The War in America: refugees from southern cities on the Mississippi, from a sketch by our special artist, 1862. Our special Artist and Correspondent...writes as follows...: "I take it that the opening the Mississippi is not the least important among the many movements of the Federal forces; indeed, it appears to me that Peace and Commerce, hand in hand, will float down its broad bosom in the wake of the flotilla, restoring confidence on their way by recalling the suffering disaffected to their former avocations. Already numbers of refugees from the Confederate strongholds below us have penetrated through the submerged forests in dug outs, and have requested to be allowed to take the oath of allegiance to the old Government. Their description of the conditions of the Southern cities would scarcely indicate that the population is over sanguine as to the result of the struggle progressing or that its confidence is great in the ultimate success of Confederacy". From "Illustrated London News", 1862.