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of sivilisation, it is either covered with sicamore and cotton wood timber, as under brush of pwillow and cane, the latter grows so thick that a man can hardly get through it. 4 P. M. passed the ruins of a deserted town, on the Miss. shore, all there was to show was the Chimney's. Tuesday 7 P. M. the salute is again fired by the flag ship to call in the pickets, there was on company sent out from each Regiment, 9 1/2 P. M. passing Napolean, it is a small town not as large as Upper Alton, had we stoped there at night, I do not think that any power of the Officers could have saved it from the torch, the indignation is so great among the many on the oposite shore are the chimnies of several houses which look as though it had been burnt lately. It is getting cloudy with a cold wind blowing from the North. Orders have just been given to hold ourselves in readiness to march at any minute, the report is that there are some fortifications near here, that must be removed before we pass, the gun boats have gone forward to reconnoiter. Now, twelve boats in sight in front and thirteen to the rear, it is seldom I can see so many the river is so crooked, we are now runing North West. I think I would be safe in saying that we run to every point of the compass, every twenty four hours. There is the least scenery of any place I ever saw, the ground is wet and swampy, heavily timbered with Cypress, under neath the soil it is sandy which washes away, and