Munchauseniana.
Vicksburgh,
August 27.--We had a visit yesterday from a couple of soldiers who left
New-Orleans on Wednesday last.
Two weeks before starting they commenced fishing at the lake, and thus became acquainted with all the
Yankee sentinels in that vicinity.
On last Wednesday, having perfected their arrangements for getting away without causing the least suspicion, they came down to the skiff as usual, for the ostensible purpose of going out on a piscatorial excursion, and rowed until they got across the lake and inside of our lines.
They confirm the report of the
Yankees having evacuated
Baton Rouge and going to
Jefferson City, two miles above
New-Orleans.
There are barely enough soldiers in the city to guard it. The night police are ordered to get themselves in readiness for any emergency at a moment's warning.
The mortality among the
Yankees is very great, and three of them are down with yellow fever at the
Charity Hospital.
The swamp opposite
New-Orleans is full of Texan and Indian guerrillas, who very frequently make a Yankee bite the dust.
Being provided with “
Jeff. Thompson's artillery,” they run it to the river and fire into transports as they pass along.
The Empire Parish was so severely damaged recently that transports are afraid to venture down the river at all now. An Indian chief with our guerrillas having heard that
Butler intended hanging the famous “Red bill no.
One,” visited
Butler under a flag of truce and told him if he executed that Southern man, nine Yankees, whom he had in custody, should be swung up to the nearest tree.
Butler concluded to send “Red bill” to
Fort Jackson, and told the avengeful red man to go back where he came from, to which he replied he would return when he got ready.
Butler is having all the
pig-iron and metal of every description removed from the city.
All the arms are being taken from the citizens, and every negro who informs upon any white man or woman having fire-arms is declared free by
Butler.
After the
battle of Baton Rouge, eight confederate prisoners were brought to the city, one of whom was barefooted.
A gentleman gave the man a pair of shoes, and upon the fact being made known to
Butler, he had this humane man sent to jail for six months. A member of the Eleventh Indiana regiment told our informant that their loss at the
battle of Baton Rouge in killed, wounded, and missing was at least one thousand.
It was reported in the city that a fleet of confederate gunboats were at the South-west Pass of the
Mississippi River.
The Federal fleet immediately started down the river, leaving only two gunboats at
New-Orleans, but nothing had been heard from them up to Wednesday.
The free market has been opened again for the benefit of the wives and families of the confederate soldiers, and those who have joined what is called the First regiment Louisiana infantry, organized under
Butler.
The men are deserting as fast as they can get away, declaring that they have seen enough of war, and will never fight for “niggers.”
Phelps recently tried the “pluck” of his negro regiment.
An
Indiana regiment was sent out, and ordered to load with blank cartridges, to appear as rebel guerrillas, when he would send his negro regiment out to attack them.
Every thing was got in readiness, and the negroes' guns clandestinely loaded with blank cartridges, they started in pursuit of the supposed enemy.
The
Indiana regiment turned upon the descendants of
Ham, when every one threw down their guns and took to their heels.
Some of the Indianians being sick of the negrophobia, loaded their guns with ball cartridge and shot about ten of these bosom friends of
Phelps.
The latter was sorely mortified to see his favorites run, and ordered a white sergeant to instruct them further in the evolutions of drill.
The sergeant turned upon
Phelps, and, after rebuking him severely, tore the stripes from his coat-sleeve indicating his rank, and told him that he was a private hereafter — that he would never drill negroes.
The
Delta states that eight vessels are loading at
Havana for confederate ports, and that they have the stars and bars flying at their mast-heads.
Captain Semmes has another privateer with a heavy armament of steel guns.
She chased the
Tuscarora nearly to
New-York.
The
Sumter has been refitted and is out again in charge of the
first lieutenant.
Butler had the captain and one of the pilots (
Mr. Miller) of the
Whiteman, put in irons, for running into a gunboat.
The
Whiteman was sunk.
General Williams's remains, which were on board, were afterwards found.--
Vicksburgh Whig, August 27.
