New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-02
sdvi,. Lonis TO be good fellow and take care of me.
T. B. G.
Port Wudson-Eis Strength, and Position
Escape or The Harriet Lane from Gal
veston-A New Privntser--Tbe 800 Oh
IN. MoutI or the Mississippi.

from Our Special Correspondent
Sr. CHARLES H0TRL, NEW ORLEANS, Jan. a. 1863.
This letter will reach y0u simultaneously with one
written by me two days ago, at Baton Rouge-no
Northern mail having left this port since the dispatch
of the latter. Tomorrow morning the Columbia
departs for New.York, via Havana. BY 1t propoee
to post you fully as to what renaius TO be told about
things up the riveri and alec to record such stray
items pertinent to this locality may seem worthy
of mention. Nearly a fortnight's rather barren 20
ourn at Lousiana's capital has rendered me not an
willing to diversity both the scene Of my labor, and
the subject
l thought, however, ,hst was "in far II COED
thing" reportcrialy, on the evening of the 3D.
when l was privstey informed that Gen. Banks
meditated voyage up the river as far as Port Hnd
son, on board the Richmond That would nave
been something sight Of the Rebel stronghold
which bsrs our progress northwaId. the name oil
which is every day assuming importance only second
TO, if not equal to- that Of Yieksburg the prosper
Of guerrlas, submarine toFpedoes, ana artillery
practice from the summit of the high buls on when
the enemy bids us deiianee-tbese were experiences
not to be missed OH any account. Consequently,
traversed, hastily and nocturnay, the deserted
streets of Baton Rouge, descended Tue mnddy De-
cliyity Of the lovee, and got rowed to Tie New
X.
with his usual courtesy. that the proposed expe-
dition would not come of. IL had been spoken 81,
and he invited, he added but for the present the
project was indefinitely postponed, If not abandoned
80 1 returnedt 10 my quarters, my disappointment
slightly relieved by the knowledge that should "a
have TO rise before daylight in order to 90 on board
the Richmond
In the absence Of personal observation Of the To-
cality in question: the results Of coed deal OF liz
ours Of those who should be familiar with il, may
prove of interest tender them accordingly.
A glance at the map Of Louisiana will show you
Port Hudson, on the left bank OF the MisslsnpPi ~
miles above Baton Rouge and 155 from New-Or-
leans Ninety miles further il Fort Adams, 10 be-
yond that, E1lis's Cliffs; 80 Natcbez. Vicksbnrg
lies l25 miles above the latter city, being just 400
from that from which | address you. All Of these
localities, including PAS miles OF the river, are in un
disturbed possession Of the Rebels.
Port Hudson stands OH an almost perpendicular
cliff, full 200 feet in hight, the river below making
one of those sudden serpentne curves which render
tho Mississippi the most tortuous stream in the
world and abruptly narrowing its dimensions TO
three-quar,ers of a mile from twice that Width,
above and below. Thus contorted and contracted,
The current rushes southwark as its swiitest,
irressiibiy inpolling anything anoGt toward tie
bluff directly in range Of the Rebel batteries Upon
this fact the enemy relies for the destruction or dir
comftHre OF our gDnbostf, should they attack from
below; while in the event Of simultaneous BON
considerable risk Of Smelling each other.
Inland too the position is eminentiy favorable 10
The Rebels, because difficult OF access TO our troops.
UnhkeVicksburR, the approaches TO which are ne good
could lie desired for an invading army, conssting
for the most part Of hard, well-nade roade, the
country at the hack Of Port Hudson is generally
swampy, intersected with coiton-woodr, ravines,
and other typographical obstacles. The only roads
are OF the poorest description; the railroad beiog
one-horse or one-mule line ordinarily used for the
o.
lion down the river. The plantations in this vcin.
iiy are almost exclusively devoted TO tins staple,
the Onparaiive coldness Of climate not admitting of
the profitable cultivation Of sugar.
Port HUDSON Is unqueslionabiy heavily fortified,
many siege guns Of formidable calbcr having been
conveyed from Vieksbnrg for that purpose. The
numier Of its defenders Is confidently estimated
90 900 men, principally newy-afTived troops from
Western Texas locality at present entirely cleared
of them They are however but ipdiherenily
AIMED with old muskets, fOwling pieces. du,k-gms,
bowie-kuyes, etc. Their officers have but very
recently trigaded, and are working very bard in
drilling and preparing.
1t Is known that both Van Dom and Lowell are
In command at Port Hudson. They ARE reported
neither to be in friendly relations with each other,
or TO be popular among their men. Still tho ma ior.
iy Of these-rougb, hardy, ignorant fellows, TAMIL.
lar Nth the wild Life on the Texas frontier. and
fully persIaded that in every battle between United
States troops and Rebels the latter have achieved
"A glorious victoD-wll fight. aud that desperately.
Previous to the battle oil Murfreesboro the enemy
cent nearly al Of his best regiments from Vieksburg
tbither retaining only or two, With some 1900
cougcripts. Since that disaster 10 the Rebel arna
these regiments have returned either 10 Nicksburg
or Port Hudson. The defeat has probably induced
a change OF plan, or rather the resumption Of one
well known TO be a favoiite with jeff Dayis-the
contraction Of his military Ices and the making a
stand point on the Mississippi. That s vital TO him.
and everything indicates Port Hudson as the specific
locality Geographically il possesses the grcstest ad
vaniages for de'en.e, and, unlike N.cksbuTg its cap
ture involves the closing Of the Red River aud the
cutting of Of all supplies Of men and munitions from
Texas. Vicksburg taken, the Rebels iall back upon
Port Hud6on there TO play their las. bloody stake
against tie isolation Of the Southern Coniedecy"
l's Siege may yet become 40 familiar IN the mouths
Of men 40 that OF Ricbmond-I hope with less dreary
associations.
Port Hudson disposed Of II wish it wero in an
other senseD am at liberty TO speai OF New-Or-
Jeans. IL company with Gen. Banks l came nth
or on the New brunswick, which reached this city
at III p. Oh the night Of tue I'd, nothing Of any
interest marking the voyage. Such OF she General
staff as accompanied lin 10 Baton Rouge Of course
returned also, did Gen. Weitzel. 1 AN informed,
by 10. way That ho intends to follow up nls success
III destroyin. the Rebel tteauer Cotton, aB ber-
wicks Bay, by other actively hosie proceedings IL
the La Fourche country. May he there 10 see and
to report them!
The woTst vi; OF news awaiting mo at New-Or-
leans comes, know not by whist source, from the
Texas coast, forming ali appropriate sequel 10 that
char ter Of disasters involved Ia our cleaning out"
OF Galveston. You know that the Brooklyn aud
SCioto were dispatched tAither, Just TO see how
things looked aud 10 await contingencies. Wei,
we hear nothing Of tie latter but il is said that On
the morning of the 18th the Brooklyn was seen in
chase OF tue Harriet Lane, evidently manned and
equipped by the Rebels Tor priyateering cruile
akin ~ those OF the notorious Alabama-pfobably
with the intention OF joining her. M is et crus
ing in the Gulf since The destruction OF the uniortu
nate Hatteras. Ii lie aGded that tue wind was blow
ing gale al the tune, aud two OF three oil our gun
boats we're Visible IN the ofing. must remark that