Year: 1863

DEAR JACK:-You have permitted
me to lay before your readers a hastily.
written sketch of trip from St Louis
to Vicksburg and some items concern
ing the memorable seige Of that place.
1 started on my return to the north the
evening before the surrender and it
was not my fortune or that occasion
to see the city. The tall spire Of the
court house, it is true, could be seen
from our lines and indeed glimpses Of
the city, but nothing more. Last
Thursday grati6ed my curiosity by
nearer view. Approaching from the
north the traveller sees Vicksburg
while he is yet number Of miles dis
tant. This view gives much more
imposing appearance than closer in
spection confirms. Built IS it is on
rising ground, all the principal build
ings loom up into sight. Upon arriv-
ing at the landing [ walked up a con-
siderable bill and found myself on the
principal street. The census of 1860
gave Vicksburg population Of some
thing over seven thousand inhabitants,
a number which it has not varied from
materially for the preceding five or ten
years. The immense quantity Of mis-
siles which we had sent into the place
would lead one to suppose that the
buildings had suffered more than is
the case. But it must be remembered
that the guns that bore On the city
were those on the Mortar boats only.
and not those Of our approaches by
land. Most Of the houses have been
repaired, but many still exhibited ugly
sears. Major General John A. Logan
is now in command. The large num-
ber of troops which have been located
in this place and between it and Big
Black are here no longer. While I
was at Memphis the Regiments were
arriving there every hour, and in
travelling down the river I met several
divisions going up. These forces are
massing at Corinth and it is not diff
cult to conjecture where they are 60
ing from there. An active and glori-
Gus fall campaign may be anticipated;
we have been taught to expect nothing
but success and victory from the army
of the Tennessee.


About QUE hundred and twenty
miles below Vicksburg is Natchez.
This city is built upon an elevated
piece of ground in a situation decided
ly picturesque. Nor have art and
wealth been wanting in beautifying a
spot SO much favored by nature. 1t
presents q succession of the most
splendid residences, surrounded by
gardens which seem the realization Of
fairy-Iand. The business streets, too,
are miracles of neatness and beauty.
Happily this city has escaped wars
"wild desolationss'


The 10Th and SD Wis. Regiments
are stationed here, but it was not my
good fortune to see them.


Leaving Nachez in the afternoon of
the 9th inst. we moved down as far
as Red River, where we tied up for the
night, having 'run ON 3 fog bank," as
the Captain said. Two or three of our
gun boats blockade the mouth of this
stream, on the upper waters of which
several rebel boats are plying. Fifty
miles below we came npon Port Hud
son, particularly uninteresting spot
except for its historical "reminiscences.
The only marked features which it
presents are high banks of clay and
a very good harbor. 1t was never a
village Of any business Importance,
and, indeed, is nothing more than q
collection of twenty or thirty dingy,
looking houses, tar less pretty than the
villages of Morganzia and Bayou Sara
further north. An uninterrupted series
of plantations occupy both banks OF
the river from Natchez to Baton Rouge
the land being Of unsurpassed richnes:
and fertility. The latter place is 6
city Of considerable pretensions, both


as to size and beauty. The I. S


Arsenal fell far short Of my e1pecta


tions. The State Capitol was formerly


a very imposing edifce, as far as one


can judge from the walls which are


all that is left, the wood work having
been entirely destroyed by fire. W.
left Baton Rouge late in the afternoon


but our gun boat travelled most Of th'
night and when I woke up, it was with
in thirty miles of New Orleans.


could scarcely resist the impression


that had been transported into SOM
foreign region during the night, s.
marvellous was the change in the sur
rounding country. Instead of the cot
J ton fields which had lined the river
we were now in the midst of suga
! plantations. Everything presented