The New York herald., 1863-11-17

starboard side enterng and the port side returning
There IS channel near The Texas shore but IL Is seldom
used. as the water is very shallow.
Early the rning the 10th the steamer was under
'wsgh AID heading tor
cHicA
Arming a crew OF picked men, Captain Baker, in CON-
pany Ensign furbisher rowed in to the shore and
turning the boat backed to the breakers the
bar when the following the depth we're
accurately ascer,ained-
Depth of water on bar: :........... 2 feet inches.
Thirty feet beyond the BAR. feet inches.
Thirty yards outside, hard botton,.... Q feet.
sixty Yards 49,. II feet.
Three hundred yards. ..... "a feet.
rive hundred yards ds..........-........ ~ feet.
Inside the bar the Boca Chica is fordable being not
moro than and a'haf to depth, with good
hard bottom.
About threequartersof mile from the shore cavalry
picket seen but neither infantry nor orticatons
BRAzOs SANTIAGO.
About eleven O'Clock the Tennessee arrived opposite
Brazos Santiago. The boats were again manned With an
armed and the condit or this bar also
ed. as follows
Depth OF water on bar October TO-. Q feet.
Depth OF water inside of bar. II to 30 feet
Depth OF water either side. .......... Sto9 feet
Depth or water outside IL to 10 and 2. feet.
Two light field pieces OF artillery are sometimes run
down from Point Isabel but though Captain Baker rowcd
along the Texas shore within pistol shot distance
inside the bar he could not draw shot or see
human being .I
There no Notifications here whatever though there
are plenty of opportunities 70 erect them. At the
rcme point of Point Isabel there a strong redoubt.
The roads from Brazos Santiago Point Isabel very
good The distance to Brownsville miles,
The principal difficulty in the occupation OF Brazos San
siagc would bo the scarcity of water.
PASS.
Tho Tennessee arrived opposite Aransas Pass about
O'Clock on SUNDAY morning, October II.
She ran in shore very close, that good view was
obtained Tho pilot who captured by the Ossipee
stood by the side of Captain Baker pointed ou: the
various localities which could be most easily seen for
running inside their line Of nre after hosting the English
Tag, the encmy exposed themselves freely.
On the south side OF the pass there two batteries
one Of tour and the other Of two guns Five twenty
four Founders; the other is a ri1ed piece.
Three companies OF infantry enc lmped q milo be.
low. They posted behind largo sand hill and have
boased that the damned Yankees" never discover
them.
The Tennessee, by flying the English coors, brought
them out in bold relief against tho said sand hill they
swsrming from their hiding place as bees from niye
<'Ebw arc you rebsYv
Below their camp about half mile are the hospital and
powder magazine. A detachment of artillery is also in
this ncighborhood.
Arsnsas Pass has been 'mne of wealth" to the block
sde runners during tho
PAsso CABEILo.
rherc nine feet over the bar at this place
and vessels drawing much eight and eight feet and
half can pass over with safety.
An old fortincaton the lighthouse appears to be
deserted the green with the grass growing
upon It.
Lower down, at Saluria, there Is and formidable
work. y has three salients, with walls. There Is
also a curtain TO this fort.
Six guns, two Of which larger cabre than the
others Captain Baker plainly Tho medium
size or the guns twenty four FOUNDER There was
also one small rGed piece, thus making all seven guns
Three vessels, and iron. Clad lio In
sido the bar.
The traffic in the "Coast Islands, appears 10 be
dourishng as great many sail been inside.
SAIL, Ho.-A PRIZE
About four O'Clock on the morning Of the 18th o sail
was discovered in shore, and aftcr lively half hours
chase tho Tennessee fired gum which brought her to-
Sho proved to DO the Friendship copper bottomed first
class schooner OF fortyoue burihen bound Ha
vana TO Brazos river with cargo Of arms smmunition
segars aud sundres. She consigned Major Bloom
Geld, ouartermaster, c. S. A., Texas.
fine view was had Of the entrance to BRACES river.
On the NORTH right side OF IL, there long double
porticoci house. painted white. II is the most prom-
nen mark that sdc To the souhward and front there
10 strong ortcation, with four seaward salients but
gun is mounted On tho south side OF tho
entrance thore square redoubt mounting seawa.d
three guns.
There were Eve steamers anchored inside the bar.
Al high water there about eight feet the bar,
and Al low water six. The channel Is little TO the north
OF the centre CT the river.
r ANOTHER BLOCKADE
While this reconnaissance being made san was
seen. and chase Immediately commenced.
Although tho Tennessee towing the schooner Friend
ship she succeeded in rapidly overhsuns the strange
vossel but tho sprang into the small boats and
rowcd 70 the Shore
Ton minutes after flames issuing from her,
and In short time she completely cnyelopcd She
drfed towards the shore, aud partially blown up
She ID n total .oss.
bound II Is supposed, for Brazos She loaded
with munitions Of war for the robes
San LUIS rAss.
In passing San LUIS Pass II was discovered that tho
channel tends downward and follows the southwest shoc.
Tberc depth OF water Of from nnc to ten fee.
tho bar at this place.
Here there were fortncl,ions erected with the
ceptiou OF msrelo tower about and three quarters
Of mile up the coast northeast from the centre Of the
pass. l...
roRrmcAnoys ABOUND GALVESTON.
with two guns mounted In the ccu,ro; another with four
guns and at tho north side third fertilization but how
many guns were there could not be ascertaned.
On the point hcre also another work. mounting four
q guns.
Thcsc batteries from the nearest position
thas could be attained with safety 70 the steamer
vmrxc BEARD ON A sAmSx PASS
Al daylight morning Of the 18th the Tennessee
arrived Oh sabine Pass and communicated with the
sels Of the bockading csct
Tho officers Of these vessels reported that heavy airing
had been hoard shore the afternoon previous, and ~
the Tennessee 20, under weigh, al hapas' nine O'Clock
AN, firing WAS again heard and the smoke Of gin
easily distinguished It has since been discovered tina
the ng was salute honor Of Major General Magruder
who bad Just arrived there.
RnrRx To VIEW
Tho b,ockadng Hect let at halfpast ten O'Clock
A. NJ, and the following morning, at half past 81,
ocio~k nctahar IA Tho stearucr uaQsed Shin Shoals