Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-14
The Southern Gulf and Atlantic Coast.

Ine SOuLueGh GSulA anu ALIHuLic OOHBt,
THE CHANDELEUR ISLANDS AND MOBILE BAY.
Among the islands said to have been taken
possession of by the United States forces in
the are Gulf the Chandelier group. They
lie Immediately south of the point where
Lake BorRne debouches into the Gulf. They
lie full sixty miles east of the mouths of the
Mississippi, and twenty-five from Mobile
Point. The group consists of three small
islands-the southernmost being the smallest.
They bend in the form Of semi circle. Be-
tween them and the north east point of St.
Bernard Parish, which is the southernmost
parish in Louisiana, lying east of the Mis-
sissippi River, is Chandelier Bay.
Upon the northernmost island of the group
there was fixed light fully sixty feet high.
1t was of the utmost use to sailors navigating
those waters. The rebels, with their van
dalism, are said to have removed it some
months ago. The Notifications of these
islands, with corresponding batteries upon
Ship, Cat and Horn Islands, and at Missis-
sippi City, upon the main land, will com.
pletely control the debouchure of Borgne into
the Gulf and aid most materially in the
blockade of Mobile Bay.
This bay is separated, at its entrance into
the sea, by an island called Dauphin. At the
entrance, including Dauphin Island, it attains
a breadth of fourteen miles. The deepest
channel is on the east side of Dsuphin, ad-
mittipg vessels of eighteen feet draught.
Batteries on Horn Island would render the
passage of the western channel a very hazard
Gus experiment. Were Dauphin also forti-
fed, and Mobile Point and the main land on
the west planted with water batteries, Mobile
would also be most effectually blocksded.
BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA.
The necessity for the seizure of this port
h., h. Eodn hao a;
cussed in certain quarters, and has been said
to be seizure which would be highly ad-
vantageous to the Government. 1t is sit
uated in an arm of the sea called Port Royal
River, about fifteen miles from the Atlantic.
The harbor is one of the safest on the whole
Southern coast, and has eleven feet water
full upon the bar at its entrance. Situated
Immediately south of the line of railroad, at
q distance of twenty miles, running between
Charleston and Savannah, it would afford an
easy base for land operations against either
Either could be much more easily taken by
land operations than from the sea. Its i'm
portaDce is then by no means to be under
valued in any future series of assaults upon
these hot-beds of treason. Its distance from
Charleston is less than fifty miles, and lit.
tie further from Savannah.
The great desideratum gained by an attack
upon it is that it can be taken with little OF
no loss of life, and can be so fortified as to be
held landward against g. formidable force
The British took it and held it for severa
months during the Revolutionary War; deem.
ing it point of the greatest Importance. 1t:
collector, under Mr.. Buchanan's Administra
tiou, refused to give in his adhesion to th,
Secession dynasty in South Carolina, anC
was arrested for high treason. He subse
quently succumbed to force. 1t must not bt
confounded with the North Carolina Beau
fort, more than hundred miles northeast oI
IT,