New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-26

OF the gave laDOr5
Of the evee hands, the scene was strangely picturesque
One does not get far below Cairo before the conviction
is forced upon him that the pcnandnk panorama Of the
Mississippi River must be written again. The pretty
little town Of Hickman, Ky, is partially In runs-thc
result Of Rebel raid half year SINCE pyramids Of
balls instead of the produce Of the neghboring
country, occupy the landing at Columbus New Madrid
which was completely demolished by the terrible bonn.
bardmen Of March l3 i5C2, is to-day with but little
change the same pile of ruins 1t was then. Further
down. IN the guerrilla country lonely looking chin.
neys standing where once stood happy homes tell Of
some guerrilla outrage and the retaliation visited upon
the country they infested by the Union marines In
truth it is safe to state that from Memphis to Baton
Rouge, distance OF six hundred miles. there is not
now standing in sight of the river than dozen
houses, aside from the outhonscs, negro quarters &C.
which in some instances not destroyed. OF the
towns, vicksburg, Natchcz and Rodney nearly
unhurt A few scattering chimneys and lettering walls
mark the sites Of the others.
Our first night on. from Cairo foggy (as indeed
was more or less every night and day the trip. and
the boat could bat little more than drift along AS
there nothing TO be beyond the gray wall Of
mist that surrounded u.s. the inmates " the cabin Of
whom there were about twenty threw their upon
the captains shoulders and went TO bed Anxious TO
know what progress we had made during the night
land one never travels half so fast when asleep
your correspondent up at daylight. The fog had
lifted md we were speeding ahead with an open river
before u.s. A heavy black cloud covered the whole
sky except narrow strip low in the east, where the
rosy glow of dawn stole through and fell upon the river
clothing 1t with spendor beyond description. The
sturdy strokes of the paddle wheels retted the water
into waves which lost their hnrshness In the distance
and rose and fell In crimson undulatiOns leaving for
miles behind us belt Of snbdued light that looked like
II ght be the couch Of Aurora from which. warned
by the lapse OF hours, disturbed by the approach Of
the day god. she about arising TO throw open the
gates Of the morning Soon. however this scene was
dmmed by the lowering clouds-day visited us in the
shape which proyokes an u1shrinking mental discus
sion of the subject Of destruction. and the water
which was bearing US onward reassumed its homely
mud color
Persons whose ideas of how muddy water may be-
spring from associations and experiences away from
this river, have conception OF what the Mississippi
looks Ike when it is rising. have no intention Of
trying tell how muddy is because those who have
seer it know and those who have not would not believe
me. What you rubin dat mud on your face for.
niger T. said one fireman 10 another who was leaning
over the side Of yawl washing his face In the river.
when we had stopped at Memphis. BE careful black
map" replies the nsulted darkey. lifting up his reekDg
face Your head runs up too much to pint behind
so you look like mad mule with only one carr
We were half days run below the mouth Of White
River and approaching GaineSs Landing point well
known guerrilla haunt AS was natural. the con-
versation turned upon these outlaws and spirited dis
casson at high tide, as to whether or not COW
ardice would be eyinced in by his seeking place
of safety in the event Of the boat being attacked Tho
government aid furnishing tacit but oTcible H.
usration Of the negative side Of the question. having
been below the water line for the preceding fifteen min
ues and the captain ad passed through the cabin
and assured US that no guerras had been seen in the
neishborhood for six weeks. when sharp thwnck and
handful Of splinters from the back of vacant chair
settled the matter In dispute aud threw the dspufants
spasmodicsly into ananimity of opinion A front
door burst open and the distant young man with the
musical heeltsps rushed In hanging on to one corner OF
his shawl and disappeared down the cabin Tie lusu'
brious major became suddenly alive 20 the vaGe Of his
existence to government, and squated in most IN
maiorly manner behind trunk which was TOO snnil by
halt TO screen him. while your correspondent he'd bis
breath Just long enough TO give one tremendous thuup
with his heart, 1rd plunged into pile ofmail bags
But with some bloody exceptions. guerrilla firing Is
much like lightningif you live long enough to see II
or hear it, you may be sure you are not killed II was
over In moment and the passengers presently emerged
one by one from their hiding paces-each with hundred
OF questions 10 ask and load Of experiences to relate
1t was noticed that the young man with the shawl
had not re-apyeared and the benevolent old gentleman
with cough insisted that search should be made at
once az he may have been killed or crippled. Wcfound
him in his room in an impromptu bombproof, having
thrown himself fiat upon the floor and drawn mntrsss
over him. "tre you hurt = asked the old gentleman.
lifting the end Of the mattress that covered his face
"Ahi what's thsti" calculated the young mar. EVIL
IDENTIFY thinking the guerrilaS had captured tho boat
but seeing familiar faces around him, continued, why
believe WAS asleep"
The cloud OF war has cast but light shadow upon
the country from Baton Rouge down to New'Ofeans
0rcrras have meyer infested that region to any hurt
ul extent and there Is sign that 1t has ever Dcch
visited at any point by either aimy-Union or Con-
federa.e. The comfortable family mansions OF the
thriving planters and the palatal residences OF tie
Southern grandee stand now as Of yore. while the
groups Of negro children yet too young to be put
In the field gather upon the levees to watch the pass
Ing steamers, the same when tie peculiar ihsHtn'
ton was in the noon OF its existence 1t grind
ing dey" Saturday we passed along this part oil 'he
river and frmiles around scores Of white fakes OF
steam marsed where the sngar.miIs were al wofA
crushing tie succuent cane through the incpient steps
Of the process which VIII soon transform INTO inc Two
staples of the coast" few hours more ana We nave
| rounded 10 ct the Stock Landing four mics ABOVE
New Orleans. The municipal regulations of the city
reouirc all fnthcred fourfooted animals to be put
o.hore here. Another hours delay and our Prov is
- at, .,r,od dawn stream. Capt Bob musters his
forces in front AID celebrates tie success OF the voyage
with all appropriate song. We pass within stones
throw Of an ugly looking, dark blue hulk built Tor some
\, ooI liz ifa