Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-11-21

which is intended to connect it with the
great national roads. At present it could
not be made an important port of entry.
FLORIDA.
& Fernandina. The first important seaport
after leaving Savannah is Fernandina, near
the entrance of St. Mary's River, the boun-
dairy between Georgia and Florida. The en-
trance is by channel between Cumberland
and Amelia Islands, with fourteen feet of
water on the bar. Fernandina is connected
by a railway, one hundred and thrty-fve
miles in length, running across the State,
with Cedar Keys, on the Gulf of Mexico,
and is thus an important commercial point.
1t was proposed to make this road part of a
great communication between New York
and New Orleans. D..
81. Johns Riper.-The St. Johns River
is broad arm Of the sea, extending almost
parallel with the coast for distance Of one
hundred and sixty miles, affected by the tide
almost to its source. There is depth Of
seven feet at mean low water on the bar
The channel up to Jacksonville affords a.
bout twenty-three feet of water. There is q
great deal of uncertainty in the navigation
of most of those inlets, as the bars are con-
stantly shifting. ...
81. augustine The last place of any i'm.
portance on the Atlantic coast OF the South.
ern States is st. Augustine, The entrance
to this harbor is BY two inlets, with only
five to six feet of water on the bar at loH
tide. The harbor is commanded by Fort
Marion, an old Spanish work, which ha.
been recently renovated. The commercial
facilities of st. Augustine are limited.
Key West.-Key West is a harbor on tie
island of that name at the Southern ex-
tremity of Florida. well-constructed fort
Fort Taylor guards the town and various
entrances, which is in the hands of the
United States Government, rendered safe by
recent reinlorcements and supplies. 1t is Of
great importance as a naval station and
strategic point, being one of the keys to the
Gulf of Mexico.
Fort Je6erson.-West Of Key West lies
the Tortugas Islands, at the largest of which
is Tortugas harbor, guarded by Fort Jeffer-
son. This fertilization, recently garrisoned
and fully provisoned, may be considered
safe for almost any contingency. The har-
Dor is a valuable strategic point as, together
with Key West, it commands tho entrance
to the Gulf Of Mexico.
Pensacola One of the most important
points, in many respects, upon the Gulf is
Pensacola, the next approachabIe harbor to
the West. Railroads connect it with Mont
gomery, the capital Of the State of Alabama,
at which point it is connected with the great
net work of national roads. The location
near Pensacola of United States navy
yard adds to its importance. The Bay of
Pensacola, on which the town lies, affords
the finest harbor on the Gulf. The water on
the bar at the entrance measures twenty -tw o
feet; within the bay it is still deeper, but the
depth is only twenty-one feet off the wharves
of Pensacola. Santa Rosa, nearly forty
miles in length, throws its western extremity
across the mouth of the bay, leaving single
entrance one and quarter miles wide
.u- ALABAMA. rE.G
MoJIe.-Forty miles west from Pensacola,
on bay of the same name, lies Mobile en-
trance, the second place of entry on the
Gulf after New Orleans. Two railroads
connect it with the great national routes.-
TIE Mobile river and its branches, the Tom =
bigbee ard Alabama, navigable for steam
boats several hundred miles, also make i'm
portart connexions with the interior. The
population of Mobile is only twenty five
thousand its business wholly commercial
The entrance to the bay lies between Sand
Island, on which the lighthouse stands, and
shoal making off from Mobile Point, long
narrow spit projecting from the main land,
nearly fifteen miles in length. On the bar
of the deepest channel the water lies twenty
feet in depth. Fort Morgan guards the en-
trance, fortifcation On Mobile Point, and
all heavy draft vessels have to pass immedi-
ately under its guns in entering the bay
This fort is in the hands of tho secessionists
LOUISIANA.
Mouths Of the MssissiRpi.-Therc arc
three main passes to the Missssippi-the
Northeast Pass, the Southeast Pass, and the
Southwest Pass. These at their widest di-
vergcnce, are about twenty-five miles apart
The Southwest Pass has usually thirteen feet
of water on the bar the depth varies con-
siderably, so that vessels drawing but four
teen and half feet sometimes lie weeks in
tho mud before being able to pass over. The
other passes are still more tickle and change
able. although admitting heavy draft ves-
sells.