Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-28
NEW ORLEANS.

New Orleans is distant one hundred mile.
above the mouth Of the Mississippi river, ant
/ five miles south Of Lake PontchartraIn, witt
! which it communicates by water and rail
way.
The river immediately opposite has a
width Of one hall a mile, and a depth Of
from one hundred and fifty to one hundred
and sixty feet, and, sweeping around from
the west, first in a north and then in a north
east direction, forms large crescent-shaped
curve.
If the attack be made by way Of Lake
PonchaIt train, the feet in entering the lake
must go thro' one of the two channels (ormed
by an island at its mouth) called the Rigo-
lets, which are extensively fortified. The fort
on the island is called Fort Pike. Opposite
this tort on the right there Is heavy bat
terry, and on the left hand side Of the other
channel is Fort Wood.
Batteries have been erected and intrench-
ments thrown up within the past year ex-
nding from Chef Mountain, IN Lake Borgne,
along the border of Lake Ponchartraln guard
Ing in all directions the approaches to the
city, the principal deiences being called
Lakeville and Lakeport.
The rebels. however, seemed to have ex-
pected the city would have been attacked by
way of the Balize, and made more extensive
preparations for defence IN that direction.
Below We give an extract of letter dated
from New Orleans, and published in the
Richmond Dispatch, describing the defences
of that city.
Lcorrespondence Of the Richmond Despateh.l
NEW ORLEANS, 1862.
The Mississippi is fortified so as to be impassa-
bic for any hostile feet or fotilla. Forts Jackson
and st. Philip armed with 10 guns (6s-pOund-
ers rifed by Barkley BTitten and received from
England). The navigation Of the river is stopped
by a dam about quarter of mile from the
above forts. No fotilla on earth would force that
dam in less than two hours, during which it would
be within short and cross range Of 10 guns Of
the largest calibre, many Of which would serv-
ed with red-hOt shot, numerous furnaces for which
have been erected in every fort and every battery
In a day or two we shall have ready two iron
cased floating batteries. The plates are ! inches
thick, Of the best hammered iron, received from
England and France. Each iron-cased battery
will mount 20 6S-pounders, placed so as to skim
the water, and strike the enemys hull between
wind and water. We have an abundant supply Of
incenGisry shells, cupola furnaces for molten iron,
congreve rockets and ire-ships.
Between New Orleans and the forts, there is
constant succession Of esrth works. At the plsia
Of Chaimette, near Janin's property, there are
red0uJts, armed with Ti1ed cannon, which have
been found TO be effective at miles range. a
ditch 80 feet wide and 20 feet deep extends from
the Mississippi to La Cypriere.
In forts -. Philips and Jackson there are
5000 men. Of whom a glodly portion arc ex-
perienced artillerymen and gunners who have
served in the navy.
At New Orleans itself we have $4,000 infantry,
and rs many more qu'rtered in the immediate
neigLborhcod. Il discipline and drill they are
far superior 90 the Yankees. " have two very
able and active generals, who possess our entire
confdcnce-ten. Mansfield Sorrol! and Brig. zen.
bugclcs. Tor Commodore VIC have uld Hollins-
q Nelson In his way.
We are ready to give tho Yankee hot reccp-
ton when they come. Our only fear is that the
northern invaders may not appear. We have
made such extensive preparations 10 receive them
that il were yexatious II their invincible armada
escapes tie fate we have in store fer il.
There Is, undoubtedly, good deal Of hum
bug in the above. The dcfences Of New Or
leans are invInciblc IN the same way that
Houins is a second Nelson. lie is a Nelson
IS in his way, but he does not seem to be in
any body else way