, 1864-11-29
FROM TEE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
Trans-Mississippi Rebel Situation
matters at Shreveport--The
Bailey Dam.
GREAT C0NTR4BAND SETTLEME1T---TnE
GENBOAT NDIAX0LA.


f1cKsBuRa...AoV. ~.
MILITARY NEWS.
From some dcsertcrs who came in recently
from the west side Of the river, We gathersome
news Of what is going On in that portion Of
the dlapidated confederacy called Trans-A[is-
sissiHpl. They report nearly all the forces as
being actively engaged in fortifying at differ
cnt points on Red River, with the exception
Off tew hundred who ere scouting in different
sections Of the country. 4 large fort is being
built on The cast side Of the river ut Alexan-
dTia, Just opposite the falls, and another at
Camden. The works ut Shreveport being al-
ready deemed impregnab1e, there is nothing
being done with them. 4 difficulty has
arisen between Dick Taylor and Kirby
Smith, and Taylor is now on the east side
Of the Mississippi Great dissatis-
faction prevails among the troops, and the
report is circulated freely among them that,
ii the war Ia not closed by New YEARS., they
will fight no longer. The people are imposed
upon By the circulation Of the most extrava-
CANT lies as to the real state of their cause in
The East such as that Atlanta, Nashville,
and several other points hare been recapturcd
By the rebels. The report that rebel troops
refused to cross the river ofight Is confirmed,
and some thousand or fifteen hundred desert
cd in two days. 4 spirited revival is said to
be going On among the men of Walkers diyis-
ion, and some eight hundred had been bap-
tised. The new converts are Ill for an uncon-
ditional peace.
The Bailey dam, near Alexandria, has been
Of Ercat service to the rebels in navigating
the river during the low water season. But
this We expected. Some thirty or forty good
steamers are said to be at Shreveport, and the
eteamboatmen declare they shall not be de-
stroyed. As specimen Of prices, Louisiana
rum Is selling at ten dollars confederate,
fifty cents greenback, and twenty-five cents
specie per drink. So much for affairs in reb-
THE CoSTRADASD DEPARTMENT.
The great peninsula, twenty miles below
V1cksburg, formed By bend In the river and
protected By force at the 1sthmus, WAS for
n'er1y comprised Of several plantations prom
inent among which We're those of JEFF. and Jo.
Davis. General Dana not deeming it worth
while to garrison for the purpose Of making
speculation for the 1cssees Of these planta-
tions, has turned over to the "Contruband
Department" and there will soon be some
twenty five thousand contrabands there, Who
will work small portions Of the landSupf the
peninsula, Hurricane and Palmyra Islands
No more whites than arc actually necessary
to the proper conduct Of affairs will be al
lowed on the premises. There are some
TWENTY-FIVE hundred already who have made
this their home, and more are coming every
day. There arc seven distinct schools in op-
eaatian for the benefit Of the young, aud Jo.
Davis pr1yNTe- cotfou-g1n has been 1OuE put
to public use for the goodpf any colorcd ill.,
diyidual who has raised little patch of cot
ton on his OWL hook, and Is rnnning daily.
1t looks very much like colonizing the Afri-
cnns, and shall await with interest the re-
suit Of the experiment. Capt. Norton, the
gentlemanly Superintendent Of the Contra-
band Department, has no fears as to the ulu-
mate SUCCESS Of the project, and as it costs
no moro to protect twenty five thousand than
twenty-five hundred, the Government will
not be the loser in my event.
EEDC1LDESG TIE EplASoLA.
About three weeks ago party Of scme
sixty caulkers and carpenters, in charge Of
Capt. Lanning, =. s. n, came down and com
menced work on the wreck Of the iron clad
Indianola, with the assistance of our large
crew. Ehe is now nearly ready for launching,
haTing been raised some seven feet, new hog
chains put in and newly canlked ready for the
water. They are now constructing the ways
on which to launch her, aud then as soan as
the old Mississippi concludes to ri1e we shall
have another new gunboAt. T,,e null and
machinery are almost entirely vnihjurel, only
the upper works being burnt %, and With q
very little additional expense she will be as
good as new. Capt. lanning deserves credit
fnr the expeditions manner In which he has
accomplished 50 heavy job. We understand
he is to take command Of her when COM
pleted.