Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-06
CAMP FAIR, BAYOU GENTLY, La, }

There are indications in this department
that battle will be heard of up the river,
before long-perhaps before this reaches you.
What has been done at Port Hudson and at
Vicksburg already, your readers know as well
as we here. 1t is certain that the late rise in
| the river has given us advantages at Vicks
burg which Gen. Grant will not be slow to
possess himself of. The canal, which was
sneered at by many when it was eXcavated,
may yet prove our salvation. The enemy, at
any rate, have some very lively fears in re-
gard to it, and loud and deep are the curses
upon their officers, because it was not OBJ
structed when it could easily have been done
Now it is too late and it would not be sur
| prising if by means of that channel some of
| severest blows were dealt upon the enemy.
1.-The forces are gathering from and from far
and Vicksburg, we trust, will soon be in loyal
hands. At Port Hudson, but little progress
seems to haye .hGe9 Dul6&, and when all the
arrangements are complete, that formidable
place will be reduced. We are not going to
attack and be defeated. General Banks does
not do business in that style. Whatever pre-
parat1ons are necessary, will be carefully
made beforehand, and | predict that the at
tack will be made i'll such manner that vic
tory will be certain. Extensive preparations
are beng made in New Orleans for the re-
cepton OF the wounded in this action, and
they are of such character as indicate that A
fierce contest is not unlocked for. The ST.
Charles hotel and two or three other large
buildings, have been taken for use as hospi-
tails, and are being prepared as rapidly as pos
sible for rtJis purpose.
Since oaIF defeat at Galveston, Jan lst we
hear nothing Of a renewal of the attempts to
convert Texas to the true faith" The rebels
are making superhuman efforts to fortify Gal
weston against any force which may be sent
there, and their papers already announce that
they have SO nearly completed their work that
they have no fears of losing their hold there
The same accounts say that our prisoners are
in Galveston, and are kindly treated, the Of
GERS having the liberty of the city. We hear
rumors, which, however, are not likely to be
true, that all the prisoners are paroled, and
they are now en- route for Baton Rouge
to be exchanged. We are all looking with
much interest to see the end of the Butler
Banks controversy, if it may be called so.
That question settled, and we shall know
whether Texas is to be severely let alone"
or whether we have a chance to recapture our
gallant comrades now in rebel hands. If we
ever meet the enemies there, our rallying cry.
"GalgeSton," will be loud and deep, and our
charge upon the rebels will not be light one,
even though they have decimated our ranks
SO largely. The honor and credit of the
Massachusetts 42d is now in our hands, and
we may yet have the opportunity to prove to
e9ur imprisoned comrades that though few in
number we are strong in the determination
to defend both to the bitter end.
The rise in the river, which | have men
toned as having occurred at Vicksburg,
causes no little concern in New Orleans,
where it is now only three feet below high
water mark. A year ago at this time it was
Z l-2 feet below. The accounts of heavy
snow storms in the west DO not serve to make
the New Orleans people any more easy, espe-
clally as the levee everywhere is very weak
and crayasse at any point would be likely
to make short work of it. Already reports
are circulating that crevasses have occurred
a few miles below the city, and all eyes are
turned to the safety Of the levee above the
city. watery time is expected. At this
place, where the AID is in camp the work of
terrifying against the enemy is in progress as
rapidly as possible, not because there is any
prospect Of the appearance of rebel force,
but to be prepared against all emergencies,
and to make good use of some heavy guns
left befI9d by the rebels when they used their
legs so Ambly last year. Eleven guns of va
rlous caRbre were left by them, spiked, and A
detachment from this regiment have been at
work upon them for about a week, and with
such success that most Of them are good as
new. So much for rebel ingenuity That
the rear approach to the city might be fully
defended sfEeral of these guns have been
brought to f'point on the railroad, near our
camp, which will command both the railroad
and highway, and they are now being placed
in position for service. Several contraband,
are engaged in the work, and by the time this
letter reacheSyOu the labor will doubtless be
completed. Thus the enemy's tables are turn
ed against themselves.
wish your readers might see a specimen of
'teaming" by these same contrabands. To
them was consigned the labor of getting the
guns to their new position, distance of some
three miles, over capital road-level and
tolerably smooth. One of these guns would
make just fair load for pair of horses, and
we MASSACHUSETTS, boys are considerably
AMUSED to watch the darkies as they drive by
with from six to ten mules attached to one of
them, one driver riding "wheel horse" and
another walking on the ''off side of the lead
ers, with cow-skln which he flourishes with
all the graca of veritable Jehu, and with all
the energy which he is master of. Three dar-
kies and eight mules is about the average of a
team here, for heavy work, which would be