American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-12-19
0bstructions BeIow yieksburg.

The New Albany Ledger. Tin article
which, if its statements are correct, Is very
injudicious one TO publish, they referring to
the strength and time of departure of Gen.
Netherlands expeditiou) fails into an error
as regards the hold the rebels have obtained
upoa the lower Mississippi. The Ledger
says that admiral FarrGgut has portion of
his feet just below Fieksburg, and that the
only remaining Instructions TO the naviga-
ton of the river situated at the town
named This the case Jew months
ago, but FarragGt, learning that it was the
intention of the rebels TO erect strong bat
teries at Bayou Sara, above Baton Rouge,
and fearing blockade of his vessels, with
drew and retired to New Orleans. Since
then, use has been found for the Southern
deet in the Gulf coast service, snd the Con-
federates have been left to do pretty much as
they wished on the Mississippi between
Yicksb urg and the Red river. The steam
boats that up the latter stream and the
Yazoo on the approach of our gunboats,
have been brought out, and for months have
been in the carrying trade from Baton Rouge
TO Tallula, Miss, distance of three hun
dred miles.
There is no doubt that strong works,
built by the most skillful engineers in the
Southern army, have been erected between
Vicksburg and the extreme upper point on
the Mississippi held by the gunbosts of Adj
I
/ tons is at Port Hudson, and another at Tu-
Mica Bend. The most important of these is
/ the former-at Port Hudson. Port Hudson,
! ia East Fellciana parish. Louisiana, though
u place of but three hundred inhabitants,
has been one of considerable business, as in
| former years large amounts of cotton and
sugar were shipped from there. 1t is the
terminus of the Clinton and Port Hudson
railroads. little road that extends some
twenty-five miles, in northeast direction
to the Amite river The town is situated on
the White Cliffs, twenty five miles above
| Baton Rouge, and fifty-one miles below the
mouth of Red river The heaviest batteries
are Gibbons plantation, and command
the narrowest point in the Mississippi river
below St. Louis. The nature of the sur
rounding country is peculiar. On the cas-
side of the river there are, between Bayou
Sara and Port Hudson, Ia distance of less
than thirty miles,) half dozen water
courses, bayous and long swamps, while OF
the south side Port Hudson is scarcely les:
unapproachable from the rear. The enemy'i
position cannot be attacked from the ives
side of the river.
The appearances that the rebels vii
endeavor TO retain what part of the Missis
sippi they now possess, 10 the end. TIL
lower Notifications are for the protection o
navigation on the Red river, which is of tn
greatest Importance to the enemy. Larg
quantities OF suppHes nave gone FORWARD L
the Southern armies over this stream frOu
Texas aud the northern and central portion
of Louisiana The beef cattle have nearl
all been transported ria Red river. Lately
too. that great desideratum in the South
salt has been found in large quantities o
this stream. and is now being taken off an
distributed through Dixie at the rate, W
see it stated, Of ten thousand bushels n day
Truly, it is no small work before our mill
; tary authorities of the West, to open tn
Mississippi and keep it clear. Delay, how
ever necessary it may be, is nevertheless
engineering the rebels wonderfully, and
is no wonder that there is considerable i'm
patience on the part of the people to see on
Federal columns aving forward with deter
mination to the accomplishment of the labo
which is expected Of them.-.Hssouri Repul
iican.