The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-04-08
From the Eighth Regiment.
RECRUITS IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ORLEANS.

RECRUITS IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ORLEANS.
MARCH Is, 1864.
FRIEND CALIFORNIAN: My last communi.
cation left our Vermont recruits approach
ing the Crescent City. The next morning
we disembarked from the Mcclellan and pro-
ceeded to the headquarters Camp of Distri-
button at the spacious First La. Cotton Press.
The detachment to the Sth joined that regi-
ment the following Saturday, the 18th inst.
at Algiers, just across the river, whittier it
has come preparatory to re-enhstment of
its veterans and furlough hone. But they
reluctantly discover that they must wear
away few weeks there, before the paymas-
ter makes his welcomed arrival. | have often
heard it remarked that what most strangely
strikes a northern visitor to New Orleans, is
the colored element in almost everything
and everybody he meets. But not so with
me; perhaps from the fact that expectation
diminishes surprise. 1t is the foreiqn ele-
ment that chechmates me at every turn.
Take your seat Up in the huge, airy porch of
the St. Charles Hotel, and anywhere on the
Levee, and cast your eye along the countless
signs opposite, and you'll see not one English
firm in ten,-nine- tenths of the names are
French, German and Spanish. So with the
names of the streets,--to quote from a COM
rade puzzled to pronounce one of the nine
named after the Muses., they are all either
French or something more heathenish still"
1t is true that one expects to meet here many
foreigners or their DIES cendants but the as
constituent Of the traveller from the North
arises from a. impression he mas unwittingly
derived from all his previous observations,
namely, that the universal Yankee is always
ahead. At the West, the English tongue
has maintained its majority of speakers, by
immigration from the East; but at this point,
the fact is otherwise.
Of the non-foreign element there are two
chief classes to be met at all public places,
namely, civilians who are spectators, and
soldiers who are either strapped or on guard
duty. Of the former l have just met good
representative in Gen. s., an old Chica-
90 acquaintance of Burch-divorce renown
Why, General" exclaimed l, "where are
your regimentals, and where that splendid
brigade you led into the field ? can it be that
you have gone hack to the law ?" "Oh, no."
he goodnaturedly replied, 81 sank 100000
in putting the Douglass into the field, and
$4,000 more in quitting my civil affairs, ETC.
But l lately dotted my uniform and went into
the cotton speculation where | have made
$4,000, ard have no objection to making
another $4,000, and giving it to Uncle Sam"
As to the latter class thicker than loafer
liertt nants," is a proverb throughout the
city. And from the great number of ards
patrolling at every military office, etc., one
would imagine that the enemy had but re-
Gently been driven from the city-that the
Philistines are upon US. 1t reminds me of
late story in the London Review of circum-
stance that happened in certain European
dynasty about fifteen years ago, and which
udicrous account was published in THE CAL
EDoNIAN of Feb. -.
But having "told my story" It's time I'm
done. only add that send you THE ERA
containing an account of tie great fire which
occurred last Sunday nearly opposite the St.
Charles Hotel. B.F.R.