Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-21
pEsoRIPrIoN OF sHIP ISLAND.

DESCRIPTION OF SHIP ISLAND.
The correspondent of the Herald writes
that, as the island will probably play an
important part In the history Of the rebel.
lion of 1861, from its being the base of
extended offensive operations 10 the South.
west, and will challenge the attention Of the
whole country from the interest which Gen.
eral Phelps's proclamation will give II, ehall
try to give as detailed description of the
place and Its surroundings 50 my own obssrya.
lions and limited resources at hand will afford.
| Ship Island is situated in Longitude SO and
little North OF latitude 30, and is the property
of the State Of Mississippi. II Ia about sixty
miles from New Orleans, nearly the same dis
tsuce from the North East Paes, at the mouth
of the Mississippi river, forty miles from Mo-
bile, and ninety from Fort Pickens. Il lies be-
tween Horn Island, on the east, and Cat Island,
on the west, and Is distant about five miles from
each. Some ten or twelve miles to the north,
on the mainland of Mississippi, are the towns
Balexi, T8scagonia, and Mississippi City. These
towns are favcrlte summer resorts for the
wealthy planters and merchants of the Gulf
States, and, In consequence of bar off their
shore, are now the places of refuge for rebel
gunboats. .-.
Ship Island Is somewhat undulatipg, and ex
tenes in slight curve about seven miles east
northeast and wee. southwest. At West Point
| (the wettern end), where the fort is located
the island Is little more than an eighth of
mile wide. and is a mere sand spit, utterly bar.
rem of grass or foliage of any kind. This
eastern end, or East Point, is about three quar-.
ters Of q mile In Width, and Is well wooded with
pine, cedar, and live oak,
| The whole island contains fraction less
than two square miles Of territory. Excellent
water can be obtained In unlimited supply by
sinking barrel anywhere on the place. The
great advantage of this Is too palpabe to re.
quire comment.
When the rebels evacuated the island they
left some thirty head of cattle. They are
now grsz ng on the eastern end of the island
(they would ttarve to death at West Point, IN.
ltss, rs somebody suggested, they were proyid-
ed with green spectacles), and are In q very Iair
condition Besides the cattle, there are droves
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 dozen of them together In the day time,
and then kill them with their cu.lasses as they
drive them down. Soldiers are not slow at fol-
lowing any such example, and already they
have increased and varied their Government ra.
tions With the oily meat of this much. abused
animal,
Like most of the islands In this latitude, this
place contains pretty well assorted stock Of
reptiles and vermin, but with two thousand
men on go small an area, II will not be long be-
fore the alligators, snakes, aud 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. n
At the western end of the island are situated
the fort, lighthouse, and the few houses which
escaped the incendiary efforts of the rebe Q.
The houses consist of one good-eizsd, well.built
brick house, which, after considerable repairs,
would make very comfortable headquarters for
the commander, or an excellent hospital for the
sick, and three or four huts for cooking houses,
etc. The lighthouse has been fne one, bat the
rebels burntit so thoroughly, breaking the glass
and carrying of the lamp, that 1t is unsafe, and
likely to fall at any moment. II Is round and
built of stone. The fort describe at length in
another place. The sand at West Point Is Of
beautiful quality, and In the dim light of early
morning or evening resembles, In the purity Of
Its whiteness, the spotess drifts Of snow which
now cover the hills and valleys of New England
Coming suddenly upon deck before sunrise the
Illusion Is perfect, and one almost forgete that
he is In country where frost la seven yeare'
wonder. But pleasant 90 IL 10 to look upon, it
10 Wretohed stuff to walk 10; Il 10 30 soft and
deep that Ave or six mile march lie dreadfully
exhausting.
The leland possesses q veTy superior hatbor,
Into which nineteen feet can be carried at otdi.
narily low water. Il 10 situated north OF the
vest end of the island. The anchorage, with
water equal To the depth on the bar, is Eve miles
long, and averages three and quarter miles IN
width The harbcr is safe for the most danger
ous storms In the gulf-those from the east
ward, southwark and westward, and southward
--and might be easily entered during these
storms without pilot, II good lighthouses we're
placed In proper positions. The rise and fall OF
the tide is only from twelve to fourteen inches.
IL one of the results of this war should be TO-
make this island an important place Of trads,1
the value Of this harbcr cannot be over es.ima-'