Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-29
PROM NEW ORLEANS.
The New York Ns,ss publishes the following In
teresting correspondence from New Orleans O.

1 NEW ORLEANS, LA MaiCn lEs
The remarkable but proper retiCence of the
, military authorities IN reference To movements oi
a military cha racter in this quarter admits of the
| transmission of little intelligence of a definite
] character, but opens wide field for speculation.
It is known, however, equally well TO the Coincide
rates as in the best informed circles here Of Gener-
al Canby's preparations for the spring campaign.-
4 Thousands OF soldiers have arrived, and before
1 this reaches you will have marched from Pensaco-
Ia ID is the current belief that Mobile is the p0iut
OF al tack, aud that il will Dc evacuated or cap
| tured after fight. But such is not the opinion
| OF your correspondent, so far as regards
1 its destination, although he concurs in the
| general belief that Mobile will soon be oceu-
/ pied hy the Federal forces. Il is far more likely
| that Montgomery, Ala, is the present objective
point the possession of which will neceSSitate the
/ fall OF Mobile. But, on the other hand, should
| there be a direct movement against that city ii is
/ altogether Improbable that it will be defended
/ The COufederacy requires the service of every SOL
der in the field. TO attempt defence OF tho city
would certainly insure the ultimate and speedy
capture of its defenders. The policy OF the Con-
iederates is strictly defensive, with withdrawal
into the interior. Hence it is almost a certainty
that Mobile will be abandoned. liz has been of no
real value to the COnfederateS for months, except
ing in far as il impeded any operations up the
Alabama river. There are points of defence there
now far NOSE formidable than those of Mobile. The
numbers Of the force which will resist the march of
General Candy into the interior OF Alabama, can
no; be estimated but have reason to believe it
much greater than supposed here ThC last con-
ScriptOn has swept everybody into the ranks
You may look for important news by the next
steamer. -.. .
WORD ABOUT NEW ORLEANS.
No city in the South presents more marked
changes than New Orleans. Once it was the great
mart for trade, and distinguished for the social re-
hnement OF its people, as well aS their high pros
pcrty. All this has changed. Its streets no longer
TEEN with large and business population; their &C.
cupatiOn is gOue. Shops now replace what once
were mercantile houses; for the great merchants
ruined or dead or in the army which is but auOtl-
er name for death. In years gone by this port
crowded with hundreds OF vessels from all parts of
the world, aud steamboats, by daily arrived
and departed. There is 4 melancholy contrast now.
Once la while there is bark or ship from NOrths
ern ports, but rarely from foreign country,
except the few small vessels which ply between
MatamoroS and this port. In social aspect, the
spectacle is none the less SO-rOwtul The rich peO-
pie have been ruined, aud nearly all who could have
hed; some few remain to save something from the
wreck of fortunes, accumulated 10y years of honest
toll and integrity but they are generally exclusive,
aud are rarely seen. Some OF these from necessity,
and others from interest, recognize Federal OIL
Ger, but they are, nevertheless intensely diSlOya
and strong in the faith that the of the South
viii triumph. One lady said To me: ave tolerate
the visits OF these persons but we hate them still"
New Orleans is conquered city, bnt the people
detest their cOnqueTOrs.
There is comparatively but small trade here
There are shOpkeeperS, aud not many of them, but
lew merchants The present uninterrupted transit
of steamboats, ON the Mississippi brings large sup
plies Of produce, but this is usually Government
account, for the army. But small proportion finds
its way 10 Northern ports, and but limited quanti-
ties into the interior of the State. The cotton bust
ness Is confined To q few persons who have special
privileges, but even they get but little, excepting
where some arrangement has been made with tho
CVniederaleS. The steamer Rob Roy arrived re-
cently from Red River with seven hundred bales,
but this could have been done only with the per-
mission Of the COnIederaiCs. There have been sew
eral such transactions but am unable TO inform
you who was concerned, why they have been al
lowed 10 enter into this traffic III open viOlatiOn of
the laws OF Congress. Supplies only could buy
thiS cotton; who granted the permits To trade with
the enemyl As 1 passed the mouth of Red River
a lew days since there was steamer there just
frum above with 800 bales OF cotton brought down
under flag Of truce
The free labor system is now the great question
in that part OF Louisiana where the FcdcralS have
control. 1t cannot yet be determined how il will
result 1t is true the crops of last year were dis
astrouS failure but il would bc unfair To charge that
upon the new system, the season one OF the
worst for many years. Ii, however, ruined most
OF those who had leased plantations. Some OF the
old planters will Try il this season. with the priv
rer at hiring their own servants, and tins VIII
alinrd a Surcr and iaircr test. Men who come
flesh from the North know nothing of the ne
90, and cannot work them to advantage; bat
SUCH ct course, is not the case with the old planters
But All OF tucm will have inferior hands, as the
ablr-l.odied negro men are forced into the army,
leaving only the odd men, women aud children 10
cultivate the plantations. by the by, Northern
persons soon adopt Southern customs and IDEAS
70 Illustrate: met some days since 4 fair New
YoIk lady, whose husband has two leased planta-
items ia Bayou l.atuurche. Ia RESPONSE To ny in
quiry As to the conduct of the negroes under the
paid labor system, she said " 1t works only
tolrrable | think it my husband had the power to
lick them they would work much better" And the
lady laughed. We progress in our ideas.