The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-25

uCou uOuOto' Out INV CIucl was Inc SeQuel
After beating around hostile coast till
| patience was exhausted, he lands bis forces,
and for sixteen harassipg days be founders
through the endless marshes, opposed at
every step and meeting with almost insur-
mountable obstacles, and at last launches
his columns headlong on Jacksons pile OF
cotton bales, and falls into bloody grave.
81. ~ THE RIVER DEFENCEs. ...a.i
We will now examine the river defences
of New Orleans, which are Forts jackson
and st. Philip. They are on either side
the Mississippi. nearly opposite each other,
the former on theWest bank and about FORTY
miles below the city. They are built Of
brick and mount two tiers of heavy guns !;
how many are now in position we are unable
to state, but the two forts are intended to
dispose of 274 between them distributed in
classmates Iand barbette. They are regu>
lar bastion works, and, with reasonable
obstruction in the river, would undoubtedly
bar the passage. This is delightful resi-
dence for alligators, lizards, snakes, bats and
mosquitoes as for man it never was
intended for him. The very first glance
within the dense mass of growth which cir
cumscribes the view, chills you and makes
you think of the site Of Babylon, and of the
dread curse which makes that place an
everlasting alligators nest.
Half forest, half swamp, agues and fevers
might thrive there wonderfully but still it
is pretty to look upon as you pass. The
dsnse, dark shade below, and the ancient
oaks, representatives Of ages past, festooned
with poison vines and hoary with shaggy
masses of dishevelled moss. We have never
been on shore at this point; but, in passing
by several times, it has appeared to US that
the relief of Fort Jackson is rather low,
and although the ditch may be deeper than,
from the deck of vessel, it appears to be,
still the height from the bottom of it to the
berm"a at the foot OF the parapet is not so
great but that an attem pied coup de main
by escalade might be successful. There is
no probability the fort will ever be besieged
by regular approaches, and if ever attacked
it will by dashing assault. III
The Louisiana State troops have taken
it! That is, they have found and occupied
it, as there were no defenders. So far it is
well enough for them for the present; but
joy be with them if they have to keep it
until next July. 1t is one of the most
deadly places in the country in summer, and
it is with difficulty workmen are obtained
to 60 there at that season, at which time
'.An the infections that the sun sucks up
From bogs, fens, fats, on Prosper fall, and
By inch-meal diseased
Now, however, the overlooking spirits of
an aspirant for military fame in New Or.
leans may, for day or two, until the novelty
wears off, aptly and appropriately, on
starting for Fort jackson, find vent as
follows:
81 mean to be a soldier,
' With uniform quite ne,o; {
! wish they'd let me have drum,
And be captain too"
We now proceed to Barataria Bay, the
outlet of the only remaining water approach,
of any considerable Importance, to the city
of New Orleans. 1t is beautiful inlet of
the Gulf on the southern coast of the State,
and, about midway between the mouth of
the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Bay, into
which the river of that name empties.
The large, navigable bayou, which, after
passing through two lakes lined with mag
nificent sugar crops, empties into the Bay
we are now considering, is, in reality, one of
the mouths of our mighty river, and has its
confluence with it some distance above the
city, and would, if undefended, offer induce
ments for an enemy to send a feet of small
war steamers, which, with force aboard,
might lay under contribution, the rich
plantations and oppulent cities within easy
reach above the confluence, and perhaps
squeeze little the merchant princes and
wealthy bankers of the Crescent City
itself. p" r1~c ItrS&
On Barataria Island, at the entrance of
the bay, stands Fort LiviDgston-a solitary
sentinel to guard the way, but firm, erect,
and armed cap pie, confident in bis
strength, and frowning defiance on whoever
should be bold or careless enough to venture
within bis reach. 1t is beautiful work,
rejecting great credit on the engineer off.
GERS who have had the charge of its build
ing, Wis: General Totten, Major Barnard
and Major Beauregard. Still, as an hum
BILE individual, / may be allowed to volun>
teer my opinion that, as general rule, it is
always better to adhere to the lines Of
defence Of Vauban, and that no system OF
fanking arrangements is so effective as the
combination of bastions and curtains into
regular bastion fronts, where the different
parts of the work defend each other after
the garrison has been driven from it's out
works to the body of the place. noy
Fort Livingston mounts fifty guns of the
heaviest calibre. 1t is lozenge shaped, and
its fanking arrangements are in the ditch
behind the counterscarp wall, at each ex,
tremity Of its longest axis, crossing their
fire in the ditch at the |extremities Of the
short axis. This fort has never yet been
garrisoDed. '''s''f@ eai 31o'-d os - s3esa
Tits on the site which was occupied by
LATTE, whose sins have been covered from
the public view by the brilliancy of his
achievements at the battle of New Orleans.
He was such 3 terror to this coast, and
bis power was so much nnaguihed that the
British Admiral Cochran did not think it
beneath his dignity to attempt, by liberal
offers, to secure bis services for Sir Edward
Z Packenham. But the bold pirate had q
natural love for liberty, and declining the
L., II