginning OF the
troubles he virtually presented her with Ter
/ freedom. Notwithstanding which, when the Presi-
dents Emancipation Proclamation was commull-
Gated to both, they manifested all amount of exuta-
! tiOn touching 10 witness. | was requested 10 read
raid Proclamation again and again 70 other negroes,
1 VINO were brought 10 ne for that purpose And
never did anything III my HE with beartier good
will.
! One remark uttered by the husband thought
| terse, and very much 10 the purpose "Whar's
my eight dollars O. week T. said ne, subsequent to
! hearing the good news lie referred 70 the sum
earned by bm as bO8tman and fisherman, during the
last four or five years, and duly appropriated by
his "owner." l don't think that potion y his
income will DO forthcoming in future.
As an illustration both Of the AFFECT condition OF
dependence Of the whites upon their slaves aud OF
tho workings OF the Proclamation append letter
received by Capt. Seamans, our Provost Marshal
and written 10 him by widow, resident OF this
place. 1t belongs properly tc The TRIBUNE, and l
have copied it literally. Reading it, one pties the
poor petitioner, no less the victim o. an internal
system founded III injustice than her ex slave whose
rgLtul revolt has reduced her to penury and help
lessue@. Bot comment is fulorilnous:
Baton Rogue January 1868 To the Honorable Provost
deT,bai ser doubt kecoect ny fear Ia regard toi
hegruw man Louis CLARK fellow Inherited aud raled hAt
oen kindly treated regard food and cio Ing
nip abO,ed and Since w eddoY Hood ~ yeEra