The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-24
An Account Of Psr, Chene.
We take the following spicy account OF
Fort Chene from the columns OF the New Or.

We take Tue HtioWbn& sIpcy account or
Fort Chene from the column, OF the New Or.
leans Creseest
The vast swamps that flank the Louisiana
coast, cut up into marsh ISLANDS OF every con-
ceiyable shape and sixe by tortuous ba. ous
and isgoons that Ia tsf lace each other in the
most inextricable manner, afford msny inlets
OF appreach 10 our towns and valuable sugar
plantations between uis place and Texas ~
This portion of the Mexican Gulf coast and
its eetnaries were surveyed for the United
STATE. Government in is55 but in the Year
1851 q much more complete and thorough
surves VAS maae for the Navy Department..
| the expeditions being engaged FOR eight mont
Iinsthe work, and acquiring more general
and peri CT kno oEleoge Of this great witder-
ness oi mud aud water than even the. .Aca-
diInr whpre little cottages dot the stray ous,>
of dry ground. The triaDguiatione, measure
Inents aud soandines, 4taken by thIs survey
ing party, All on file III the Navy Depart
meht ai Washington, and copies u them. as
u matter OF cIurse, are on board "a every
blockading vessel along that coast. .f )
At the s.iIpe time II liiay easily be supposed
that our Government was acquainted with
the saIne subject, ana thar Gen TUisgs has
had his eyes upou every vuineraeie point
along our ,Iuif line, and is rapidly preparing
them for defence against nautical RAIDS ior
the destruCt ton of our property. .. -
/ Forts have sprung up from swamIr. and
batteries loom up along bayOls rs II by the
waving OF some magIti,ns wand. The Lazy
alligator, who never saw more Of civiiizition
than the swift skimmiHg OF an adveA turouS
piroSue, now gapee IN Wonder al the tramp
ing sentry Who PAGES his newly made she'll
walk and tbe white cr;iiie starts up in fat-
ter of apprehension rs it discovers tine grim
muZZles OF cannon peering over Innocent
looking grassy mounas. Tue quick sounds OF
the DIR ain answer TO tile gentle plashings Of
the lagoon, and the brill notes OF the clarion
at earliest dawn startle ihe birds from their
rest -..,
luis Is a curious and interesting region, the
vast and partly Unknown Gull swamp OF
L ns1t N az I1tnr N 20 nYn MSS
and quadrant as much as to traverse the
ocean, and boat can journey for days and
weeks through tortuous bayous and lakes,
and lagoons without reaching any definite
place or direction, unless guided by some old
hunter who anows the r0ute we'll or b! solar
obseT vations. In fact, the iuteriaclng ana
branching inlets form II perfect labyrinth,
whose iutricate ways might bring the mex
perienced voyager back To tire point he started
iron, after days of toiisoIne progress Illus
trative of this, there Is a singular belle!
among many vf the mpie-hearted Area
diins OF Tsrrebonne that Al night Il shostiy
canoe, imielied by ghostly occupant, skins
with ALMOST lightning speed over the stiii
| waters around the Bent, the Penchant and
the Chens, forever " hiding In and about the
maze of bayoua. This .'nylng Dutchman"
of the swamp they explain to be the spirit Of
| "a hunter who got lost among the mragdering
! estuaries, and who, after his powder gave
! out, finally died misera Bile aud lonely death,
| una ole to find his way 10 succor. Aud his
| spirit they say, finds tn. swamp is purga-
| tory, and is yainIy trying 10 make lis way out
| OF the hayous to the consecrsted precincts oi
q cemetery
! 1t is IL the very heart o! thi. swamp, upon
| Il Harrow, Inarshy poiut, where IA broad baS o1
branches on into two iutrortant channels,
! that Fort t'hene stands. defended by the Per
| severance Guards from this city and thither
our wondering "locai took his way lew
days siuce TO see sometiiis of this strange
| locality, and learn how "the boys we're en-
| joyinS themselves From Br:isiiear City the
| means OF communication is by little SteaIuer
| in The Government Employ, that IS said to
! travel easily npuI heavy dew. which IS an
| advantage in locality where tes can tell the
| line III demareatIou between what j. mn
| doubtediy water and that W hich may be COM
| pliment ntarily termed land The not over.swiii
EnnIa passes through several u1nriant sugar
/ plantations, and then enters the Unnitigated
! swamp, 10 bring you il i few hour, to Fort
Cheue,
Here, BY tha labor, first Of the slaves sent
| frori neighboring plan Lations, and ai;.r"ard
/ OF the hardy voluu te.rs from the precincts CT
No. l3s eE gneh house, Ne discover q fine fortii-
! cation, mounted with heavy guns, that com
/ ni;inds an important trance from the q Gulf,
/ where a mile or two of she ~, Az, .4pproacii
! can be rakeo BY our shoi AM, al.tii. A moat,
i That has become the iNori,e PLAY GROUND OF
| sportiye young aiiSators, projects the Stqcts,
| and the rear approach is held by stout pali
| s.ade. loop boled for nushetry. a she'll walk
/ for parAdes around the barracks ana hospital,
| anu II narrow plank pa tn around the point for
| the sen tries are the only places outside the
| fort where there IL no iIntneoiiie danger OF
! sinking up 10 the Waiet. While tbjs prevents
tiie possibility OF Il Iii.u assault, IT also gives
| to tie defenders, in The event OF an attack, the
! alternative of victory or The Tortugae.
! The barracks are we'll built of rough piank,
"utwardiy resembling very much the hotel
! extensions at watering places, but liz wardly
! surpassiug those bachelor retreats the
! way of ncatness, order and comfort. The
! hospital i. small cottage sti!i Iurther back
/ FROM the fort than the barracks with q
| pleasant port.co-in Trunt tor the of con-
v3lcsceBts. II had hut three inmates yester-
| day, and those were getting aloag tayorably.
| With Il very slight stretch of the ipagina-
/ soiou rner for pleasure at fashionable water
| regular hours and diet aud plenty of active
! exercise 1t is q noticeabie fact that many
OF the soldiers at this place tnd IL i'm poes, BILE
to button the jackets that lifted them 80 easily
| before they left the city. The bathing a.,d
! fishing is unexcelied.
Capt. John Rareshde, with Liauts. Ii. L.
| Blow and Henry and Edward Rareshide, have
effected great things at this post, and their ef-
| forts have been heartily met by I e co.ope-
| ration of Sergeants, Taylor, Uarsey, Savage,
Ldrdner and Winnie, aud every man Of the
command. The strietest discipline is Ii aiu-
| tained and cbeerfuily accorded by the voluu-
! teers, VINO have but to know wish of their
| officers 10 execute il. The drill, police man
! agement, and every camp duty Is Iuiiy up to
the regular standard, and if the enemy ever
| do accord the Perseverance, boys such Il favor
az to call upon them, We think they will soon
| wish they We're in Dixie.