The New York herald., 1865-05-29
Ing taken the ossh Of sneelasos. m us hsss When
they were gone the Geors'aaa prosssdsd 90 her wsy

Gas This. as Is well known, Is canal which was in
tended cut OF large bend in the by artificial
work OF three hundred yards, and thus savo nas'ga
ton OF miles. II bold conception, bravey
executed. and when commenced part OF the plan
then In view OF approaching Richmond by water. But
it was commanded by heavy battery Of the enemy at
its mouth, and when tbs bukhoad was removed, il was
completely under the hro o< this battery that could
not be dnished Thor is shallow current OF about sx
inches in depth now passing through it, BY dreds'ngn
to three feet il is believed the river will then dow
through q and clear It out, aud that eventually VIII
come into commercial use. Beyond the Gap, the river
side all the way to Richmond crowded with earth
works and guns Fort Darling being, an additional pro-
tecton of scientific character and deemed imIregnabe
APPgARANoE BEYOND.
The channel through which we steamed along was q
very narrow one buoycd out for safety, and On either
side wero hundreds Of little flags above the water.
designating the torpedoes which remained there unre
moved The banks Of the river the Gap were Iied
with gopher holes, or excavations in which our men
sheltered themselves from the shot and shell Of the
enemy. We told they were numerous enough TO
protect ton thousand men An officer connected with
the fleet informed us that when vessels up on
one occasion beyond the Gap topedoes placed so
destroy thom their RETURN and they actually had
a narrow escape.
We found, a. we neared Richmond we passed through
tho opeaings OF two permanent bridges which had been
Constructed by the enemy to connect the two banks OF
tho river for military purposes These openings had
been made by our engineers after the evacuation We
also the remains of several ponoon bridges intended
TO facilitate the OF Lees army oppose the nde
fatgable Grant.
Finally, we reached Rocketrs landing, the highest
point of navigation, about mile from the city THIS
landing contains several acres, with regular wharf,
enclosed by fence and pcketed. II Is used also to
store the captured arms, ambulances, &C., which arc
here in immense numbers, and has guardhouse,
ocer receives the OF all the passengers
who come ashore and registers them. Some Of our
party able to get further conveyance In rickety
bagges at two dollars per head and the rest walked to
tho city We understood that Baltimore omnibuses wero
about to arrive to carry passengers Vehicles Of all
kinds were very scarce and all in the worst condition
RICHMOND.
had in former years resided in Richmond, and knew
we'll AS approached it, 1t seemed quite NATURAL for
distance old enchantment 10 the view but soon
perceived most woeful change The injury done tho
place percepble enough. The buildings had worn
look. She windows were paneess or much patched.
There great OF people through the streets in
'.admired disorder" Crowds OF ambulances and old
wagons passing along in haste The busness part
OF the town in ruins the fire having destroyed
it, In New York the scone might be repre-
sented by imagining all below Canal street to
the Battery to be in ruins, while the upper
part Of the city would look well At the land
ing there were at least two thousand negroes and whites
watching with interest the arrivals and departures and
in the streets the throng wassequaiy great We found
arters at the Spoltswood House and little accommoda
ton. Two bed and six aud eight in room was the
order of the night The guests were motley crowd Of
all nations Jews, Germans, ofnceseekers, specula-
tors Baltimore agents and Northern visitors josed each
other every The table not well served and
the charge was four dollars per day.
EXPLORATIONS.
Our first visit TO the various lines around the city,
which very extended and formidable. We had to
walk very carefully under the direction Of guide and
in very paths to avoid the torpedoes still lying
buried the earth in every direction These fortlhca
tions and lines have been SO often described In the
HERALD and illustrated by Its maps that deem any
further explanation Of them unnecessary Sufficient to
say, that, to me- Richmond seemed mpregnable against
direct assault and cannot pay high tribute Of
admiration to General Grant for his wonderful capture
Of this place.
OLD AcouAINrANCEs.
found q number of my old friends, and meeting
cordial and touching Those had been most init
with had been loyal and true throughout the four
years to whom they had seemed as horrible dream.
II is impossible give idea Of what they had suffered
how much they reoiced at the resumption Of our
thority. And those who had voluntarily by
pulsion been forced to act with the rcbcls were un
reserved in acknowledging and welcoming the change
WHAT THEY SAID.
In conversation they admitted that slavery had been
failure Still they endeavored TO excuse themselves as
well as they could. One gentleman remarked to me
that the North had odgh; FOR sentiment the South for
principle We very frequently asked what we
were going to dos whether conGscation was rigid
ly TO be enforcedS whether tho right Of suffrage
was to be taken from them were they to be
exiled2 In short feverish anxiety prevails
as to the future Oar replies were to this eect:-Are
you willing TO come in and do your duty good czens
II 60 you will get on we'll enough. Everything depends
on yourselves The doctrine of State rights much
alluded for their conduct and their ideas
about these require great alteration. would be well
IL Northern pubcsts should betake themselves to
full exposition of what these rights really are and give
wide circulation IN the South, which Is willing TO
sen that they see TO what the doctrine has brought
them.
THE INTERIORS.
visited many of the best houses and found thom
greatly out Of repair Rebel officers were constantly bill
cted upon all who had room for them Locks and doors
were universally out Of order Il pane Of glass was
brokeu i, could not wfil be repaired Carpets we're
worn out, and dilapidaiion was universal The
food OF the most respectable and tie most wealthy
had for breakfast and tea, bread and water
only A Joint OF meat once week was a great luxury.
Every few days officers would 81 round to the houses,
seize half Of whatever caabcs could be found on the
PREMISES and carry them or some persons, with very
great difficulty, would smuggle In from the country an oc-
casoual b!shei of poatocs which they immediately con-
ceaed for their own use. Women who never worked
before now applied themselves 10 industrious pursuits,
Their servants generally leaving them.
THE NEGRoEs.
The negroes appeared bc IN as much of fog as their
old masters themselves When they nov address them
e = a. M not master. ! asked young pesro why he
dld not say master any more He replied, "Thei u
played cut They have curious idea about employ
mont Many TO kno"lg dgo where, on ap-
p,a;ion bong made TO Them to go to work and receive
wages nom hir former Oyners they answered they ex
Ieeed ret about thirty dollars month when they en-
gagged but they would now work and cbaige
nothing but clothes and f0od hU Chr tRds,
when they would know better what TO do.
fragments Of this KIND We're constantly being made
The, were generally at work o some kind IN the city,
and gctt NJ quite supply OF greenbacks one OF their
rreat onoymcnts Just now holding religious or pro-
tra,ted neeun s wnttc they are jubilant over thor
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