New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-21
The missis.ippi and its Cotos Trnde
Dpriuz the War.


trolling between Columbus. Ky. and Memphis Tenn
having many opportunities for studyug the river ard
It's peculisrtes ard becoming acquainted with those
living along the banks. Believing that few observe.
tons on the Mississippi and items from ny experience
may prove Of interest 70 those looking westward for
business OF speculation. offer them 20 your readers
The Mississippi. River the great avenue provided by
nature 20 ,ranspor! tie products Of a empire
k.t Is peculiar stream in more ways than one. A.,
one time overlooking It's banks for hundreds Of miles in
length aording depth Of water sufficient to float the
Great Eastern from New.Oreans to Cairo. or even
higher up in the Sumner season II .Llirss within is
banks So that the pilots have hard work 20 fad water
above Memphis for boats drawing four feet, and none
bat boats OF the sh;sst draft ply between ST. Louis
Cincinnati and Cairo. The banks from above CAIRO
down 20 the mouth are composed OF a sort Of sandy
oam and subject to being cut out az high water
ard the channels arc, therefore constantly changing
that where boats Of the deepest draft with
ease one season NAV be nothing hut dry ,anibar the
next as viii give instances Of before closing this aFs
Gle.
Another pecnarity Is sort Of uniformity in the
hight Of the banks which, with the difficulties caused
by the overfows leave few sites for towns along its
course Thus from Cairo TO Memphis-a distance that
it takes fast steamer some twertY-four hours to mn
there not over four FIVE places where there
be any prospect Of building up such towns are TO
oe found SO thckly dotted along the banks Of the
Hudson.
The first Of these sites is Columbus Ky, situated On
what is known the " First Chckasaw Bluff" Thisis
only twenty miles below Cairo. aud was made before
The rebellion. o. the termni OF the Mobile aud
Ohio Railroad. Its location is not yery pleasant one
haiu loan rfof tr ir-f a
generally OF access IL has been garTsoBcd during the
whole Wor by one side the other. and viii always be
a place Of more or less business
Some fifteen or more miles below we come 10 Tick.
man. KY. situated on tie second Ch.ckasaw Bluff 4
much better location ~! a town, so health and
Pleasant surroundings ore concerned. 10 is built on
side bill rising from the banks Of The river and appears
To have been much smarter place than Columbus DO
fore tie Rebellion. It's position not having that stra
cEiral portanCe that Columbus his 10 has been only
occasionally occupied by the Union forces and at ryl
became Of the worst guerrilla hrunts the river.
There Was q branch OF the Memphis Railroad coming
10 Hickman beiOr. the Rebellion; but the iron
was taken up-by the Rebels thnk-aud taken South.
We were called upon several times 20 convoy the ship
ment o. cotton tobacco hay &C., from Hickman daring
the tine We were patfOilug that beat.
Passing down by Island 40. 10, so notorious in tie
early months OF n. Rebellion. thrtytye miles
from Hickman. We come 20 New Madrid, Mo, ore OF
the Oldest settlements the Mississippi, but it, oca
ton is such that although there vii always be consld
cradle trade there yet II cen never De- place OF any
great size. Ii i situated on plain at che outlet Of
Wilson's Bayou, and has been, on sundry occasions,
overlJved AZ high water although but seldom. During
the last Spring, when the water within q few niles
OF tue high point attained in lsG2. when Gen POpe
han6ed Island No TO- Il just escaped. But there are
Other disadvantages connected with the locality. In
the first place the river coming down the Bend from
Island No TO- Is continually cutting IN. that the
now stands fully mile according TO Trustworthy NOR
nation, from where 10 dd some years since. In fact II
cu in toward the town from two 70 four rods during tie
last year. and the time vas acquainted whit There
has always been good landing az New. Madrid for
steamboats,. which is quite an advantage 10 IL.
In former times there was town called Point Pleas
ant started some ten miles below NeW-A adrid. on the
side but ths channel changed few years since
aud there is landing there Fourteen miles be-
landing place where there Is stoTehOuse and few
houses. II is subject TO overflow, and cannot attain
any great importance It's principal advantage arises
from it, being convenient crossing OF Reel root
lake. a sort OF swampy body Of water running parallel
with the river for some twenty miles small quantity
Of cotton was shipped hence during the year aud large
quantities OF corn.
There are none Of the othor landings worthy of note
below Tipt2nyle until come TO Haes Point at the
mouth Of the Obion River This is subject to overflow
but still largo Quantities of cotton shipped here
and have seen hundreds of bales lying temporary
scaOldngs bulk up to keep 1t out Of the water until
the proper permits and arrangements could DO made Tor
shipping It. Much cotton is A0ated down the ObiOn on
hatbOas beside what is brought III IN more favorable
times by teams.
AshpOrt. twenty miles below has been nearly de-
stroyed during the Rebellion, and, being subject to
Overf0ws will not be very quickly built up, think. 1t
is situated lust below the mouth Of Foked Deer River
and may be OF some Importance on that account more
than I could realize frOm what saw Of IT,
O5ceola, Ark. is some ten miles below AshpOrt. IL
is the county seat of Mississippi County 1t is on
low plain and before the Rebellion was protected by
eyee; but that has been washed or cut away IN many
places so that during the high water this Spring 1t
was nearly submerged only few houses being out OF
water. Twas repeatedly told that the water extended
for forty miles back and that could be navigsted
that-cstance Before the Rebellion, 1t was, no doubt
quite smart place. but II has been more or less n
tested by guerras. and. being near Fort Pillow the
soldiers removed many houses 70 provide Tor their CON-
fort. IL may become village OF moderate size IN
time 1t has some very enterprisng citizens who ere
determined 10 make something Of II If possible
Some ten miles below Osceola. we come 10 another
range OF the Chickasaw Bluffs, the upper end Of
which IS the site OF Fort Pillow. The landings and
other advantages for business at Fort PILLOW are not
good three or four miles below yet It's strae
getical importance commanding as II lld long bend
in the river gave 1t advantages for military purposes,
aud the protection OF the garrison had gathered quite
business there before FORESTS attack and
which entirely broke mp At the lover point OF tins
range Of bluffs, Is Fulton, location that would have
been made large town probably this timein Free
State: but rs is il had IA single stOrehouse, church.
and very few dwellings IN sight Before tue Rebellion,
there had been an annual shipment Of 3OOO to 200
bales OF cotton FROM Fulton. The Hachie RIVER enters
the Mississippi only mile two below Fulton. and
then We come 10 another Oucr0ppng OF the bis from
Fort Pillow which IL known as Randolph and seems 70
have been quite little town before the Rebellion. IL
was at one time fortified by the Rebels but they never
tried 10 make a stand there, l believe. The houses
have all been destroyed aud there are only the brieE
chimneyS standing.
Richardson Landing Just below the last ouicropping
Of these Bluffs is plain just ou OF danger OF over
flows and furnishes place 10 ship large quantities OF
cotton. This is the last landing OF any consequence
above Memphis distance OF some hity.hve miles. .
Having given this brief account OF the principal
places on the river between Memphis ard Caro- wiu
speak briefly Of the business Of shipping COTTON which
gave Ms considerable employment.
Few who complain of the high prices OF cotton goods
are aware Of the trouble and risks run IN getting cotton
market while the Rebellion Wss ID pores. IN tne
early mart of nv service il very difficult 10 get out
Cotton ,nd it only after great deal OF trouble