New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-01-15
MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE.
Special to the New Orleans Cscsceut.I

| FDkT EhILiFt
| Sunday, Janua,y l3-3 O'Clock A. VS.
| M Editor: The steamer Empire Parish is just
unloading military stores at Fort Jackson, right
opposite u.s. and in hopes that she may go up only
after daylight, will attempt to give you some in
formation about the men anG~place being mix
ture of serious and light matter.
We are now in the middle, of an excitement, and
our little garrison has beenup all night with double
posts, outposts, and hourIy rounds-a heavy task
for rs, as our company, 1st Louisiana Foot Rifles,
is alone in charge of the Fort, under Capt. st.
! Paul, commander.
The night has been one of constant alarms and
| lynxeyed watchfulness, aud here is the reason:
| Towards IL O'Clock last night, the sentinels OBJ
served what appeared to be rakish sort OF steam
screw propeller, Echooner-masted, moving up the
river with great caution, and steam nearly shut off,
| They reported her to the commander, who, after
observing her cautious and sentmOyements, hailed
her to know her whereto and wherefrom. Hardly,
however, had his voice been reverberated over the
| waters, when she put out at once the only two
lights, stern and bow, she had on board. and shut
off her steam entirely. Then, familiar, it appeared,
with the currents and counter currents OF the river,
she steered towards the eddy, running up stream
right above the Fort for about three miles, and
without canvas or steam foated up in deadly
IouCh property S-hSltCN 'HS sdSPi-
cions of our commander, who at once prepared to
repel any storming party that might be landed
from the vessel. He went himself outside the for
ications, searched and inspected every rock, bush
OF strolling ground that might conceal the approach
of an enemy. Meanwhile, Lieut.. Lauve was dis
tributing fresh ammunition to the men, who painted
with joy at the anticipation Of fight, and it would
have done your heart Or any Southern heart good
to see that fine band of almost beardless youths so
cool, so silent and yet so determined, at the ap
proach of deadly strife. After the vessel had
reached the point, standing out our side, about
two miles above, she again showed her lights, and
took position in the very middle of the river in
manner which enabled her, if she proved what we
thought, when day broke to explode our works and
batter down our batteries, without almost any peril
to her Bat, as we have not single round Of eau
, non ammunition, and not more than four or five
shots apiece for our Mnnies " we shall retire into
the casemates until they come to take possession,
and then charge them with bayonets until the place
remains ours are no more. Our men have
{ been broken down by extra watching and rounds,
in both of which duties they have acquitted them
selves, not like recruits but like old veterans.
Their increased vigilance has caused already four
: or five alarms, which brought onehalf the men to
their feet, and, in every instance, the sentinels
. had shown the greatest prudence and bravery,
> never firing off until the proper challenge had
been given, nor rallying in the main post until
after having reloaded and resumed their beat
Yet, with only forty-four men, rank and fle, that
service required four double posts, say eight men
as sentinels besides the Sergeant and Corporal OF
the guard-house and, believe me, such service
demands the most violent exertons on the part OF
the men, without speaking of the officers, who
hardly ever cease watching at night.
Now, word about Fort St. Philip ITSELF First
r located by the French, and consisting of mere
, bockhouse, with a few mounted pieces, the com.
i manding Importance of the place decided the
Spanish Government in establishing there a reg
+. ular fort, in the construction of which immense
v sums and labor have been consumed. The Amer
. lean Government equally appreciating the posi-
y ton, has already expended more than 500, 600
, and under contracts amounting to $3.50, 900 t
. complete the works. exclusive of arming them.
, As an increase of defense, they have erected
right opposite, q stronghold known as Fort Jack
a son, on the plan, believe, of Gen. Bernard,
0 French Engineer for many years in the U. S
. service, the guns of whose batteries rake ur
= within the bend below, whilst those of Fort St
+ Philip sweep down the coast a distance Of five
y miles.
~ |
n ans celebrated Star fortresses, and 1anked by
r two outside batteries, each of twenty-five Il
= Founders, hastion form, with fine glacis, revet
q meuts and moats but the western battery is en-
tirely unarmed, and the eastern has only tel
It pieces mounted, and bearing on the lower point
whilst the whole should mount 1879 guns and b.
q protected BY three more detached forts, of eigh
d gups each, in the rear.
j. As to the main fort, which our company oc
+. cupes, it is nearly dislnantled. The easements
# having been overhowed by the late storms, ar
n covered with several inches of soft mud; til
q portcullis, or main gate, is dismounted, and tn
n say-port fallen off. In front of these only tw
e entrances, temporary bridges, had been construct
:, ed, thereby changing those means of security an
defense into of easy ingress into the fort.
Il But, this is not althe fort is entirely unprovde
with powder, shot or any gunners' implements
Is and the order of Gov. Moore to Capt. st. Paul
sink any hostile vessel attempting to force wa
up, is much like harlequn's masters orders to 6
forth and do battle to the last, but forgetting t
give him musket, powder and balls.
Now q word about the men.
p The lst Company having been asked a deta
e force of only twenty-five men. mustered With
v three hours fortyfour active members, being onl
3 3 the first detachment of the company under con
a mand of the Captain and First Lieutenant, mobi
t. lied for the purpose of immediate active service
y, and further rendered their second or depot d.
u tachment, of twenty-seven men, under the order
n of their Second Lieutenant.
r, This company is not always strong on parad
days, the men all young natives of this cit
Il employed in commercial houses but, on this, the
q first call for active service, they ready to mu
W ter seventy-fve men-the best appointed, equippe
and armed company of light infantry which I'll
A South can boast of.
m Of the spirit Of these young men, garriso
! duty, one cannot speak too highly; placed, as
&: were, in a forlorn position, the most exposed, "
o. the most important of the State, position whic
n commanding the only entrance to the city, mu
" be obstinately defended, they have exhibited
s. spirit of discipline, frmness and industry unsu
s. passed in volunteer troops. Accustomed to all tt
!" refinements Of elegant city life, they have sudden
!, become Injured to the hardest and toughest way
f. Having no one to work for them, they have b
come mechanics, carpenters, masons. They ha1
as yesterday stood upwards Of ten hours in water
u their knees, breaking up heavy bridges and foo
paths, eveling the ground on the glacis and reve
Il ments, putting up barriers and fences buildir