, 1865-05-02
ARKANSAS LETTER.
Il Rainy Spr1nc-Duvnl1,s Rluf1-D n
kycs-Traoe Retyveen Duvaliss Bluff
md Memphis, DC.
Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribnne.)
DuvA11.'s DLCFT, April L. 1866,
RAuNY SPRING.

Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribnne.1
DuyALI's pICFr, April Is, 1866.
RAuXY SPRING.
Such u rainy spring there Was not before.
Laster1y there has been more than a week of
rain. 1t has fallen In showers and been dsiYen
in gusty torrents. As write 1t Is poorfus
down. It has saturated the ground, add
stands in puddles and pools in the atreets,
The woods and the prairies. The streams
flow in turbid currents. The rivers send
.-otby currents inland, and the waters Of the
White and Arkansas meet and mlnsle. The
country between the two is submerged. Not
of1en, even in the memory Of the Oldest in
habitant, have the waters been go high.
DUvALL's BLUFF IS 4 clA1 BASK-
The soil sticks in clods to the boots, and
clinea with oil It's -clayey, tenacity to the
c1othea.> There is no 1nfal1ib1e mode Of pro-
Ereaason.- In going down hill you may slide
very uneIpesledly, indeed, yet with lease
and safety" But q few days Of sunshine
dries the ground, and makes the streets pas:a-
BILE. These ate Of recent date, for before the
war this was not town. A.
DRs ARCS,
afsw miles higher up.was at the head ofstcam-
beat navigation on the White river and con-
ccntrated the trade OF this section Of country.
It vas thriving and plf asant village, The
railroad fnum Little Rock to Duvalps Bluff
gave an impetus to this place aud made 1t
formidable rival OF. Des Arcs. It BECAME
prominent point from this war and nov en-
tirely usurps its trade. The very buildings
at Des Arcs hare been torn down and their
material transported to build up the town.
Here fs DISCHARGED the Immense stores re-
qusled for the Army OF the Arkansas. Here
is ,eshipped all the goods destined for Little
Rock, the trade Of which L already large. It
high water Of sprine, boats have gone up even
inio missouri. more than 600 miles farther,
THIS was before the rebellion aud when trade
was seeking to extend its rule.
BOATS Run REGULARLY
between this place and Memphis. The waters
Of the White being concentrated In quite q
narrow channel makes 1t nay3gable at all
seasons Of the year, even for large steamers.
Those plying In the trade are the Rcbeeca,
Rowens, Commercial and Tycoon, all ,aest--
class boats. Many others occasionally run
up, and the leyee at tunes Is quite lively. !.
TIE TOWN WAS MADE By TIE ARMY.
The Government has expended and is
through its agents expendiug considerable
sums upon it. A Brig. Gen. Shaler is in com
mand here. He has had built for h1mselfia'
large and somewhat tasty house, and Ia now
stoless aaaes put = ior @ fhs Gsv
ernnert buildings, such as dcpo:s, store-
hous 8, Sc, arc on large scale. We.
however, question the policy which places
a burden upon tho Government from which
only individual benefits arc derived. Were the
Har to last indefinitely It might be economy,
these buildings may be after the war the
azistoczatic Residences OF native Arkansians.
Considerable labor is expended In laying of
the streets and arranging the construction
Of houses. |
Under Gen. Andrews thcy we're arranged
upon one plan, but By present authority are
being torn down and arranged on another.
Thus the town is being built and rebuilt. ;
There has been. . succession Of celebrations.
The fall Of. Richmond, the surrender Of Lee,
and the reported surrender Of Johnston.
This dsy, however, embraced all. There was
tiag raising, and the troops we're ordered
out, paraded and finally drawn up In line,
platform had been erected, from which Lieut..
Col. May addressed the troops In j brief and
fo1c1blc speech. It Was we'll received, and
the cheers proposed for Gen. Grant. the army
Of the Potomac, and Lincoln, wete given
with great enthusiasm. The bands played
The soldiers were marched through the
large room Of the unfinished headquarters;
building and then provided with tin cup OF
beer and large sandwiches. In q room ahova
were the tables for the officers, upon which
were cold meats, pickles and champaign, but
in limited quantities., and bread.
4 BARREL OF. BEER
was on tap and an orderly kept very busy in
drawing. Had it not been Tor the rain 1t
would lAve passed off more PLEASANTLY
There WIS dance on one Of the boats fJF:
the General and his party, but the ladies'
were few - !
Little Rock was illuminated for the fail Of
Richmond, but moro brilliantly for Lees sur
render. E.H.s. ,