New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-26
From vECKsBURG.
Appearance Of the Cisy-Pregress Of Rdu-
cation Among the Biaeks-Prcpsrins
for the Spring Campaign.
From Our Special Correspondent
TIcKsBlRG Miss March 1864.


vIcKsBuRG, Miss. March 2 1894.
Vicksburg for the past week has presented O
most curious and striking picture of the poup and
circumstance Of wor" vel as Its terrible realities
and sad changes. The most enthusiastic disciple Of
Utopia could not imagine greater metamorphosis thar
Rebellion has wrought in the Gibraltar OF America
Sroing through the city the stranger is amazed and
somewhat puzzled how naughty and chiv
arous class Of people 'eould have inhabited III,
thousands Of mud caves which remain to day mute wit
nees Of the terrific bombardment Of this town by
Sand and naval forces These excavations form one
greatest curosics TO the tourist aud their silent halls
Of clay are painfully suggestive OF the memorable
Siege. These mud huts simply extensive ercaya
lions tunneled through the in1umeraSe bluffs and pre-
eptous hills that abound within the city limits Of Wick.
Burg and It's suburbs The labor Of digging out these
treats was performed by slaves before the lombard
xent commenced. and thousands OF negro laborert
were kept at work day and night eIcavating. after
Sen. Grant notified them OF his intention TO bombard
abe city. Many OF these quite extensive
yhree and four rooms the walls and floors Of which
covered with cGpeiing Here whole families burrowed
M weeks not daring 10 venture out except during tho
brief cessation Of Yankee hostility Some Of the en-
frances Gothic shaped. with arches Of the same
style Of architecture ohseed out OF the solid ebay The
different tastes Of the various occupants strongly
manifested in tho construction Of these temporary
abodes for while some are approached by descending
Sight Of regular clay steps others are reached by crawl
tne through small aperture OF sufficient size to admit
Abe passage OF one person in most unbecoming man
BeT viz: on hands and knees.
Wbenevor these chivalrous people were in want OF
anything which required great expOsu Ia danger IN
te streets in order TO it, they very generously
compelled their slaves 10 perform such agreeable duties
Tie gloomy aspect Of these tenantless to-day
Che grand swelling chorus Of the John Brown" anthem
yeverberated through their deserted halls brought for
n y r. fpd
loyal bayoBets. Above many Of these caves once the
hiding places Of the cruel uaitorous and cOwardly
slave mongers. to-day the very slaves that crouche1
beneath tbe bloody lash Of these monsters stand free
clad in the uniform Of loyalty. "Thc savage dogs Of
var surIooumt these caves and the footsteps Of the
liberated slave reScho he PAGES up and down his
with his giistenng bayonet. The tyrants symbol Of
Slavery and despotism no longer waves it's rebellous
tds In the clear sunlight If heaven The changing OF
chains and the bayDg Of boodbounds longer disturb
the repose Of unsfending and women. After in.
Asbting these mudhls, IL would surely that the
occupants are well entitled 10 the name of "Mudsis
people.
1t may not be undressing to those who have never
Waited town after Its bombardinent 10 know the
effects such fearful storm Of leaden rain and iron
hail sbowered upon this nest OF treason BIZ our
loyal hosts land and water Passing up Washington
street which is the principal tboroughiare and business
injury Where the deadly SOLID shot failed 10 perform
s work OF ruin, the deDoniaca se satanic grape
and shTapnell completed the devastation. The Wash.
fnRon UOt Zone Of the worst conducted hotels In the
world, where the wearied traveller is permitted 10
famish paying for the privilege IS poe day. suffered
considerably. Several cLimneys are still in o dis.
nan.led condition while the rear Of tho building had
several feet Of thick brick wall scattered in the most
\ promiscuous manner. Tho Court House, which Ia O
Anc substantial building OF the Doric order OF
q clitecture, stands upon OF those abrupt bluffs
peculiar 70 Vic<sburg. This building was struck siugu
- 10 relate bat tyice. Notwithstanding ts command
ING position. who'll makes 1t prominent mark when
spIfoaching the city either by land or water Our
66ernDent have cur fully repaired the damaged por'
ton III the building.
In. some Of the private MANSIONS the solid shot and
SJe performed curious fr. sks aud some Of the most
rscuous escapes on record occurred during the siege
IN one instance gentleman Nod Just retired frsw bis