Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-21
Desert0,Ion OF sbIp Island.

that, as the island Will pI0Oa0ly play an i'm
portant part In the history Of the rebsllion of
1861, from its being the base of extended
offensive operations in the South west. and
will challenge the attention Of the whole
county from the interest which General
Phelps proclamation will give it, shall try
to give as detailed a description of the place
and its surroundings as my own observations
and limited resources at hand will sffJrd
Ship Island is situated in longitude 80 and
a little north Of latitude 30, and is the prop
erty of the Ssste of Mississippi II is about
sixty miles from New 0rleens, nearly the
same distance from The Northeast Pass, at
the mouth OF the Mississippi River, forty
miles f7On MOBILE and ninety from Fort
Pickens. 1t lits between Horn Island on
the east and Cat Island on the west aud is
distant about FIVE miles from each. Some
ten or twelve miles to the north, on the
mainland Of Mississippi, are the towns Of
Balexi, TasCsgonis and Mississippt City.
These towns are favOTte summer resorts for
the wealthy planters and merchants CT the
Gulf States, and, in consequence of q bar off
theiT shore, are now the places of refugs for
rebel gunboats.
Ship Island is somewhat unduating sod
extends in slight curve about seven mites
east northeast and west southwest. At
West Point (tbe western end), where the
fort is located, the island is little more than
an eighth of a mile wide, and is mere saudi
pit, utterly barren of grass or foliage of any
kind. This eastern end, or East Point, 10
about three. quarters of mile in width, and
is well wooded with pine, cedar apd live oak.
The whole island contains fraction less
than two square miles of territory. Excel
lent water can be obtained in unlimited sup
ply by sinking barrel any where on the
place. The great advantage of this is too
palpaOle to require comment.
When the rebels evacuated the island they
left some thirty six head of cattle. They ave
now grazing on the eastern end of the
| island, (they would starve to death at West
| Point, unless, as somebody suggested, they
| were provided with green spectacles,) and
are in very fine condition. Besides the
| cattle, there are dPoves of hogs running
| about loose, and any quantity of raccoons.
| So numerous are the latter, that the sailors
| and marines from the fort will tree ten or a
| dozen of them together in the day time, and
| then kill them with their cutlasses as they
| drive them down. Soldiers are not slow at
| following any such example, aud already
they have increased and varied their Gov
erDmeDt rations with the oily meat of this
| much abused animal.
Like most of the islands in this latitude
this place contains a pretty well assorted
stock of Iept les and vermin, but with two
thousand men on so small an area it will
not be. long before the alligators, snakes
and other "mOist, unpleasant bodies" will
bid adieu to these scenes, and take an early
train for that place where there are no armed
men to molest or make them, afraid.
AT the western end of the island are sit.
uated the fort light house, and the few
houses which escaped the incendiary effort,
of the rebels. The houses consist of onC
good-sized, well built brick house, which
afler considerable repairs, would make very
comfortable head quarters for the com
mander, or an excellent hospital for the sick
aud three or four huts for cooking houses
&c. The light house has been fine one, bu
the rebels burst il so thoroughly, breaking
the glass and carrying off the lamp, that i
is unsafe, and likely to fall at any moment
1t is round, and built of stone. i, The fort
describe at length in another place. Th
sand at West Point is of beautiful quality
and in the dim light of early morning o
evening resembles, in the purity Of its white
ness, the spotless drifts of snow, which nos
cover the hills and valleys of New England
I Coming suddenly upon deck before sunrise
the illusion is perfect, and one almost forge,
that he is in country where frost is
! seven years wonder But pleasant as it
! to look upon, it is wretched stuff to walk il
it is so soft and deep that five or six mil
march is dreadfully exhausting.
The island possesses a very superior hal
Dor, into which nineteen feet can be carrie
: at ordinarily low water. 1t is situated Mort
of the west end OF the island. The auchorsg
with water equal to the depth on the bar,
five miles long, and averages three and
quarter miles in width. The harbos is sa
for thE most dangerous storms in the gulf
those from the eastward, southwark an
westward, southward-and might be easil
7 entered during these storms without pilo
! if good lighthouses were placed in prop,
4 positions. The rise and fall of the tide
| 4. ~, al -
: fone of the results of this war should
to make this island an important place
Q trade, the value of this harbor can not
: over estimated. 1t is the intention of Il
e Government to occupy Ship Island with
j large force.