The New York herald., 1863-12-28

charactsrscs Mr. Davis had rcmovea his uegroes v
plantation Station about half way between
jackson and vcksburg Here they we're considered "a
and would have been had OF troops passed 10
that direction The progress OF events 10 the eese of
vicksburg sent General Grant IN the vicinny a
Of the town ths. tne rebels believed impreguabe.
JEFF Davis negroes made free. and passed Tor
over from the control OF that arch rebel Inc man VINO
stsnds foremost in rcbeio. for tho protection OK slave
ry has lost by OF the the very property he
wished 70 render more secure. Not only he but thou
sands OF his fellow rebexhave similarly suffered
J4T's PLANTATION TURNED A O0SrRABAND oAnr.
The loss Of his slaves Is not all The commissioners Ia
charge OF the contrabands on the Mississippi have taken
of the Davses plantations aud arc about esab
fishing a contraband camp. Tho abandoned and runs.
way negroes 10 be gathered thero previous 10 dis
trbution and plantations 70 be cultivated by
their labor The river here forms great bend enclos
ing both the plantations on peninsula whose neck s less
than half milo across Fortncstions will be thrown up
across this neck and the place VIII DC securely
cd negro troops 0ueras viii not find II TO their tn
terest to pay VISIT especially a. It the design to
establish there q station for q gunboat 70 cover
whole property the peninsula will be conhs,
Gated uoIess some astute lawyer can DO found
who will prove to the satisfaction OF court Of
claims that JEFF Davis disoyai The fate Of these
estates good instance OF the results OF the war.
Three years ago they and had there been
no political or other great Quarros there no real
suppose they would over be In jeopardy, Now
their chief Is at the head Of pseudo government
fast crumbng in pieces His possessions have fallen TO
government against which no reboed and arc made
the site colony OF freedmen Of the very race he wasso
anxious fasten securely Instead OF perpetuatng
slavery caused blow 10 DO dealt that will shake
1t to Its foundations docs not blot It out completely
Though unwilling 70 acknowledge a. one reoef esiaen
has doubtless long ago the error OF his course and
II SO permitted would bow his head u oumess repent
ance
From thence TO Port Hudson aud Baton Rouge Is little
that Is worthy OF II tho monotonoas pic
turea background Of sky long line Of cypress forest
draped in funereal moss pendant from every
tree The mistictoe, tho sister parasite OF the
Spanish moss spreads It's green tuft deep contrast
with the gray csors by lis side. SUGGESTIONS OF curves
in the Course. with bipdoncd plantations lining
tho banks at every bend the accompanim ments
OF the forest landscape The river becomes deeper
less fierce though tho less strong it's current
proceed. Below Red river the country shows more
signs OF wealth. We touching the regionof sugar
ATOMS where found the wealth OF Louisiana. They
present material points Of difference from the cotton
plantations, save IN being more extensive and h more
evidences OF prosperity. But few OF them visible
until we pass Rouge and reach the region known
:" Tho Coast" It was so named by the French at tho
time OF tho settlement OF louisiana and tbe term has
remained unchanged over since Port Hudson now offers
indu0emepts for detentoD once secondary only 10
vicksburg in importance. it Is now mere post,
earrsoned by negro troops, AMI tho scene OF
little local trade Once strong military position, it
Ls hold 70 prevent it's rooccupation by
blse OF opera TO the interior and honceorh dcs
tined TO play minor part IN the history OF affairs on the
river.
ana. The ruins OF tho state House now stand landmark
to travellers and monument Of the folly OF secession
The OF battle between tho OF General
liams aud those OF the rebel Breckuridge which tho
latter repulsed s OF little pote II ID tho oentre
Of considerable wealth and residence of
raj leading politicians OF louisiana. Now Orleans, hun
dred and twenty miles below completely obscures 1t
thing that goes to make city Tho river between
the two points broad and Deep and thorc are no HIN
ORANGES to navigation IL this part OF the river
that tho early settlers secured their hsbtatons and
dwe In most princeIy style Tho outbreak OF tho war
reIigiousy everything that oame or savorcd OF a
Northern origin Landing at ono OF the plantations,
strocd towards the house and saddcny encountered
two young ladies OF the family Asking OF them permis
sion to the garden find they do not understand
English. My companion addresses thcm in Fronch, and
tho request is gracousiy granted present OF some
newspapers is successful proptatory offering, and
conversation springs up "You certainty not Yam
keos", @ says the Younger with s bewitchus % smile
Yankee land" "Certainly," wes the reply "it s the
very centre Of the Yankee country" The bewtching
vandas from the North Whether these French damscs
believed would at Illustrate the Northern character
depicted in the reliable Southern journals know not
but certain II IL they did not flee presonce They drew
closer, and wore evidently 10 laxative mood. Conver.
sation upon various topics, but without auson by
either party 10 tho fears OF tho old time beseged nhabi
OF Badaos The duenpa Of the househod-tho
Of the twansoon made her appearance 10 look after
charges She was provoked into taking and abused the
invaders without stint CIT Ia not" said She ga
about slavery at ALL but war against religion and they
will mover end Il. We who did not want any part In IL
have suffer the most" just then negress appears
with plato Of freshly gathered oranges We pressed
TO take for ourselves and ladies' boat We
@ s9s tss soou
mind with these people were tho majority OF tae Freuco
rm NEW ORLEANS xARRRr.
New Orleans in all its aspects. has been thoroughly
described by your numerous correspondents who have
been considerable number since the capture OF the
city, the early part OF last year. LIS cesed stores, its
half deserted sdewaks the absence OF much Of It's gay
e show the contrast between the Now Orleans OF 70 day
and that OF four years ago Once the centre great
trade far behind that OF Memphis st. Louis
When the river was arst . opened the ar
from st. Louis, laden With supplies, served
70 the market quite seriously and lower the standard
the guards might enter the port without disturbing n tho
least the commercial Thermometer. Now the trade 0
New Orleans e little more than local Formerly Il com
Nothing. be cemeteries appears to be 10 state Of
prosperity Funerals the chief attraction and the
death Of q citizen announced on the bulletin boards
with invitation for every body 70 attend the
OF intement The dsnsey crowded leves Is OF
secondary Importance and will continue 80 until the war
shall be ended and peace spreads her wings Lous
ana.
rHR rRADx or NRw oRrEANs.
As have compared the trade OF ST. Louis and Memphis
in the present years with the period before the war
will do the in the case OF New Orleans To avoid
repetition, let me soy that the commercial years In the
following figures end on September and when speak
OF the trade OF any year for the twelve months
ending on the LIST Of September of that year.
In 1850 the exports Of the staple articles o trade
as follows
Cotton. bales ,552
Tobacco hhds ...............''.'..'''.s. 12l23
Moasses, bbls 1l3 $50
In 1861 there were no exports Of consequence owing
the blockade.
In 1862 tho exports were follows
Cotton, bales 1,1ss
Tobacco, hhds s.2l2
sugar, hhds. ,................. 5,60I
Molasses, bbls .32, ,336
10 1858 they were
Cotton bales ,445
TOBACCO. hnds. 10
sugar, hhds ....s..s'.. 3S,}5y
Molasses, bbs 35 ,557
As mentioned in the trade OF Memphis IL must be
membered that the articles above enumerated have
greatly enhanced value in comparison tn the years
before the The figures for 1856 must be multiplied
by six to give the proportiona'e money value OF
the exports. The exports for the present year VIII
probably be much in excess OF those OF the