Among the cotton thieves.: By Edward Bacon.

ï~~COTTON THIEVES.

131

exterior works, except that some of the guns in the water batteries can be turned so as to command other fortifications near
the river. Nearly all of the line of earth-work is intended to
be of the zigzag kind. The ditch, where there is any, is about
four feet in both depth and breadth, and the parapet is hardly
high enough to hide a man immediately behind it. The chief
strength of the place is what nature gave it-a labyrinth of
ravines and a dense forest standing inside the fortifications,
obstructing the view of the besiegers and stopping their shot,
while outside of the earth-works the same forest has been felled,
so as to make most of the way a mass of tangled tops where an
enemy would have to approach, but should assailants make their
way through this fallen timber, they would for about one hundred yards before reaching the ditch have to pass over ground
cleared of every obstruction, swept by the concentrated fire
of artillery and infantry. My inquiries about the supplies
which the enemy have are answered in a manner which satisfies
me that provisions, medical stores and ammunition, are scarce
in Port Hudson, and that time will soon give us the place, if the
demoralization of the besieging army does not sooner compel
us to raise the siege, and if no attempt is made to relieve the
besieged.
General Banks arrives, followed by staff officers and orderlies.
The guard turns out, obsequious slaves hold the stirrups, and,
when the well-uniformed riders have dismounted, lead away the
horses. I see that some fine looking quadroon and mulatto
girls are busy in couking, at the house, the various dishes
of food which genteel negro waiters are carrying to a table
which they have covered with a fine linen table-cloth. While
I wait a few moments for the General to get rested, I notice the
accomplished Brigadier-General C. P. Stone, earnestly questioning an intelligent rebel deserter, and pointing to places on a
map of Port Hudson, which he holds spread out on the ground.
Two well-dressed, middle-aged slaves, who look as if they had
always held positions of trust in great families, carry past me,
on silver trays, decanters of liquors and finely-cut glasses. I