The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-25
esrr..ponaenos o. ln. oIncInna,I oa.sl.s.

YoUNG's PoMT, La, April z.
"Cotton is King" we cannot deny it.
lie is ruler over the army that now be-
leaguers Vicksburg, He has got his seal
of royalty on the forehead Of many a
parsonage boasting the eagle OF the star.
This seal with all It's cabalistic device is
invisible except to the closest scrutiny.
The casual visitor does not detect it, bat
those who sojourn here for days or weeks,
do not fail TO perceive the imprint. One
year ago the Confederate authorities is
sued their ediot: 'Burn the cotton; 70
must not fall into the hands of the Yam
KEGS, Time has taught them better,
and it is rare indeed that we hear of cot
ton burning. They know full well that
where cotton exists, the invaders Of their
soil will be unable to resist the inclina-
ton to gather il. Cotton procured for
nothing and gold for fifty cents pound,
is more potent that myriads of warriors
Would that oil our Generals were worth
their millions that they might be above
the attractions of cotton. What were
the charms of Trojan Helen compared to
those of a thousand bales Of the product
of Southern fields? For her was waged
war Of ten years duration, but for the
modern snow-white and inanimate, but
Irresistible, Helen, how long would we
not contend?
More than once has il been told me,
But for cotton we might have been
much nearer the accomplishment of our
object than you now behold us. More
than once has il been asserted, with more
than semblance Of truth, that the occu-
patton of the various points along the
Mississippi was designed more for the
collection Of the great staple of the South,
than for the defeat of the enemy. Why
is it necessary to scatter our forces at
Milliken's Bend, Young's Point Lake
Providence, and Barry's Landing, in
stead of assembling them in one COM
pact body, where the best camping
ground can be secured? Why does Ad-
miral Porter keep gunboat stationed as
protection to the plantation of gentle-
man who has never yet declared himself
loyal? Why is it that in the various ca
Mailing operations that have been carried
on, a portion Of the army is engaged in
the collection of cotton? Can any one
answer? Ffao "a gs~r
When Gen. Grant arrived here from
above, he announced that no trade could
be allowed until Vicksburg was taken,
More than two months have passed away,
and yet Vicksburg has not fallen. Six
weeks ago, Gen. Grant telegraphed that
in five days more his plans would be
omplete--meaning, as was supposed,
that Vicksburg was about TO fall. Five
days--yes, five weeks--and still the rebel
flag floats defantly over Vicksburg.
Meantime cotton was gathered, and some-
how was shipped North, notwithstand-
ing Gen. Grants proclamation TO the
contrary. oqa
What is the record? A Mr.. Vaughn,
a Kentuckian, who was never accused Of
being needlessly loyal, comes here in the
pursuit Of wealth. He finds two young
ladies, Barstow by name, born and reare
in the invigorating atmosphere Of Louis
lana swamps and bayous. Barstow pa
ter and mater succumbed several years
since to the ills of life, and left these two
blooming maidens TO cultivate the broad
acres Of the plantation. Mr.. Vaughn
made several visits to Ger. Grants head
quarters, and on One occasion bore a
neatly written letter from one of the fe-
male Barstows; in which was set forth a
desire 70 60 North and take with them
the household goods, consisting of two
hundred and odd bales of cotton. Mr..
Vaughn received permit TO ship - bales
of cotton He has suddenly discovered
that the female Barstows own an i'm
mense amount of cotton; in fact, be
thinks that when il is all gathered 10
will exceed three thousand bales. He
has already shipped large portisn of it,
A Breckinridge Democrat, whose Icy
atty is like that OF the Eaquirer, has had
a contract for picking and bRling cotton
in the vicinity of Lake Providence
This gentleman, Wagley by name, who
halls from Warsaw, Ill, has most EN-
phatically "struck ile" How much
cotton he has sent North, do not know,
bat do know that five hundred bales
are now awaiting shipment at Lake Pro-
violence and Berry's Landing. Ii Is a
matter Of comment that his cotton has
been gathered already baled, from the
plantations in the vicinity, aud that not
one tenth of il has really been picked
and ginned under his superintendent ce
Another individual Of the same strip,
had nearly succeeded in getting similar
contract for the region ia the vicinity OF
Gen. McClarnand, but his plan was over.
thrown by that officer himself He /,
now endeayoring 10 obtain an order from
Gen. Grant over Gen. McClernand's head
and il is feared that he will succeed.
At this point, over which Gen. Shor,
man holds control, cotton can frequently
be seen piled along the levees. Somehow
a steamer happens TO land near il At sun
set Of a pleasant day, and somehow sale
cotton disappears before dawn II said
steamer is az all visible tho following
day she "looks honest TO an outside
spectator, though IL is possible that Al
examination might reveal something il
her hold. OF course General Sherman
knows nothing about it. Nobody does
not even the Quariermaster or the steam
boatmen. The inference Is that the sol
Of Louisiana, being peculiarly poroul
and spongy, absorbs the cotton during
the night and retains il 10 bo decOm'
posed and resolved to earth, and subse'
quenuy becomes the basis OF another
crop OF the textile material
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