The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-04-16

PoRr HUDsoN AND AROUND lr-The following is
from correspondence dated Baton Rouge. La, Janu-
airy I'D, OF the y. \. World:
The great strength of Port Hudson as a place Of
defense against g%uuboats consists in the height Of
its ellis and the peculiar formation Of the river at
that place. 1t is situated on a bend Of the river. 25
miles (accordlng TO the best authority from Baton
Rouge, ana loo miles New Orleans. The cliffs are
very high. | have heard estimates made, each one
claiming 10 be correct. Of from 500 TO 1000 feet as
the height. They are also very steep. in fact, almost
perpendicular. The river just at the bend opposite
the city suddenly narrows, so that the rapid current
strikes against the west bank and then sweeps
through q narrow channel just at the base of the
Gins. There are many persons well acquainted with
the locality who assert that il is impossible for the
gunooats TO be Of much use in the reduction of this
place. They say that the current is so rapid through
the narrow channel that ii will draw the gunboats
from above right under the cliffs. so that the guns
cannot be sufficiently elevated to work. and the gun
boats from below cannot find a position from which
10 reach the rebel batteries on the cliffs with any
effect. This is a very delicate matter to prophesy
about, and remembering what g~unboats have done,I
do not feel inclined 10 indorse those opinions to their
full extent. There is no doubt, however, Of the for
mldable nature of the position. In addition TO this
the rebels are sinking t~orpedoes in the river below the
bend. n few days ago the ESSer went up 10 within
a few miles of the place, and a barrel was discovered
in the stream. What seemed peculiar was that it
was fast and did not float down with the stream. 1t
certainly could not be a buoy for vessels TO avoid.
80 n lieutenant Of the ESSer went of TO it in a small
boat, and after carefully examining it cut some wires
by which ii wss attached to the shore and pulled it
on board. A torpedo about four feet long was at
tached TO it. 1t was of boiler iron shaped like a
rocket, and contained about l25 pounds of powder.
1t was brought down the river, placed on the west
bank, a cord attached to the wires, and was exploded
by a pull at the line. y contraband from up the
river states that the rebels have sunk IA more
90 pictorials," (meaning torpedoes,) in the river.
The country back of Port Hudson is almost ravaged
of supplies. and comparatively little comes from that
direction. That little comes over a railroad running
about three miles out. Texas is the great source of
supplies for the rebels, and the Red river the great
viaduct by which they ONE They have had two
boats per week down the Red river loaded with men
and provisions, including large quantities of beef and
corn, and are laying in a great amount of stores
against the days when Port Hudson shall be besieged
for L believe that must be the word. Until our
%gunboats pass Vicksburg their communication with
the Red river is complete, and they no doubt believe
they can stand a siege for any length of time-limited
only by their supply of provisions. Whether Gen.
Angur's troops are taken by the transports to within
a few miles of Port Hudson and then landed TO make
the attack, or whether they march circuitously from
Baton Rouge and then unite with Sherman's troops
in investing the place upon the land side, the re-
duction is likely TO be q work of difficulty and time.
The places above Port Hudson best fitted for natural
defense are Fort Adams, a former Federal position,
245 miles above New Orleans; Elliot Cliffs, 300; and
Natchez, 275.