New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-07-20

NUMBER NIEErY-Two.

few months ago, after most of the blacl
military corps had been disbanded in ou
State, we visited the upper environs Of GU.
city in the vicinity of the breastwork fortiti
cations or Camp Parapet, erected at the uppel
line of Jefferson parish, above the several vii
lagos Of old and new Carrollton. Whilst stroll
ing through the then partly abandoned ant
partly occupied camps of the federal black
troops, we could not suppress within us the
painful reflections suggested by the singular
appearance of these temporary military en-
campments. The abodes or huts constructed
by these troops, under the superintendent
and no doubt in conformity to orders from the
military authorities, were nothing to be
boosted Of or to be applauded by civilized
community or people. Such constructions
resembled, indeed, SO many heaps of earth
hills made by the field rats called moles
with chimneys Of mud, exactly like some
magnifed constructions of crayish outlets,
SO that by combining both these animals arch
itecture together, one would behold the curl
Gus rows of mud plastered dog kennels, of
which were formed these unseemly, nav in
human areas Of military encampments. Now
nothing is stronger with the African race than
the spirit or aptitude of imitation possessed
in 50 eminent degree BY theinferior type of ami
mails called monkeys or apes, and there cannot
bea doubt but that after the licensing of these
black troops, who mostly belonged to the rural
population they will at once set about profit
ing by the lessons thus inculcated, forming
for themselves after their return in the
country districts, just such miserable mud
constructions for their permanent abodes
upon the public vacant lands in the pine
woods, or bottom tracts, whore, With little
labor, they can exc out an independent
existence. Such condition of things we do
not recollect having ever seen in this country
before. True, the ancient primitive small
planters houses were generally without
wooden floors, but then they had doors and
windows, not mere holes to creep into, such
oven-like sorts of mud wigwams Nay, even
The Indian huts, which we beheId in the Red
River districts, or what were called the cabins
Of the Spanish or Mexican fandango Indians
above the town of Natchitoches, although
poor and piteous contrivances, still were
palaces in comparison to the above alluded to
federal camp pavillions or camp sleeping
bins For what name shall we give, to what
is not even a hut or temporary hunters
she'd, made Of sticks, branches and leaves,
but Of heaped up mud ovens.
These human mole hills were dispersed all
over former farm yards or country plains, adj |
joining devastated gardens and flower par-
terres In one Of these abandoned country
sites, in the back part Of what had been
very lastly arranged flower garden, We dis
covered family buying vault, rather an IN
usual sight when the village cemeteries are SO
close at hand as to render unnecessary these
buying places upon the private family estates.
1t may be that the deceased had desired to he
thus inferred upon his own country seat under
some shade tree and surrounded by garden
shrubbery Although there was a marble
lab covering the entrance Of the tomb, which
vas eneireled by an iron railing, we could not
make out the inscription, the letters being
ather obliterated, whilst yet the small
Prick mausoleum was very wei preserved |
Upon this occasion we would observe that not
My that particular farm seemed to have suf-
cred by the proximity Of the federal camp,
or there had been no actual hostiities be-
ween the contending parties in such close
proximity to our city, but that several other
country residences had been abandoned by
he families, no doubt on account of the ex-
.esses committed in the beginning of that
military encampment which, it Will be reeol-