, 1861-05-24

II Dt 4N01u&a1AeAs
The blockade which probably, by this time,
and l2rbo1s Of the Gulf OF Mexico, will soon be
matter Of deep concern to the commercial in
tcre6ta Of New Orleans, and, indeed, the whole
valley above that city, and turn portion Of
the public attention to the mouths Of the
Mississippi river, from which commercial ves-
ded, and pFiyateera. If 1t is possible to send
them to sea, are to enter upon their hazardous
cruises.
The Mississippi river discharges its waters
into the Gulf Of Mexico, about 10 miles below
New Orleans, By two principal outlets, known
en the river as the Northeast and the Souft'eca
Passes.
The point Of bifurcation Of the river Is about
ninety five miles below the city, and is known
to The pilots and boatmen aa the Head Of the
Ras~s. The depth Of the Mississippi, so shall
low at lis mouth, above this point ranges
from less than 100 feet to over l70 feet-1nd
its average width below Ne~- Orleans il ycry
nearly half a mile.
Tie current during the spring aud summer
mouths, while the water is high, is very
atrCng-aYcraging not less than two and q
half miles En- hou1-and serves greatly to fia-
cilitnte the purpose Of privatcer, of slipping
to sea in defiance CT the vigilance Of block
adirg squadron.
1te principal channel, OF chief outlet Of the
commerce, as well as the waters Of the Missis-
sippi, is now the more westwardly Of Its two
great a1ms-that known es the Southmea Fuss
and ie the only one by which vessels draw
irg over fifteen feet water can 1T all stages Of
the tide Cross the bar which is found at the
point where The waters Of the river encounter
those Of the Gulf.
The other great outlet, known as the North.
east Rss, enters the sea at point some twen-
tF. five miles, measured along the coast, east
Of the mouth of the Southwest Pass.
This Northeast Pass was formerly the Chief
channel by which commercial vessels passed
to and from the Mississippi; but It is now, by
reason Of natural changes to which all the
channels have been subjected in the last cen
tury, SO filed up as to be barely nayigablc for
craft drawing about eight teet water, and for
these only in favorable conditions OF tide aud
weather.
Midway between these two principal passes,
and almost equally hlsectiug the anglo formed
between them, is another channel, leading
from The Mississippi river to the Gull, and
known as the Eo1tth I1ss; which WAS also used
| q good deal before the American Revolution.
By vessels draw ing not over eight OF nine feet
| Of water, bat which Is now go flied up f3 dc.
posits 60 as to have become partially unit for
navigation.
In addition to these three outlets there Ia
yet another claune1 leading to tho f. ol
g1eat importance, aud known M the saE
OtttTe-tor1ncd by the bfturcGtlo oft \.
east Pass; but which, though uarr !,
| the Northeast pass itscH, is yet both u
and deeper than that chaunul, and -
| the best and kkortedt passage for e: .ardly
| Of water, OF even u feet with steam tug to
| help them through.
The distance from the navjgablc channel
| acroes the bar, at the mouth Of the Southwest
| Pass to that at thu mouth Of the Fuss a + Out1l
is about thirty miles. 1t will be perceived,
therefore, that to effcctuclly blockade the no1f
| Of New 0rleans, by vessels cruising of the
mouths Of the Mississippi, twill require grea:
vigilance, and the use Of many well armed ves
| se!s Of Light draft, and an increasing look out
at the three naVigablo entrances to tue river
| as well as at tho mouths Of the outlets Of Lake
fGncha1,train, ,t IL The rear Of the city.
widths Of the mouths Of the river, and tht
heavy fogs which will prevail there, seryins
| frequently to yell, for long periods, the hui
Of vessel lying within few hundred yard
| Of the 1nau-ofWar in search Of her.
The difficulty is also increased by the ugh1
| and loose nnture Of the bottom OF the river OF
the bars, which is 60 movable and almos
fluid, tbat 4 priyateet Of Light draft, yet draw
ing more than the actual depth Of tie water
| may leave the channel. and sometimes escap,
IN dense fog, while blockading vessel nigh
be actually crossing the bar.
4 vessel receives such aid from the c11rren
rfpbt tbo1oR its keel nnav cot two e 10 ~, ~,
tHree feet into the soft n;ld m tie hotto,n -, =
the river. -S "0A'oo'
The difficulty Of maintaining tb,a b1oc,~sd,
will be further Increased hv H. ;nsrraonta -
New Orleans arminr tI1eir nnmc16na a.; !"
nnwerfn1 steam.t1gs 6n1 ofharaVa;iab1. - ~. y
and dnsccndinr nj fyorahle rer;o1s T., e,,fR
cjc1t force 10 en,are IKE i;uh m - 49,
nntiet If the 1sTiicn1ar 80 ~ @niiaa' Nv - ~
h1ncI.ndfrp eone1ron hen1,ars - ~ ~cn ~ ~. ~
ment to he weakest ee."'' A'1 t1e Aoo
Il i not to h. dnzh+.d +h,+ q, o 1,~
force Of stea1.yeesels Vii h. rean;rs reds ~ =,
" e1,ard the geTera ,nonths of tba Sf;ss;ss;n ~ ~
ii: and It has therefore 1,een su1rasfeJ +
fha Govern,nent. bv m en1inasr $500 be.ra - =
hove naasnn to he,eye q 4 caSapis - T4om toI,~
a correct or;nion in tI,o nren;sn, ~ ~,
blockade of fhe Miasisa;nni p;re, can1d rn.ai - =
far mora easily and e1fsrfr'af;v 1nafnta;nad X y
fniino no,t<ss;on of ~ ~, t.a,o,' -. ! !
Tead of lie Rssst tba nd;n+ If dive-+,orra ~ y,
tbe three principl ont1fts and n1ac;SG vs wa1i \
sTmed veseeIs. had Ind ~ noa+;[ar S,t+er' ~
a. 80 ;CS9 a1.,t,a 0uu ~ VI 4oatlng oaatsE
~ ~ as "crn,,,a+a,s 39s ~ ra ~ ~ nat Poin,
~ ~ ~ ~ copas'e5 -;;ea ~ command n Az she outlet
M.;a.,.,n; ~ sus ~ a. hotS or tae character OF u
,.tssn am1 ~ le sHoles arc represent
- ~ W z ~ 70 inc institatio
~ ~ 1l1s haa.s io.a ~ - i9.tiu ~ Dlockaae-
n: !he po.9Gts " sae 1lyes IT ne lead OF II
Tssee aIu .nss5d a5 g 1e1lH p ~ .ne way up
/ 1