Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-18
Port Hudson.

Prominent in Southern regard objects OF un-1
ceasng socitude and interest, stand Vicksburg and
Port Hudson, the sole surviving warders that chais
lenge Federal supremacy the Mississippi Baf.;
fed and beaten in repeated assaults on the firse'
with the industry Of beavers and logged. persis-
tency worthy better cause, the Yankees turned
dtchers and endeavored to isolate the city by seduc
ing the river into an artificial channel. A rquof
prevails that they have at length succeeded-that
"theraging canawf" is un tait aeeompH If this
be true the reduction or evacuation of Vicksburg Is
regarded by many as being merely matter Of time;
and Port Hudson, heretofore occupying secondary
position has suddenly become, both North and
South point of exceeding interest To the North
it itappears the last barrier to free navigation of tho
river from Itasca to the Gull, and TO- the Soathss
last bulwark against pirates more dreaded than the
Vikings of old. a Port Hudson is situated in the
Parish Of East Feliciana La, or the East bank Of
the Mississippi, and is distant fy river, from vicks.
burg about two hundred miles, The following
statements concerning its natural strength and the
character of its defences are taken from the Baton
Rouge correspondence of the New York World:
The great strength Of Port Hudson place defence
peculiar formation ofthe at that place. 1t is situated
on bend in the river, rs miles (accrdng to the best
'hOrityj from BATON Rouge and hundred ard 6ihy
miles from New Orleans. The cliffs very high. have
heard estimates made each claiming to be correct of
from 500 to 1000 feet ashe height. They are also very
steepin fact almost perpendicular The river just ut the
bend opposite the city suddenly uarows that the rapid
ctrreat strikes against the bank and thus sweeps
through narrow channel jsss st the base of the cliffs
There are many persons we'll acquainted with the locai-
ty who assert that is impossible for the gunbaats TO be
If much in the reduction of this place They that
the current rapid through the channel that
it will draw the gunbats from above right under the cliffs
that the guns cannot be sufficiently elevated TO work
and that the gunboas from below canpOt find position
from which reach tie rebel batteries the cliffs with
any effect THIS is very delicate matter to proPhesy
about, and remembering what gunbnats have DONE i do
not feel inclined to endorse thosc opinions to their full
teat. Tere is doubt however, Of the formidable
ture of the position In addition to this, the rebels
sinking torped0es in the river below:
Another correspondent says:
have reason to believe that there not more
than ten thousand men in that sick, stronghold und i:
is point absolutely surrounded almost every side
by mpas able river it would to te easy to cut of
communication with the rear, and sarve the garrison
into surrender This much is certain-Gcn Banks has
at Baton Rouge now, within forced DAVIS march of the
of Port hudson nearly three times the number Of the
Confederate troops Whether they he rebes) will be
nforced in the present Of inactivity cannot
have always had the impression that the rebel soldiers
at Port Hudson of the inferior kind mostly
scripts and ready with fair chance to from the
service In the 'front.' the place is stronger nature has
ma e it singulary favursb for defence but the
cpens and possesses 10 superior advantages Between
. Port Hudson and Vcksbnrg the mouth of Red liver
Through this river and the Achaaaya, the lind
way cut OF into the Mississippi and up to Fioks