Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-07-20
FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
The 18th at jeff. Davis House.
Corresp on 1ence of the State Journal
- = n Co.
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, July !

1t has been some time slIlct last i wrote.
A complete dearth of anything interesting is
my excuse.
The guerriIlas have been and are nov ac-
tive, but navigation has been but slightly
interrupted as yet. A small encampment on
the west side of the river at the foot of Hur-
sieane Island, was attacked few days since,
but although the force was small they re-
pulsed the enemy The Mound C5tg went
down and shelled the woods pretty thorough
H. But they come in again the next day,
and as We could not lay by them they were
in an exceedingly precarious position, having
no means of crossing the river. Consequent
II Capt. Langthrom ordered the little steamer
I1a5o TO transport them TO the east side of
the.-iyer. The rebels Immediately occupied
the abandoned stockade and the same evening
ared upon the GREY EagIe, without doing any
damage however. Well knowing they would
vamoose, should a gunboat heave in sight,
our commander ordered a howitzer to be Sc
cretly taken down to the foot Of Hurricane
Island directly opposite the stockade and
wait until they should open again upon some
other boat But they either discovered the
move or concluded to leave the premises, and
after remaining there several days and not
seeing anything Of them, the gun was again
brought on board.
And now l wish to give you little idea of
Lew we spent the glorious 18th in this land of
cinnamon seeds and sandy bottoms
The day was ushered in at sunrise by
rousing salute of q guns from the Mound
City They were no ear splitting 81 pouu-
ders, but full charged nine inch guns and 100
lbs rifles fred at regular int srvals, their sui
len thunder erberating for miles through
tie forests on either side the river A SINH
lar salute was fred at meridian and again Al
shutdown
The arrangement was made TO give all the
loyal people in the vicinity an opportunity of
celebrating the 18th at the residence of Mr.
Jefferson Davis. Esq, novel ideal Through the
e1ertions of several y anBee school marms,"
tbe house was tastefully decorated for the oc-
casion.
Over tie gateway was festooned in ever
greens the word
WELCOME"
At the main entrance, the words
.sThs is the house that JEFF built
Made every one at once feel at home.
Most appropriately placed near the back
loor At the end of the spacious hall we're the
words,
exit Traitor
OF which it was remarked that the moral
was,
Clown with tie traitor,
And up with the star -
The banquet was spread in the wide veran-
Jas and the tables gaoaned beneath their
weight Of good things The cuisine had been
well attended TO and there was no lack of
leIcacies or substantials. About ID a. m,
the steamer Di7igs,t arrived from Vicksbura
with merry party Of ladies and gentlemen
u participate with US It would hardly be
proper to dignity the gathering as a eelebra-
.l.a. aad picnic would he better adapted,
therefore We will call it q picnic on the 4th
81 July at Jeff Davis house, Byt.7Tg place,
t slsa1s his plantation Let the north
ern people for moment suppose what the
practical position Of things must be, should
enemies bc on that day revelIing at the
house Of Abraham Lincoln, at Springfield
The thought should inspire any Union man
With hope. was credibly informed that al
invitation was passed through the lines to be
.orvarled to Old JEFF. 70 be present on the
occasion but Ills non-appearance was easily
accounted for
The order Of exercises was as follows:
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Livernore, of Wis
c4nsiu
Reading the DecIaration-By Dr. Round
tree
Oration-By Mr. Liyermore.
Next came coplous shower of rain which
drove all in doors for a season.
Mrs. Francis Gage, Of sanitary uotoriety,
made a very neat and appropriate speech.
A.song was then sung with great gusto,
tie words being composed for the occasion
and sung to the tune of Aud Lang Svne,"
a. follows
THE HOUSE THAT JEFF. BUILT
How Oft within these merry halls
The traitor Of the day,
Has heard ambition's trumpet calls.
Or dreamed Of wars array
or OF an Empire dreamed, whose base
Millions OF blacks should be
Aha before this days sweet face
Where can his visions be
Those Empire dreams shall be fuIhLrd,
But not as rebels thought
Like water ar the cista-u spilled,
Their boasts shall come to naurLt.
Prom sulf % lake, from sea TO sea,
Behold cur country grand
The very home ct Liberty
And guarded y her hand.
We reysi in lis halls to- day
Next year where viii he Hs
A dread account he has u pay
May We BE there TO see
q d