, 1863-04-01

IL.
Gen. EoGan-Capt. Dexter. Rcniin-
dsccncc-The Crcyassc, etc.
From Our Own Correspondent1
LAKE PROVIDENCE, March 1e, 1868.
Yesterday afternoon, with Gen. Macarthur |
aud ihe recently confirmed Generals, Dictzlcr I
aud CFocker, I made the circuit Of Lake |
Providence.
THE IRON GLAD '1RAwL1Ss.n
The little canal boat 'sRaw1ius," formerly |
tie Le1n,-thc "iron clad'' whose advent into |
the Lake 4 few days since, was recorded at the |
North with such 4 flourish Of telegraphic !
trun,pets, was especially devoted to our eery-
ice. Imagine an open canal boat with loco
motive engine in the stern, working screw |
propeller Of limited dimensions, raised cabin |
on either end, few loose boards laid across I
the deck amidships, a plank settee, a pilot and |
deck hand, and you have the crew and ap- |
pcarance Of the famous ssiron clad'' Rawlins.
LAKE PROVIDENCE.
Lake Providence Is 4 fine sheet Of wnter,
possessed Of that rare, quiet, pastoral beauty,
which is the peculiar feature of some of our
Northern Lakes. In this respect It resembles
Lake Geneva, in Wisconsin, except that the
shores are less lofty and less outrageous. It
is not surprising that wealthy planters have
selected lis banks as the site Of their dwell
ings. Here. surrounded BY uaagno1ias and cy-
ergrcens, and attended by dusky-f,ced meni-
als, the purse proud aristocrat dreams away
the hours in splendid idleness. 4
spAERoW's PLANTATION.
The first plantation VIC visited Is owned by
Gen. Sparrow, now member Of the Confede.
rate Congress. Gen. Crocker has his
headquarters here. We were met at
the landing by one Of his aids,
and politely escorted over the grounds,
The house is L large wooden structure,
with lofty two.6!oried yerandahs extending
across the front and either ends, not preten.
tions in style but very pleasant. The lawn
in front contains dozen acres thick1y stud
aed with shrubbery and glistcning with arbor
titdks and magnificent br0ad-lcafed magnolias.
Nicely grayeled winding pathways lead from
the mansion to the lake, where d light canoe
sits, like a wnterfowl, on the water, nloored
to the rude WhRrf.
TIE GARDEN.
The garden is a marvel of beauty, and eren
now, neglected as it is, its sacred precincts
invaded by nn]lallowed feet and proElned by
vines, arc covered with flowers, riyal1ing the
rainbow in their Infinite variety Of shade and
color. The beautiful flowers, the smooth
shaved lawn, the broad-leafed magnolia, the
soldiers within white tents giiste1ing IN the
sunshine, and aboyc all, the silver lake calm
anl unrutflcd as mirror, until We ploughcd
with our ungainly craft the virgin waters,
formed a picture whose setting should be
wreath of diamonds.
TIE ovERsEER.
/ Of course Gen. Sparrow is absent, but he
has left behind him, as oyerscer, and to look
after bis estate, citizen Of Iowa, who emf
| grated from the North several years since,
and By this time is supposed to be thoroughly
indoctrinatcd. At any rate, he swears by
| Saint Jefferson.
THE MISTRESS.
Mrs. Sparrow occupied the place when the
| Federal6 took possession, and naturally re-
sented the invasion. She il now glad to draw
| flowing abundance of her despised and hated
! Uncle Samuel. She Was obstinate for several
| weeks, living upon corn meal aud refuse food,
but at last hunger got the better Of her con.
| tumacy, and, with Elcr negroes, she yielded.
SPANISH MOSS.
| Leaving Sparrow's plantation, VIC swung
I out into the stream, aud for several miles
! steamed along tue borders Of the lake, here
1rinsed with cypress trees clothed from top to
base with wicrd and dismal Spanish moss. Tho
| effect Of This dropping parasite pcndAnt in
long wafihg folds from the trunk and branch
es, is depressing to the last degree. 1t is sug-
gestive Of death and weeping, willows. It
party, however Joyous, can approach it, that
| i mysterious influence does not appear to
emanate from its ghastlJ folds, which throws
a damp upon their spirits and compels their
silence until the unsightly object il passed.
Those who have seen no moses more pretcn-
tious than the green fungi growing on trees
aud rocks in Northern exposures, can form
no adequate idea Of the wonderful exhubcrant
| growth Of. the Tissand1ia. Consumption is
mere fal tha t4 ths lite OF than this
| its iron grasp upon its stem and branches,
and the proudest monarch of the forest be-
comes dead aud worthless trunk. The grey
hair-lkc fibre hangs in folds three feet long
resembling for III the world, IN agEregation
Of dishc1cllcd locks. The wiDd signs and
moans through the pendants with that pccu.
liar nournful sound one hears from . tcle-
graph wires during gale Of wind.
pLAcEMAS's PLANTATION.
The eastern shore Of the lake is bordered by
plantations now descr:cd, and Of course We
did not visit them. Just as VIC rounded to,
to coast the western slope, On tie curve Of
the beautiful sheet, with an out view Of its
entire length and breadth, lies the plantation
tf widow Blckman. As the steamer
with its shrill scream and angry puff, gaYe
warning Of our approach, awakening strange
echoes In those placid waters, the occupants
Of this plantation, while and black, came out
upon the shore to gaze At us. Now aud then
Erinuirg darkey would wave Ringle wipe
taken fnr \ ,ybjte handterch;ef In taEnn ~ ~
neace md unity. INIT frn,n thc III tnrm scarna1u ~
Mhitcr. but more honnnef1 r1ce. 1ve recairad
no sicn of welcome. Mrs. r and f,nilv are
intensely secession in their sentiments, and
naturally hafe US most cordially. This does
1ot prevent mem from receiving two hum
Greg falions LOT 1nlfty'slx persons from the
ansAo!ltles, once week, Under the plea OF
eNiseme aestltutlon." 1t has occurred to
me mat lnis plan Of tcedlng rebels is radically
mr4ng ed Me LAY na5e an immense e. army Of 9nr
s1ous 70 1neeIalns .! common humanity, and
must Keep women and chlidren ca from starving
80 long as they are with us, 1t seems to me
70 aSolu 1nls enormous expense they shon1d
ne tahen, u14er Jag OF truce, outside the
lines. Inc United states, great as are its re-
sources, cannot iced az the genteel paupers
OF the Southern Contederacy.
BAYOU BAxTER ANp BAYOU TESaAs,
On the Western shore of Tho ,,ta ;s = h,vo,
or narrow channel called Bsvon RaItrr ~ hor. w.
dered with cvprcss trees. leading by n circui-
tous route to Bayou Macon, and little far
!: thcr South, another leading to Bayou Tensas
The hitter is the source Of Teusas River. the
former with Bayou Macon and Lake ProYi-
dence arc the sources of Black River. n has
, been deemed Important for the success of thc
expedition from this point that Bayon Macon
should be accessible. Both the other barons
hive been explored and ihsurmounrable 1,hV.
! sica1 obstacles discoycred. within a dav n
t,fo, however, another route has been men
1 toned which Is beInr looked after. II fnnnd
feasible tic projected eyneditions in nther II.
feetons may De postponed.
uAYOV MACON