The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-12-07
20,334
1660,97l
The several arms of the service are estimated
TYBEE ISLAND. GEORGIA,

Tybee Island lies near the mouth of the Sd
vannah River, which is here the dividing line
between South Carolina and Georgia, to the
Southwark of the bar, ard about twenty miles
Southwest from Port Royal. 1t is one of the
long chain of sea islands which stretch all along
the coast of this and the adjoining States. The
island is small, not as large as Port Royal Is
land, and is chiefly of use to us as stepping
stone to Cuckspur Island, living Immediately to
the North of it, on which is situated Fort Puas-
ki-a very strong work, that defends the en-
trance to the Savannah river, and is the defen-
sive outpost of the city of Savannah ITSELF
Tybee Island has been notable chiefly with
mariners on account of its lighthouse, (Tybee
Light one of the most prominent on the South
ern coast. It is fixed light, los feet above the
sea, on the Northeast end of the island, and in
clear weather, it may be see at the distance of
IL miles. This beacon was extinguished by the
barbarians Of Georgia, shortly after they had
aeccded from the Union Many vessels are lost
ON these banks, and the Southern breakers are
dangerous. Tybec is nice little elsie of ocean, :"
long, narrow and somewhat marshy, in the coast
county of Chatham, and in climate and scenery
is very much like Port Royal and the other Ca
rolina sea islands. small amount of sea is
land cotton is raised upon it, and its inhabitants
are but few. 1t has a beautiful creek to the
west of it, where ship of any burden may lie
in safety ct anchor.
Savannah is fourteen miles above Tybee Is
land, on the Savannah river. Ithas good har-
Dor. Vessels requiring fourteen feet of water
come up to the wharves of the city, and larger
vessels come up to the Five Fathom Hole four
miles below.
The city is defended by Fort Wayne on the
east side, by Fort Jackson at Five Fathom Hole,
and by Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island. They
have also, since Secession, erected small fort
On Skidaway Island, covering the creek to its
west, (see map by which gunboats could get up
toward the rear of Savannah. The guns on the
parapet are mostly field-pieces, mounted on
frameworks of wood, instead of regular carri-
ages. Besides these, strong earth-works have
lately been thrown up on the mainland along the
river, and on the islands in the river, to resist a
naval attack, as well as earthworks on the west
and south to resist land attack. Every SPOT
of vantage ground has been seized upon and
prepared for defense. The city, like every 9th.
er Seccs ion city, considers itself mpresnable
Nevertheless, it seems the people will decamp
when they hear of Port Royal and such things
The cotton shipped from Savannah amounts to
about 100000 bales of upland annually
The geographical conformation of Georgia is
very analogous to that of South Carolina, and
may be cpncisely described thus: From the
ocean, for distance of seven miles, there is a
chain of islands, ntersected by rivers, creeks.
and inlets, communicating with each other, and
forming an inland navigation for vessels of 100
tons burden along the whole coast. These il.
lands consist of salt marsh and land of gray.
rich soil, which produces Sea Island cotton of
superior quality. The coast on the main land
for four or five miles, is salt marsh. Back of
these is narrow margin of land, nearly resemb-
ling that of the islands; this is partially or
wholly overlooked at the return of the tide. and
constitutes the rice plantations. Then com
mence tie pine barrcns, which reach from sixty
to ninety miles from the coast.
Beyond this is the country Of sand hills, thir.
ty or forty miles wide, and the part of the State
beyond this again, is what is called the Upper
Country" of Georgia. Like the southern part of |
Sonth Carolina, the southern part of Georgia is
thinly populated by whites. The plantations |
are large, and the slave element is dense. The |
gross population of Georgia, by the census of |
last year, was l,O67 927, divided into sos 097 |
free people and 462, $50 slaves. The State claims
to have raised fifty regiments for the Secession
service. The Secession disease in the State.
however, is not of the same malignant type that |
aftiicts her wanton Palmetto sister The popu. |
lation is entered at g, 292, but we know from |
the papers Of the town, that when the news of |
the,Port Royal affair reached there, great part |
OF the population took to its heels and slid 10
the interior.--lN. Y. Times.