The Portland daily press., 1863-08-21
NO. V.

hbOtSl IL, iOocs
7othe Editor Of the Press:
The morning finds us tied up to the Iowa
bank of the Mississippi, near the South line of
Minnesota, in a dense iog. The "deck hands"
are taking in wood-the cooks are getting
breakfast in readness-and-here we go, as
the fog lifts, toward La Crosse. Our scenery
Is constantly varying; being succession of
bluffs Islands bottom lands, or intervales.
At La Crosse, which we now approach, the
bluffs recede from each other and where we
are now passing, they are estimated to be some
ten miles apart, from the Wisconsin to the
Minnesota shore. The bottom lands are con-
sequently broader, and some of them furnish
good sites for towns. La Crosse stands on one
of these bottoms under the bluffs, and is place
of good deal of business-the terminus of the
Railway from Milwaukee across the whole State
Of Wisconsin. Above La Crosse we are hug
ging the Minnesota shore, running close under
a chain of magnificent bluffs, most of them
heavily wooded - now and then brow OF
naked yellow limestone frowning over the for
ests below.
We occasionally meet raft of timber,
manned by two or three hands, moving down
to market. The grain-barges are towed up and
down by the estealners.-We have just passed
bluff in which some parties have been prospect
ing for lead-it is said with but little success.
We are now opposite the mouth of the Black
river, where many RATS of lumber are collect
ed-from miles on its waters to be taken be-
low. Opposite this riyer-mouth are two of the
finest bluffs on the river. One of them, called
the Victoria bluff, is the highest point on the
river. from its mouth to its source said to be
nearly 700 feet in altitude. 1t quite strongly
resembles the profile of the ''od man Of the
mountains" in the Franconia notch of the
White Hills. "Prince Albert" a mated bluff
next above, is but little less regal in its aspect
and bearing. The Queen is our friend, as was
her lamented consort. Let their names remain
upon these Mississippi crests-in menaoridm.
We pass now number of barges used in trans
portation of ice from these northern "diggings"
to all points On the southern waters. At Lake
Pepin-a broadening Of the river sixty miles
above this point-vast quantities of this article
of merchandise are cut in winter, and stored
for summer transportation. Thus Maine has
new competitors in one of its leading staples.
We are approaching Trempeaulean, little
town under the bluffs of the Wisconsin shore.
The bluffs which short time ago had so wide
ly receded, here approach again to within an
apparent half mile. The river is full of islands
and saw bars as we approach the narrows, and
our pilots find their office no sinecure. Day
and night, by turns, these two men stand at
the wheel; no minute passing without the ne
cessity of change in the course, to avoid a
snag or a bar. l marvel at the skill which
they have acquired in threading these widen
interpreters of the scenery and history of the
river to those who are fortunate enough TO
gain access to the wheel-house. And this re-
minds me that j omitted to record an unim
portant reminiscence of Fort Crawford, which
We passed at Prairie du Chen, last evening.
1t was here that JEFF Davis made the acquain-
tance of his vile, the daughter of President,
then Colonel Taylor, who was commanding
at this post. Pity that the eloping, repudiat-
ing "Jeff' should carry his art so far as to Sc
duce so many wayward sisters from their
fathers house!
''The Devils Village" is pointed out upon
one OF these bluffs. 1t consists of four or five
rocks so squarely cut as to closely resemble
the work OF human hands. The towns of Ho-
mer and Minneowa bring the classic and Indi-
an nomenclature in close proximity. We now
approach Winona. A singular semi-conieal
bluff just before us on the western shore bears
the name of "Winonas footstoo" An Indian
legend saith that a corresponding half-cone at
Lake Pepin, was once conjoined with this and
was the residence of two Indian tribes. who
quarreled. Whereupon the Great Spirit divid-
ed the mountain and separated the parts.
Should the mountain Of our National House
be divided for the quarrels of the people, hap
py would ii be if the parts could be thus re-
moved asunder!
At this point we reach Winona-a finely To-
Gated and flourishng town of Eastern Mime
sota-buit upon beautiful river prairie ex-
tending six or eight miles along below the
bluffs and some two miles wide. Here have
the pleasure Of meeting DIR. and Mrs. Staples,
formerly teachers of your city. The Doctor
is already established in a fine business and
cannot fail of success in his profession.
Yours truly p