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Below the city for a few miles were Sugar Plantations, and plenty of Sou^**0range3sg.jjoves.
Then all below that was Lagoons and Swamp, all covered with water except a narrow levee or foot path along the river.
Fort Jackson was on the west side of the River, and Fort St. Philip, where I worked, was on the East side opposite, where the Guns of Eoth*Forts could command the whole River for miles. Fort Jackson was of American biiild. Fort^StTP**-Philip^was„an-old-Spanish built-Fort-with old Guns and Mortars with the Spanish Crown and the year T805 on them when Louisiana belonged to Spain. (These Forts played an important part since in the War of 1861.)
The ground of the Forts were artificially made, made ground.
All around were Swamp & Cypress Lagoons, impassable even with boats. Immense numbers of alligators large and Small, even then in the winter, were floundering about or sunning themselves on logs within stone throw.
We were isolated from the outside world, working at new ditches around the Fort, and new drawbridge & fortifications, almost completely renovating And rebuilding the old Fort.
Worked every	day including Sundays.	Did our	own	washing	and
had	our own beds.	A gang of Slaves worked near us in	Separatle
quarters, but gave us considerable fun with their religious meetings and Juba	Dances and Songs.
The work was	very hard wheeling and	digging,	etc.	After	one
month went up., to New Orleans and was paid off.
Shipped on Steamer for S,t.^_IiOuis and arrived there about the last of March 1850. G-ladsSi Deleave New'^Orleans.
Steamboat Songs
One feature of Steamboat life I forgot to mention, the negro crews and negro Songs. Many Boats had negro crews of Firemen, and on the Boat backing out from the levee at St. Louis or New Orleans or Cincinnati, they would gather at the Bow, the leader of the singing standing on the Capstan waving his hat, and singing—He leading and the crew joing in the refrain or chorus.
£We are Bound for the Crescent City, Refrain:- Hooray You Rolling River, Where the Yaller Gals they are so pretty, Refrain:
Ah Ah You Shenandoah. You Shenandoah's my native valley, etc." and other songs of that kind — "Fire down below", etc.
Crowds would go to hear them. It was perfectly grand. Years afterwards I heard the Packet Sailors between New York and Liverpool sing the same songs.
joining in the refrain.