The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-25
The Condition OF southern Forts.

The Condition OF Southern Forts.
We present below the main features Of a
series of articles published in the Daily
PIoNEsR AND DExocRAr, over the signature
of 9 Delta" on the condition and situation
of the principal military posts at the
South. They are from the pen Of a
gentleman who :" knows whereof be writes, y
and whose military education and personal
experience in the United States army, en-
title his statements to public consideration:
lid THE ToRrUGAs ISLANDS, hi, 81.
Fort Jefferson, at the Tortugas Keys,
is perhaps the most important strate
getical point on the Gulf frontier, and ought
certainly to be so strongly occupied by the
United States that the rebellious forces
of the south cannot take it under any cir
cumstances. They can never take it, after
it is garrisoned, until they have navy. 1t
is ? the key to the Cult of Mexico, and in
connection with the island of Cuba, if we
held both, would convert that piece of water
into an inland sea, entirely under our own
control. . s....,.g
The Tortugas Islands lie little south of
west from Cape Sable, the southern extrem-
ity of the Florida Peninsula, and Fort JEFF
felson, which is built on one OF them, is one
of our largest seacoast forts. 1t is still
incomplete, but has been in course of build
ing about twelve or fourteen years. With
depot here, the force occupying it would
hang like black cloud over the whole
southern coast, ready to drop its thunder
bolt on Pensacola, Mobile, New Orleans, or
Galveston; or to pour it's storm of fury on
the numerous defences which command
the approaches to these ports or, for want
of an offensive force, could with the aid of
a squadron, efectually blockade all those
ports, should their defences be held alto
gether by the Southern forces ~.
Whether there is company at Fort
Jefferson am not informed, but it is hard
ly probable, as it has always been in the
hands of the Engineers Capt. Meigs, for
merly in charge Of the Potomac Acqueduct
and Capitol extension, has been recently
placed in chsrge of this work by Secretary
Floyd, in order to get rid of him at WASH
ington. Let US hope the detachment of
artillery from Fort Independence will find
this stronghold unoccupied by any traitors.
THE OFFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS. 90. 3.
The coast defences of New Orleans are
as follows Fort Pike, Fort Macomb, Bat
terry Bienvenue, Tower Du Pres, Fort
Jackson, Fort st. Philip, and Fort Living.
ston. There are also in Louisiana two
environments or barracks, viz: New Orleans
Barracks, in the city, one mile above the
battle ground, and Baton Rouge Barracks;
also, one q. s. Arsenal, at Baton Rouge.
Fort Pike defends the water approach to
New Orleans through the Rigolets Pass,
which is the most northerly outlet of Lake
Pontchartrain into Lake Borgnue. This
work is built on the point of an extensive salt
marsh, so soft and wet that man can
hardly stand without sinking knee deep any
where within a mile of the Fort.
twas built on grillage work of very heavy
timbers. with brick and earth brought there
for that purpose, and, it is said, entirely by
by men with barrows, unassisted by ami.
mails. The Rigolets Pass is about half a
mile wide and quite deep, and in rising and
falling tide, the current is as rapid as that
at Huri Gate or in the Piscataqua River.
Small as this Fort is, it is very complete
in itself, and if properly garrisoned, could
resist seige successfully. The nature of
the ground is such that approaches and
preaching batteries could be built against it
only by gigantic efforts, and by bringing
sand-bags in countless thousands from a
distance. 1t also defends this approach to
New Orleans sufficiently we'll. No vessel
drawing over nine feet could navigate the
channels of Lakes Borgnue and Ponchar~
train, to this approach, and if timber
boom was placed so as to obstruct the chan.
mel, it is hardly possible that feet of small
steamers could attempt a run by the Fort
without the certain destruction of most of
them. edo 3D. -.ir.sa afr1sE ei5 ls s..l1
The next approach to New Orleans is
nine miles south of the Kigolets, and al
though narrower than that pass, is quite as
deep and its current as rapid. 1t is the
"Chief Menteur Pass" leading from Lake
Borgne to Lake Pontchatrain, and is defend
ed by Fort Macomb, which is built and
armed almost exactly like Fort Pike in ev>
cry particular except that it is on terra fir
ma, which renders it a much easier prey to
a besieging force. fsfaal ~ g.-
It is remarkable fact, drawn from the
medical statistics of the army, that, whilst
Fort Pike has always been one of the most
healthy posts in the country, and is not
visited by the plaques which periodically
scourge this part of 9 the country, Fort
Macomb has exhibited large bills Of NOR
tality at times when cholera and yellow
fever have ragged in Louisiana. ed II
6; The existence Of an extensive salt marsh
which is over6owed at high water g at the
former, and its absence from the latter, has
been assigned as the probable cause of
this difference. lasnG19yoD ih1sa ~ sd
90 These two forts are about thirty miles
by water from New Orleans, but Fort Ma
comb has land communication with it
about twenty two miles. agTe gd ssroH
snw Immediately behind this work is a
dense forest growing in Q low swampy
ground, and gradually subsiding intoa cane
brake, which latter continues as far as the
limits of the municipality lines. -Wewiil
now step to the dockAand ordering an eight