The tide was now low, and there was a prospect that we should have to wait full six hours to get away.

We worked on, however, and after a few hours a tug came to our assistance and pulled us out of the mud and towed us into the right channel, up which we steamed on our way to New Orleans, one-hundred-twenty miles away.
The country on both sides of us was an immense marsh--no hills in sight, no timber, nothing but the same level marsh or prairie.

When we were nearer the Crescent City some houses came in sight; then we passed General Jackson's battle-field, and in due time reached the city.
On board this ship I became acquainted with Dick Evans who lived in the same county that I used to in Wisconsin, near Mineral Point, so the three of us now concluded to travel together.
New Orleans seemed to be a very large city.

Near the levee a large government building was in course of construction for a Custom House.

It was all of stone, and the walls were up about two stories.