Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-09-18

From the New Orleans Eral
The mysterious plot that had been hatch |
ing for several days, the object OF which
had been whispered about and disclosed
70 the favored few, came to q head last
evening. It was nothing less than ter
rible conspiracy against the Commanding
General Of the Department Of the Gulf,
formed by the teachers and pupils Of the
Public Schools He had taken Port Hud-
son by assault and siege, and they deter
mined to take him by surprise and storm.
Miss NJ. Murphy, the able Principal Of the
Second District Girls High School, was the
eonspirator-in-e chief, and q greater than
Cataline, for she managed to conceal her
object till she was ready to strike. They
had determined in solemn oonclave assem-
bled that the General had deserved well Of
his country, and that, as q slight token Of
their esteem for him personally and appre-
citation Of Ike great services he had per-
formed in behalf Of his country, they
would present him WITH 4 service Of silver
plate.
The prt parations were all made, and the
General was informed that his presence
was much desired by a number Of young
ladies. at Lyceum Hall, &C five o'clock Sat
urday evening. Not knowing what press
ing business Of state it might be that re-
quircd his approving smiles, the General
consented, and punotusl to the moment he
appeared in the hall and took his seat on
the stsge, accompanied by Mr. Pitkin.
When be entered, the large hall was crowd
ed with ladies, every seat being occupied
BY the fair creatures, while the galleries
and every available space we're filed with
gentlemen. The General was escorted to
his place on the stage by Mr.. PitkiD. and
es he entered the band struck up Hail CO.
lumbia and the audience rose TO their feet.
The hall was beautifully deeora' ed,
thanks 10 the excellent taste of Miss Muir
ply. The windows we're hung with ban
Bers, the columns and gallery festooned
with Wrea hs Of evergreen and flowers, or
nsmented with a myriad of immature flags
The chandeliers were also decked with
small starry emblems of our nationality,
and two large banners partially hid from
view the ife-size portrait Of Washington,
at the back Of the stage. To the right Of
the stand, on the wall, in letters Of eves-
green, was " n. P. Banks, Port Hudson,
July s, 1868" and on the left, D. G. Far
rskuL New Orleans, April25, 1885," while
over head were the immortal words Of Dan
iel Webster, "Liberty and Union, now and
forever, one and inseparable." On the
walls between the windows we're the names
Of the several general officers in the de-
partment, in neat evergreen letters-Welt-
eel Nickerson, Stone, McMill4n, Grover
and Arnold, on the right, and Sherman,
Andrews, GriersOn, Paine, Augur and
Dwight, on the left, and over the entrance
to the hall was the name Of General Emo
". On the rear wall were lettered in ev-
ergreen, The Army and Navy" 10 the
right going in, and to the left, Jackson's
patriotic declaration, " The Q Union-it must
and shall be preserved"
On the base Of the gallery we're the
names Of several battlefelds and places
captured in the Department Of the Gulf, in
letters Of immortal green and surrounded
by Wreaths-New Orleans, Baton Rouge,
Lsbadieville, Lafourche,4 Brashar City,
DonRldsonville, Alexandria, Opelousas,
Camp Bislsnd, Franklin, Irish Bend, and
Port Hudson, the crowning triumph Of all.
Indeed the entire hall presented a beauti-
ful and picturesque appearance, and when
filled by that living mass Of beauty which
shone with radiant splendoF on the floor
Of the hall, the ladies and children of New
Orleans, the beauty, fashion and intelli-
gence Of the regenersted Southern metrop-
oils, it formed a scene, the like of which
we have rarely beheld. The children were
dressed in their gsyest attire, and each
bore some patriotic emblem. The flowers
that deeked their head-dresses made the
hall look ike a beautiful garden, blooming
with roses and the rArest gifts Of Flora.
The buzzing Of many voices was sudden
ly hushed as the little girls of the different
schools rose, and sang America, my
country, 1t is Of thee" After which young
Master Burrows was introduced by Mr.
McNair to the General, who rose kindly,
received the youth, and listened very at
tentively to beautiful and patriotic sd-
dress, complimentary to the General and
the army, which was well delivered and
much applauded Master Burrows having
finished, the General was seated and the
band struck up the /" Star Spangled Ban
ner" Miss Miller was next introduced,
and delivered pleasing and touching ad-
dress. She was followed by Miss Vining,
who declaimed short panegyric in verse
10 the General, which was interrupted at
the various telling points, and at the close
BY loud outbursts Of applause. This was
decidedly one Of the happiest incidents Of
the occasion. Miss Vining is only thirteen
years Of age, but she read the poem equal
to q siddOns or q Cushmsn.
The Red, White and Blue was sung,
and then the presentation speech was made
By Miss Schillermsnn, the daughter Of
one Of the Generals soldiers. The Gener-
al rose and received the gift from her
hands, and seemed to be much affected by
the words Of the young lady and he
made a few eloquent and appropriate re-
marks in reply, thanking the children for
their kindness and sympathy, paying a
high compliment to his army, and the he
ruic survivors, to whom, and not to him,
the country was indebted for the glorious
triumphs that had been achieved. The
General spoke very feeIingly, and was lis
tened to with bresthless attention. When
he closed, the building shook with the ap-
plause Of the delighted audience.
The Hon. Michael Hahn followed with
q few pleasant patriotic and appropriate
words, and was succeeded by Mr.. Pitkin,
who was very eloquent in action, lam
guage, and tone Of voice Judge Hiestand
also made brief speech, complimenting
the General and his brave army for the
mighty things they had done in behalf Of
suffering Louisiana and the country.
The programme was exhausted, and the
delighted audience began to disperse. The
little girls, however, made q rush toward
the General, and completely surrounded
him, snd be was forced TO surrender un-
c0nditioBally, notwithstanding he made
an effort to kiss his way through. During
the brief period the Commanding General
vas in the hands Of this persistent little
army, there is no telling how many Of the
future wives Of Louisianas noble sons re-
oeived salute from the lips Of the con-
querOr Of Port Hudson. he finally escap-