The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-24
Condition of the Confederaoy
; West of the Miss ssippi.
The Strength OF ALI the
Rebel Armies.
DESPERATION OF THE REBEL LEADERS,
DeplOrabLe Situation OF the,
Southern People,
As., H. Ae~
'ir. Finley Anderson's Narrative.

MS. Finley Amderson's Narrative.
OUT OF TIE IRON DUNGEoN.
The first part Of my narrative lett me Ia the IRON dun
suggestive scenes mako room FOR the nero
mention Of important facts.
One sunday morning the sheriff took me ous OF the.
iron dungeon and put mo 10 the passage. While there
had visit lawyer and tho Mayor Of alexandria.
After considerable conversation with the lawyer IN re-
ation to the war, he finally said here must Do set
Element time the South would require her share %
the property, and what would you do with all the
that had the hands OF the soldiers ia the souths
"Pu, them ia Quilted States arssnals." said. "why,
sir" he said "you talk il you think the federal
govern can whip u.s." "Indeed do" answered,
and that has boon my opinion since the
men; OF the war;
have been told touching tales OF the mprison
meat Of both Northern and Southern Union men 10 the
dungeon In which confined myself. have
heard from tho lips OF men who and heard these
things, how that from the moment Louisiana was drag
gcd Of the Unio agaus. the wishes Of most Of the
people Of the state, polessed Union prosecuted
put to death; how those WHO only
pectod OF fostering latent love for the Stars and Stripes
despised aud watched how the rebels grew bolder
and gradually gained despoc power thousands OF
loyal people IN the Sat land how sad say thousands
fell lighting for in which they had no faith.
COulu tn0 paTSn PRISONS IN the SLate 81 LOUISIANA
the county ais the other rebel States their
and openly the searching sunlight what
they have and known aiuce the Of this
war, they would unfold catalogue OF appalling facte.
that would harrow the hearts OF The eoc,l
Of el, mike shom cry Heaven for vengaace
heads o. those who have been the Of al sucb
il I and dis ,ser.
RsBEL RETREAT.
At Alexania was joined by seven Union officers cap.
The qjuhOa, elr Paw he
2stn OF Maren 1hey had calamity sustained their part
in unequal contot nearly three hours isabled In
narrow river. whore they passed through tcrro,o
ordeal of ire and b)oj On march to kiexandrie
they stopped days ut Camp Pratt. six miles above
New iberia. Camp Pratt rebel cmscript camp,
and pictureslucy situated the lrga OF beauti
fol sheet OF water named Spanish Lake The Union forces
under Geaer Banks Then advancing through Lower
louisiana The rerss!ng rcbo troops pouring into
Camp Pratt in grct disorder They much scat.
tered ond dem rallied that thore pre,en.on "a
organization among Thorn. Artillery, cavalry and In.
fau,ry came tumbng in together Everybody seemed
to conduct his his own responsibility
Cannon. csSsons and baggage wagons driven
ariously through the the level land beyond. The
excited dashed the mules without though: Of
mercy aud the diapidated wagons rumbling along
the with great rapidly. The cavalry arrived ID
squads OF unequal numbers with both and horses
jadcd. Many OF the IN aptry came in twos and
some with guns and some without them When they
reached the camp the men very much exhausted,
and many threw themselves tho ground, footsore
and weary, glad that thcy had far but unable
TO 80 further. Con pcuous among them was rebel
captain who, few weeks before, In conversation with
the Diana's officers at New Ibor,a extol,d tho
oonicderacy, its soldiers and its government
and said with great seconhicnce, that no Union force
could ever drive the conederaes from Camp BsI,rd He
now came putting from the field where the rebels had
been beaten unattended by single member or his
company his hat in hand, his sword III the other
and, throwing hmse the ground 10 front OF the
Diana's officers he made his confession this emphatic
language:-'By Cod gentlemen, you have turned tho
tide up'n this tm'li A rebel sergeant, Of tho.
Crescent regiment, who up about this time from
the OF conflict spoke III, enthusiastic man.
ner Of the bravery he had displayed by Union
soldiers lie said he grander sight than the
Union forces, all elegantly Uniformed marcnipg up in
even lines, with colors hsiug and the lace OF tire.
neudcus fire, 10 storm the breastworKs at Camp Big
land.
LIEUT.. GENERAL KfaBY SMITH AND WIFE,
When the Union troops were nearing Alexandra In
April sent 20 Shreveport, three hundred mi,es
further Up Red river. Wo ntucted from tho Jail
70 The steamboat landing by rebel captain. Lieutenant
General T. Kirby Smith and wife we're tho most aistn.
guished persons we upon the levee. General smith
Is anaere energetic man, OF medium height middle
age and gne appearance lis whskers and his hair are
dark When saw him then he the uniform OF .
rebel officer aud black hat with feather in It. ne
has been married nee the commencement Of the war
The match quite romantic. General Smith VINO
then commanded brigade. was wounded At the nrst
battle Of Bull run, and taken TO the residence Of Q
wealthy gentleman residing In that section Of Viz
gina. That genemaa's daughter nursed the
wounded officer and attended to all his wants.
I'll he was well. Meanwhile . mutual sympa Thy
r..t..~
gallant General in recognition Of the adys goodnc and
devotion asked her to become the partner ns future
fortunes. she accepted the PROPOSAL they sc-
cordingly united She is young and handsome woman,
with tne features, light blue eyes aud auburn hair.
MRS. LScoLN's BROTHER.
Lie rebel capaiu who brought US from the tl had
some conversation with me board the boat He
sGred D. that going 10 be exchanged irnmedE
ately, anil said. 81 Northern myself; my
Is Samuel Todd: am Mrs. Lincoln's brother" "Ands
what you doing heresn asked ayes, sir be
raatcd, 10 a nusipg manner. III am Mrs. Iincolnas
brother. was born aud brought up In the North butt
ara into this thing the southern sde and mean 10
see Il through sad Now, you know very well thas
the cause OF the Unou for which the United States are
aghsug will be successful in the end, aud what 10 the
world you doing down here, fighting against tho
lswfcl government OF the unonashting against your
historic dag, which you know has been respected
and boncred by the civilized world7D This alusiors
70 tho stars and Stripes seemed to touch him. bnss
he answered, III down here several years ago.
made some money bought property, and my homo
add interests here. We consider that the Northern
people sncroschiug rights and Of courfs We
Fec bound TO protect them die 10 the attcmps After
The lapse Of nearly year saw Captain Todd again. ps
Alexandria aud thought he aid not seem so saneuine OF
success as be did at nrst. know that many rebc-
officers with whom have copvcrsed lost confidence
10 1 no success OF the rebellion.
THE cADpo PARISH PRISON.
Arrived In Shreveport were taken 10 the caddo
PARISH prison. There eight OF ustho ofcerA
and myself We were put into Dungeon about twelve