The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-12-28
Description of ship Island.

The following description of Ship
Island, where the advance forces of Gen.
Buffers Expedition landed on the 18th
inst, is given by a correspondent of the
.New York Herald.
Ship Island is situated in longitude 50
and little north Of latitude 30, and is
the property of the State of Mississippi.
1t is about sixty miles from New Orleans,
nearly the same distance from the North
East Pass; at the mouth of the Missis-
sippi river: forty miles from Mobile, and
ninety from Fort Pickens. 1t lies
between Horn Island, on the cast, and
Cat Island on the west, and is distant
about five miles from each. Some. ten or
twelve miles to the north, on the main
land of Mississippi, are the towns of
Balexi, Tascagonia; and Mississippi
City. These towns arc favorite summer
resorts for the wealthy planters and mer-
chants of the Gulf States, and, in con.
sequence of bar off their shore, are now
The places of refuge for rebel gun-bosts.
Ship Island is somewhat undulating
and extends in slight curve about seven
miles east northeast and west southwest.
At West Point, (the western end y where
the fort is located, the island is little
more than an eighth Of a mile wide, and
is mere sand spit, utterly barren of
grass or foliage Of any kind. This
eastern end, or East Point, is about
three quarters of mile in width, and is
well wooded witE pine, cedar, and live
oak.
The whole island contains fraction
less than two square miles of territory.
Excellent water can be obtained in UNI
limited supply by sinking a barrel. any
whore on the place. The great aavant-
age of this is too palpal,lc to require
comment.
When the rebels evacuated the island
they left some thirty-six head Of cattle.
They are now grazing on the cas- ern end
Of the island, hey would starve to death
at West Point, unless, as somebody
suggested, they were provided with
green spectaclcs,) and are in a very fan
condition. Besides the cattle, there are
drovcs of hogs running about loo Sc, and
any quantity Of raccoons: So numerous
are the later; that the sailors and
marines from the fort will tree ten or q
dozen of them together in the day time.
and then kill them with their cutlasscs
as they drive them down. Soldiers are
not slow at following any such example
and already they have increased and
varied their Government rations with the
oily meat of this much-abuscd animal.
Like most of the islands in this lati-
tude, this place contains a pretty we'll
assorted stock of reptiles and vrmin
but with two thousand men on so small
area, it will no, be long before the ALI.
gators, snakes, and other e moist, I'M
pleasant bodies" will bid adue to these
scenes. and take an early train for thai
place where there are no armed men tt
modest or make them afraid.
At the western end of the island arc
situated the fort, lighthouse, and the
few houses which escaped the incendiary
efforts of the rebels. The houses consis
of one good-sized, wcllbuilt brick house.
which, after considerable repairs, would
make very comfortable headquarters fol
the commander, or an excellent hospia
for the sick, and three or four huts fol-
cooking houses, &c. The lighthouse
has been fine one; but the rebels burn
it so thoroughly, breaking the glass an(
carrying off the lamp, that it is unsafe
and likely to fall at any moment. 1t il
round and built of stone. The fort
described at leng h IN another place.
The sand at West Point is of beauti
full quail y, and in the dim light of earl,
morning or evening resembles, in thu
purity of its whiteness, the spotles
drifts of snow which now cover the hill
and valleys Of New England. Comm!
suddenly upon deck before sunrise tn
illusion is perfec., and one almost forget
that he is in country where frost il
a seven years wonder. But pleasant a
it is to look upon, it is wretched stuff t.
walk in; it is so soft and deep that
five or six mile march is dreadful,
exhausting.
The island possesses q very superio
harbor, into which nineteen feet Call b