The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-03
From the Lower Mississfppi.
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, BELOW !

VICKsBURG, Nov. IL.
From some deserters who came in re.
Gently from the west side of the river, we
gather some news OF what is going on in
that portion of the dilapidated Confederacy
called TTans-Mississippi. They report
nearly all the forces as being actively en-
gagged in fortifying at different points en-
Red River, with the exception of few
hundred who are scouting in different sec
tions Of the country. A large fort is being
built on The east side Of the river at Alex
andria, just opposite the falls. and another
at Camden. The works at Shreveport be-
ing already deemed impregnable, there is
nothing being done with them. A diff Gull
" has arisen between Dick Taylor and
Kirby Smith, and Taylor is now on the
east side Of the Mississippi. Great dissat-
isfaction prevails among the troops, and the
report is circulated freely among them
that. ifthe war is not closed by New Years,
they will fight no longer. The people are
imposed upon by the circulation Of the
most extravagant lies as to the real state of
their cause in the East; such as that At
lanta, Nashville and several other points
have been recaptured by the rebels. The
report that rebel troops refused TO cross the
river to fight is confirmed, and thousand
or fifteen hundred deserted in two days
A spirited revival Is said to be going on
among the men Of Walkers division, and
some 800 had been baptized. The new con-
verts are all for an unconditional peace.
The Bailey dam, near Alexandria, has
been of great service to the rebels in navi-
eating the river during the low water sea-
son. But this We expected. Some thirt =
or forty good steamers are said to be at
Shreveport, and the steamboatmen declare
they shall not be destroyed.
As a specimen of prices, Louisiana rum
is selling at ten dollars Confederate, fifty
cents greenback, and twenty-five cents in
specie per drink. So much for affairs in
rebellion.
The great peninsula, twenty miles below
Vicksburg, formed by bend in the river
and protected by a force at the Isthmus,
was formerly comprised Of several planta-
tons, prominent among which are those Of
Jeff. and 10. Davis. Gen. Dana not deem
ing it worth while to garrison for the pur-
pose Of making speculation for the les
sees of these plantations, has tuRned over
to the "Contraband Department" aud
there will soon be some 200 contrabands
there, who will work small portions of the
lands Of the peninsula, Hurricane and Pal
myra Islands. No more whites than are
actually necessary to the proper conduct Of
affairs will be allowed on the premises
There are some 2, 500 already who have
made this their home, and more are COM
ing every day. There are seven distinct
schools in operation for the benefit Of the
young, ana 10. Davis private cOttOn-gin
has been long put to public use for the good
Of any colored Individual who has raised
q little patch of cotton on hi3bwn hook.
and is running daily. It looks very much
like coloriziDg the Africans, and / shall
await with interest the result of the expert
ment. Capt. Norton, the gentlemanly Su-
perintendent Of the Contraband Depart
ment, has no fears IS to the ultimate sue
cess of the project. and as it costs no more
to protect 25 900 than 500, the Government
will not be the loser in any event.
About three weeks ago a party Of some
sixty caulkers and carpenters, in charge of
Capt. tanning, u. s. N, came down and
work on the wreck Of the iron
clad Indianola, with the assistance Of our
large crew. She is now nearly ready for
having been raised some seven
feet. new hog chains put in and newly
caulked ready for the water. They are
now constructing the ways on which to
launch her, and then as soon rs the old
Mississippi concludes TO rise we shall have
another new eunboat. The hull and ma
chinery are almost entirely uninjuretl, on
~ the upper works being burnt of, and
with very little additional expense she
will be ss good a. new. Capt. Lanning
deserves credit for the expeditions manner
In which he has accomplished 50 heavy .
job. We understand he is to take COM
mand Of her when completed.