New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-29
Onion 1Eer u, siic South.


USITrp SrArEs STYaN-FKIGArK NIAGARi,(
or sHir bland. saturday Jan II, llbA
The Niagara Is not unknown nor underyalued North,
and an opportunity viii present itself by the de-
partme Of transport in an hour So FOR the rans-
mission of letters homcward, hasten TO urprse you
Of certain interesting particulars relative to affairs IN
ls locality that have accumulated from sources
perfectly trustworthy.
Mobile, 20 miles distant fiom our Ircfent position
may soon he the theaer Of opent.ous npon n very
extensive scale 1t contains rebel troops to the nnm-
Der OF 1909 1000, tie majority Of whomaTe armed
with rifles Of excellent manufacture reyolveTs and
towie-knives, twelve and eighteen inches in length,
and of formidable appearance. These troops ere
moderately well fed, but they are in great want Of
warm clothing, suitable for Winter months. To- sup
ply this deficiency, strenuous eAertions are being
made, and much activity is presented in this depart
lnent Of manufacture. The amount these ardclea
cost the Confederate Government IA enormous, hut
they console themselves with the (ct that tbcy are
produced IN q cir own midst and that they are wei
made and durable.
The military authorities there are continually
adding 10 tie dofenses Of The city, aud it is believed
that many Of them are admirably arranged 10 pro
tect il from invaders from the eca. The iosis in The
Of The heaviest armament posscss,d by the rcheis.
For some months they have had ID process OF con-
strncrion-now nearly completed-a floating bat
tery dosgnod 20 protec; Heir haIbor, and to he used
in any offensive demonstration for which Il Is suited
They assert that The greatest care aud attention
hss been given to the mnutest details in its erection
snd that en- gineers Of tie highest ability have gwen
counsel in he matter. IL armament will consist Of
nfod cannon Of tue moe, improved description, and
the remainder Of her equipment will be IN keeping
Will il.
The position of tie City of Mobile s precisely this;
II is forty miles from Pensacola aud i' tlc second
place Of entry OF the Gulf after New-Orleans Two
railroad routos connect it with the great national
road, and the Mobile River and its branches, navi-
gable Tor tieambOats several hundred mies, 'lso
make very important come ctions with the interior
Tie entrance 10 the Bay Of Mobile is situated be-
tween sard Islands and sLoal jutling from Mobile
Point, making long, narrow projection fifteen
lies in length. On The bar OF the deepest channel
The water il nearly twenty fee, in depth, and all
heavy-dr vessels have TO psss Immediately under
the guns of the fort at the Of the hay and
the Notifications upon Mobile Point before they can
reach the city. From Mobile Bay nouhward
ire Of low sand islands lies parallel 10 tLe coast.
forming Mississippi Sound, which ia nayigabe for
coasters drawing sn-and.a-hhh feet Of water.
This sound communicates with Mobile through h
narrow channel Of five feet a; low water, jailed
Grani's Pass There are several connection. be-
tween this sound and tho Gulf, viz; between
Dnuphns and Petit Bois Islands; between Petit
Rois and Horn Islands. and beyond Horn lsandr.
The pass between Petit Bois and Horn jslands has
IL feet Of water and is the neare, and safest refuge
from southeast and southwest gales. Asyou ave
well aware smuggling traffic on tho part Of the
rebels was carried on through these outlets 10 a
great extent, up 10 the time the gallant li'te New
London yisited us. By her aid i was Immediately and
totally suppressed her light draugi enabled her to
invade the enemys lnes a. any period. She has
made several valuable prizes, of which were Of
nature 10 render gret, aid TO the insurgents, If
10 their possesson. append the particulars Of the
dimenaions Of her hull aud machinery. hat you may
be enabled 70 zee wha, kind Of vessels bee,
adapted to check the Legitimate traffic alluded 10.
They are as follows: Length deck, 1870 feet &
inohes breadth Of beam, 26 feet inches; depth OF
bold feet; dHught Of water 1T load line, feet 3
iLches; tunnage, 26O tuna Her frame il Of white /
oak chestnut hnek me,ac &c. andi squarc-fastened,
with copper trenails aud spikes, and in addition TO
this secure fastening che hss iron sraps, diagonal
and double laid, running around her frame Sle ia
fitted with vertical direo:acng engine, with one
cylinder 81 inches in diameter and stroke Of piston
of , feet inches Sire is also supplied with one fue /
boiler and her propeller IL Of iron. Her rig Is that
Of n schooner. Size was built in Mystic, Conn. ia /
1889 BY Messis. George Greenman & Co, and her /
machinery was constructed by the Delama'er Iron
Works, New-York City. She owned by the .
New-London Propeller Company, OF which our Gov
eminent purchased her, and Der original route OF
seryice was between New-London and Newly rk.
All kinds of food arr very high il Mobile, aud
consequently, much suffering il observable among
the poorer classes The following some of the
prices now ruling there: Coffee, 90 cents per
pound tea the poores, qralityl - cents per pound
sugar common 80 cents per pound; butter, ~ cents
per pound pepper 81 - per pound; bacon, 80 cent?
per pound lard, - cents per pound. Salt lie very
scarce; in fact IL seldom be- procured for either
love or morey; some has been sod, however, at tho
rate Of g. perbag. Clothing Of oil descriptions com
mands exorbiisn prices soldiers overcoais coz, the
Confederate Government s.! to So each good
black -frock coats are worth go TO $0i vests, of
good quality, 80 to slz; pants, OF good material
So toS!s. And, in fnct most articles required
for daily use are al proportionato prices.
GDuring the morning Of the it inst the bark King
fisher came up from Pascal Outrc, where che has
been doing blockade service and reported TO the flag
officer that number Of rebel steamer, al-o new
Laticring RAM came down 10 the head Of tho Passes
on the let, and, after looking around for while
cent boats TO tho house Of the that attends 70
Tie liybthouee, and upon their return thcy turned