Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-04-10
LETTER FROM YOUNGsS POINT.
STEAMER EMMA No2,

STEAMER EMMA No 2,
Young's Point, La, April 2, 1863. !
Friend GEORGE After q long 81
lence l have concluded to "open out" OF
you-supposing that few lines from thu
''sest Of war;" might be acceptable, il no
throw them in the corner box amongs
"waste," for there is cotton in the article
and if you were down in this country
awhile you would come to the conclusion
that its 10 still inclined to be "kingish.
We have been running in the Govern
ment employ since the first of January
carrying forage and commissary stores
from Louisiana to Nashville, for the ben
eft Of Rosecrans' army, being only one
boat Of lls that have been employed in
that trade during the time, SO you car
judge that the army Of the Cumberland
is pretty well supplied with stores for the
year to come. Every warehouse, shed
and many private houses are literally
crammed.
On March 18th we were loaded with
horse-frames-or as the bill of lading
reads, "Received in GOOD ORDER and CON
DlrIoS, ll3 disabled horses" with or.
ders to deliver the same at Louisville.
On our arrival at Smithland we were or
dered to unload our "stock" and report
forthwith at Helena, Ark. Being "on
the war," to use soldier express on, we
were compelled to "obey ORDERS" and
here We are at last.
The Mississippi River shows plainly
on its borders the effects of the war
Plantation after plantation is deserted, !,
the owners Of which are supposed to be
in the army Of the South the slaves
have either run Oft into the interior or de
serted, and joined the Federal army !;
their houses and other buildings going,
or gone, to wreck. The levees in many
places are cut, and overtlowing with wa
ter. Tho whole country is sad picture.
At every available place on the lcvee
between here and Lake Providence, com
pauies, regiments and divisions are quar-
tered, aud for miles at a stretch are tents
as thick as they can be set. What is to
BE- done, or will be. is yet involved in
mystery.
Every undertaking yet commenced
against Vicksburg has proved failure.
They have now abandoned the cause,
and to-day arc towing their dredge
boats 10 some point above here.
took walk to-day down the levce
five miles, opposite the canal, and in
plain sight OF Vicksburg. could see,
with the aid small sized glass,
citizens sitting and standing around the
court house and other prominent places,
and at several places contrabands and
soldiers are throwing up new breast
works and diggrg entertainments. !
very much fear that many thousands OF
lives must be sacrificed before our army
conaucrs the "Gibraltar" of the Southern
Contederacy. The levee from here down
is our graveyard, both sides being thickly
dotted with graves, with path between.
On my return counted fifteen bodie.
laying on tho levee, while company Of
soldiers was digging q trench to place
them in. But Of such is war.
On our way down the river We we're
hailed at the mouth Of White River by
the gunboat Gen. Bragg, and received Ms
Q passenger an army surgeon, who had
been hce since our army came down. In
conversation with him he made the re-
mark, s'lhat our army was not here hunt
ing rebels, but from Generals down were
hunting cotton !" that it was the general
opinion through the army here that the
Nov York capitalists, (who at present
rule the government) did not wish vicks
burg taken, as in that case it would open
q market for produce; which at present
las to find channel over their raiIroads,
through their canals, and to their head
Quarters for consumption aud profit.
From appearances, as far as l have yet
seen, / think that there is more truth
than poetry in the remark. Companies,
regiments and divisions are started from
here on feet Of boats, on ''foraging
expedition" up the river. They will be
gone few days and return with cotton
III behind st this place or that place.