Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-05-20
Army Correspondence
YoUSGs PoINT, La,

Near Vicksburg.
May I'd, 1866.
CoL:-Dear Sir-I will now erideayo
TO give you few random jottings by wa,
of redeenling promise made you a feT
weeks since. when | was en-route fol
Dixie" Ireached Cairo 6y Rail, thene,
b. slow and weary Steam boat, Stages
traversed the long six hundred miles be
tween Cairo and Yicksburg. A trip dow
the river soon becomes duh and monot
onous. The same stretch of sedgy shores
covered with a dense growth of cotton
wood, extends to the waters edge, shut
ting from view whatever of beautiful
scenery might lie beyoud the same hat
swampy islands, swarming with frogs anG
mosquitoes, meet the eye at almost every
bend in the river, and farther down, the
same plantations, with their now deserted
mansions, negoThouses and cotton gins,
render if possible, more dresry the unin-
terrupted wildness The superficial pleas
ure-seeker viii derive but little satisfac
tion from a trip down the Mississippi
Not 50 however 10. the political philoso.
pher. He views the millions of unculti.
vated scres that border the shores of this
grand inland sea recalls the teeming my.
r:ads that have in ages gone peopled the
fertile valleys Of the Nile and Nigre, and
contemplates the undeveloped resources,
and unmeasured possibilities Of America.
Island No. 10, has ceased TO be place Of
much importance, having recently been
transformed into fine government farm
of 600 acres, worked by "Contrabands." !"
Memphis, $50 miles froIn Cairo, is a very
important military depot The landings
are thronged with government boats, the
levee Is crowded with army supplies. and
alive with the hustle and confusion at
tending the shipment of such vast stores,
as are necessary to support cur immense
army. 1t is fine well appointed south.
ern City, but rather dull at present, owing
10 its restricted commercial privileges, all
shipping being prohibited, except of army
supplies. Its principal point of attraction
is its public square, in the centre of which
stands neat marble monument, sur
mounted with the bust of the hero of
New Orleans Each of the four faces
bears some appropriate inscription, COM
memorative of his valor or fervent patri-
otism On the west side is sculptured
his immortal declaration. The Federal
Union, it must be preserved" But even
this, was not permitted 10 escape the pol
luting touch Of the vandal spirit of seces-
sion The word Federal has been OBJ
liberated by some imp of treason. No
true patriot can look upon this desecra-
tion Of The memory and words of our IL
lustrious dead, without experiencing a
deep sense Of sadness and indignation.
The city is well fortified from below.
The high fortress crowned bluffs, frown
with so grim cannon. Since the visit of
Adiuisnt General Thomas 10 this depart
uents ;here has been good deal of activ-
ity ia the work of organizing negro reg
imehts. Two have been formed at Mem
phis, one at Helena, and two at Lake Prov
ilence 1t is all a mistaken idea to sup
pose THAI soldiers are not favorable to this
enterprise l have yet to hear one Tord
of disapprobation from this source. After
having exposed themselves to the dangers
and privations of camp and field for two
years they do not object 10 receiving as
sistance fIom any quarter, even though
it should chance TO come from black
hands So far as my observations extend
l can assure you the army is all right 1t
Is only our fault-fnders at home who are
suffering from Negro on the brain, . and
once let them shoulder their musket and
knapslck and run the terrible gauntlet
Of disease and death, let them toll under
a tropic sun and languish in south hern
prisons and hospitals, and they too will
say BY all means let them fight. let all
who viii, fight, command if you may the
may invoke the feathery arrows
of thunder God, bid the powers of heaven,
earth, and air, unite TO whelm with swift
destruction this ogre of secession, that
goats DER desolation and riots on fields of
human slaughter. There is an encamp-
ment of about 1000 contrabands at this
place. 1t alone is worth going thou
sand miles 70 see, better than forty mig
ger shows" Here you see the genuine
article in native simplicity of garb and
Preaching, singing and dane
ing, constitute their chief amusement,
which may be seen at ali hours. l never
hoped to witness such scenes short of
traTersins "Afric's sunny plains Those
that are not required for military service |
are to be set 10 work ON plantations. |
which are being leased 10y the govern
ment to Yankees. Cargoes of farming
utinsils have already been sent down for
this purpose.
Our army has suffered terribly from dis
ease during the winter. For miles the
Ieyee is thickly dotted with soldiers
graves Usually the head-board bears the
name of the deceased with his Co., Regt.,
n