Paducah During the Civil War

OCTOBER 26, 1861.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

685

GRAND SALOON OF THE "GREAT EASTERN" DURING THE GALE.—SKETCHED BY C. F. HAYWARD.-[SEE PAGE 674.]

OUR PADUCAH SKETCHES.

WE devote the previous page to illustrations of PADUCAH, Ky., by Messrs. Beard and Travis. Mr. Beard writes, in explanation of his sketches :

The sketches I send are drawn on the spot from nature. The bridge at Paducah surpasses any thing of the kind ever before attempted in the United States. The river at the bridge is 3600 feet across. It is spanned by a hundred coal barges, strongly braced together, twelve feet apart, connected by trestle-work, and planked over; the planking is twenty feet wide. The bridge is constructed to carry the heaviest ordnance, at a point half a mile below the town. I also send you a sketch of Paducah, and the earth-works thrown up by our army on its occupation, It is a

beautiful little city, full of respectable and often elegant residences. It now wears, however, a deserted and melancholy appearance. Whole streets of tenantless buildings stretch from the landing to the intrenchments; and the few inhabitants who remain, although entirely unmolested and secure, look guilty and sullen. Some of our boys left the steamer Sunday, and, wandering about the town, took possession of the deserted choir of a secesh church, and one of our number being a good organist, and most of us having assisted before on such occasions, we did our best to convince those within hearing that, although belonging to the " Northern rabble," we were not altogether heathen and benighted. Another of the sketches refers to the raising of the American colors in the little settlement of Alton, near Blue Creek, a characteristic sketch of the little river towns below Louisville. I must not forget to refer to the fleet of thirteen steamers, which,

under Captain Philips, brought down the material for the bridge, a rough sketch of which I obtained at New Albany.

Of the HOSPITAL, Mr. Travis writes that it was built by the United States in 1850-'51, at a cost of $50,000. Paducah is considered the most healthy place in the West, and hence the hospital has not had much business as yet. Dr. Hamilton, Surgeon of the Ninth Illinois Regiment, mentioned to Mr. Travis that, on looking over the old books, he never found over sixteen patients reported on any one day. Paducah has been threatened by the rebels for some time, but has never been attacked, and probably never will be.

McCLELLAN.

So much thy Country loves thee, youthful Chief! So wholly in thy Genius do we trust,

That all our hopes and fears on thee we thrust, In one impulsive sweetness of belief.

So eagerly we drink the flattering tale,

Of all that thou art doing and hast done, That on the. wild wings of each Autumn gale We list thy praises; and beneath the sun No man treads on this sacred soil to-day

Revered and loved as thou art. But we ask . A vast return for this great love ; thy task Is to redeem thy Country! Hope and pray ;

And may the Great God, hearing, smile on thine intent! He is our trust, and thou His chosen Instrument.

BLACKSTONE, MASSACHUSETTS, Oct., 1861.

DINING-ROOM OF THE :"GREAT EASTERN" DURING THE GALE.—SKETCHED BY C. F. HAYWAED.-[SEE PAGE 674.]