The New York herald., 1863-03-31

psAs Louisiana and OF her once planter princess.
the work Of . rebel noendiary. And the
white tents Of the loyal solAery became visible every
availabie open space and ths soldiers themselves
began 10 show IN thousands, tsstifyng by their ges
lures the pleasure they felt the presence Of
powerful soon 70 unite with them in the
ssscipased attack place that Is said for
| aidabe even than vicksburg itself.
psgPAsAnoss poR THE ArrAcs.
began 10 be evident that not 70 be per-
nittod 70 "ground beef bonesn whore iay at
anchor, OF the Arsenal buildings and barracks On tho
l2th the preparations board the Richmond fur
nisned outward and visible signs OF most mktakabe
nature that 10 proceed 10 place whero
broken heads and serious casualties 70 be the
order Of the day. Tho two howtsers which
had been mounted tho poop deck and the forecaste
respectively hosted up and placed position IN tho
fore and mantops, and their places supplied with two
inch Dahlgrcns, taken from the port broadsde
they necessary In their former son for the
that starboard side only be present
ed ~ the formidable batteries 1t Port Hudson that side
alone would have TO be fought In addition 70 the
board brodsdeo Of nine inch guns, iho Richmond In
sequence Of this arrangement, gained in addition 10 ner
thirty FOUNDER raed Parrot the poop deck and her
eighty pounder rifed Dahlgrcn forscass,
nen gun in lieu Of small brass howilxer each deek
So much FOR offence. The defensive precautions
splinter MEETINGS placed inside tho buwarka This
netting made or stout ropes. The design 10
diminish the danger that is always 10 be spprebondcd
from spliners, that often, IN naval engagement, do
more damage 20 the men At the guns than tho cannon
shot themselves With regard to muskct bullets very
little danger apprshended from their penetrating the
bniwarks which consist n solid timber arieen inches
thickness The splinter netting carried up high
that with The aid Of the arpaulns that usually tho
hnmmocks reaching 70 the bottoms of the boats hang
ing 10 the davits would require animals equal agility
to monkeys board the Richmond; for, be remarked,
the boats themselves lowered above the MEETINGS aud the
tarpanins The spaces between the several boats
also protected by the saors hammocKs iashed together
and placed perpendiclsr position, 0 order 10 pro
tect the men working the guns from the eneny's mus
kerry similar arrangement ~as made on the
poop deck and the opgaan rorccase, where there IL
nothing bnt a slight opcn rail.
In addition 10 these signifsn bloody
conflict, all brass work and everything merely
mental projecting above the deck and liable to bs shot
away the injury, perhaps, OF the at the guns,
removed Only such things were absolutely No.
cassary pcrinitted Ia short. the ship
cleared Cor action.
Ri,rsusn.
Admiral Farrssut who exercises viglant gupery sion
his entire command board A. hsifpast ten
on Friday morning. The 18Th. He accompanied by
Fleet Captain Jenkins The Admiral expressed himself
highly pleased at the preparations that had beca made
General quarters called whom, almost before
the ceased boat, every his place.
The exercises consisted OF boarding aud repeng board.
ers the precision with which all eyou-
tons gone through as TO impress even hndsaa
who might have witnessed the with the convection
any Atcnpt the part of the rebels hoard
the Richmond. any OF vessels wci fortified and
Manned would with woll inoscd puni shrieat at
/! Tho hands ~ gallant seamen and marines.
4 AL
Early tho sa,oe Afternoon The signal squadron
weigh anchor hosted thc aagshp and at four
O'Clock ali the vessels moved on The Hartford took the
lead pass ing the Richmond, which anchored higher
| up the thnu any u the other vessels We vcre
alac PASSED by Mopon ngahcla which vessel ws fei
| lowed In. Kmeo came next, and tho Missssipa
| brought up lba rear rhe rsstr lad gone Gp two or
| three days in advance.
| slowly the squadron proceeded mp The river, The
lively one, and suggestive ~ matter Cor
grave rejection. How many living, sentient beings 10
that Squadron. through whose hearts HE wara blood
conrsc1 gladly would bo stark and stD in death the
rnrnuy light lay nat.laicd the bed Of suffering
such rc;octcn however. fid not 10 he very pre-
vasp u the Ship for merry laogh suggested ny the
play Of wit the relation Of some iudicrous ads sen-
ture, was les hearty tian &c uttered while On a
party oT pleasure Ju faet, the danger which all
on board we're 20 soon bc involved sesnec ~
enter The minds Of any. II turned cut, however,
that did attempt 10 pass the batteries ti night;
| hut the squadron anchor abou, ~ eight
miles fsm ror' Hudson, according 70 the pilot.
| hsuF.lsi soosfJan
Tines. nas one remarkable seature In preparation
tor the expected ght that think especially worthy nf
notice IS The wh,tewa.hng Of the decks, gun
riages aud tue combings or hatches board tho
l Gas
passing the forts last sprng Witnessing the
feet by nghso Of the dark SPLINTER netting the white
ground o. the baiwagks. ~ brought out the netting
bold rei,ef rendering u visible the rays o. the
shope iuli ca IT, sudden thoaaht struck Captain
Alden and he ordercc spot the deck, which dcep
IN the sade 10 whnewssucd Tins acne, he pi,ced
That SPOT object, which became quite visible,
though uying the experiment be1cfe the whitesssb
ing object could ~ The consequence was,
Captain Alden that occasion orier.d general ~nts
washing rne same plan the uieht oi
the 10Th, ~ ha>s already stated. Tho we
startling. stands Tare aud canister winch had bern
PLACED ~ convenient POSITIONS aud other cessary
ticles o, hue c9d not be before,
nos 80 plainly visible that Il casy lay hands
them moment. B~sb~s this the entire deck par,ook
~ qussi illumination familiar 10 all who have
! the erci Il the ground a winters night.
Jhis m tdv.ntax. not be ovsflooked, aud
!, enhanced by tbe Tact tnai ~ docs not Dcneht the
aurrny ,bo slightest delreo There sroC ts4t
rspt Aaen ad not have vnitewasbcd. lie conducted
raco .a ssc i,s observe tue difference @ the
effect pfgdurfd coll ~ when placed the dark
sfstt and whe removed " part ~ %. dock h1t h1d
bsen ~hleaa he'd The Illusion xas grga. ~hH4
the Object was placed The whitcned dock almost
pecf.d 10 ~. 4 sl4adag east from the coli ~ rulp
~ ssigfr usIrgsiln
Ateaylght yest.Idss moruing ~ again weighed ald
.fod furtner ~ the fyef coming H. an ench.r AZ the
nplog md ~ frupn-' llnd TOta witch paca te ormi
dsbe batttfirsm Pea hudson painiy at rnabe,
abort nv. miles ,T About twe miles above found
~ ganhpsis fase.. Abatru~s aud sarhcm bng y Ar
chor aud ccss II thniu mortar boats already npNrrd
I M losiklss Presently several rebel grnbea's
coming dovu Port hudson. Iney ringly
each 0l them running unf the baiiere and afpfreaty
lsuding trNplrs. W counted ave IN all.
A. Usf aft onc O'Clock fiAnai kun hfe1 ifan iUe
Hartford. ana snartiv the mortar boat. ~ buw
a.rst .b0u a. they are famigrly teraci IN the