The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-11
THE STRENGTH or PORT HUDSON.

Inc SJHeUUIH " PUhJ uUUSUWs
c-~~~~~>~~>>>~>~~~~~~~~~
Our baton Rouge C0rrespOnaence.
Baron Rou6B, La, Dec. %, 1862.
- Lssd a~d Waiy Defences-Nsssby 81 Batteries aud
-Nmb<v AND Condition n AS Rebel Troops VisI
n Ut. Davis and Cesyal Beaureoard-Reosl CduaIy
Opposik Baton Rouge, dc.
mo following statement in relation 70 the condition Of
sArs Of the rebel stronghold above hers-Port Hudson
believe DO In the main correct II embraces tho sub
stance Of tho various statements Of negroes and rebel
soldiers Who have deserted and escaped TO our lines
These havo questioned separately and repeatedly
and statements carefully compared with each other
and with known facts and when, under such circum.
stances statements corroborae each other and
agree with known Car ascertained, must
conclude that they substantially true. have no
Assation therefore, expressing tho opinion that the
following summary mainly correct 1t the time Of this
writing But the rebels understand fully the value Of
time, and few days may make great difference in
>thsir ability 70 resist an attack by land and water
wArn DEyncn o. PORT HUDSON.
The water defences Of Port Hudson consist Of eight
Batteries mounting at present only twensyone guns,
NM Of them being desttsts, a. yet, Of ordnance
Pr about I've miles above Prophets Island the Misss
,vis straight but then shere abrup, turn, forming
shook Atslc beyond this abrupt cresk called
fhompsons creek, running soushwsstery, empses into
the river West Of this Thompscus creek 10 impassa
b,s marsh, which forms asaturai defence above.
Tho rst formidable obstacle the sunbosts will have 10
contend with IN ascending tho river battery station
ID on blur eighty feet high, which height en-
aolcs the rebels the decks q our vessels by
paugpg shos. This Of great importance in the Of
IN iren.cad which has sopng sides, Ike tho EsseI AZ
enables them 70 IRE into her ~ right angles.
1hsro arc two water bstssriss-one Of them masked
end nve othsr batteries tho BLUFF the last being
juss below ls sath OF Thompsons creek have placed
shs total npmssr Of guns In these batteries At twenty
Gps, which, nay be. y rah small; but am satisfied
sAsy mount lsss than thirty all soid.
Ybsy hsvs O. hunAssd and twenty FOUNDER, which
was brought down by railroad from Clinton last week.
ne rest a the guns are twenty ours, thrtytwo and
orsy.twos
IMPORTED OBSTRUCTION or THE CHANNEL.
IN addition these batteries, 10 reported that within
~ few days the rebels have obstsuced the channel
between Prophets Island the eastern bank OF the Mis-
olseippi by driving spes and erecting bridge, which
enables them 70 run light artillery TO the island and
oppose the progress Of the gunboats. not to compel
chem 60 up the channel the opposite side Of the
Island, which win deprive Them Of the shelter gained by
pasgibg tho eastern channel 10 doubtful, however,
whether these reported distractions will really prove TO
DO . serious obstacle.
Tho defences saying nothing Of this last extend
chou, three nos anda half along tho bank of the river
and, properly worked win doubt seriously engage
the attention Of our feet
pxyEScEs
rne land defences OF Port Hudson mainly Of very
construction having been mostly thrown up since
our occupation OF Baton Rouge.
They nine miles in extent, consisting Of .
pArapet wall fronted by q ditch and lsss abats
These works nj point the river just below
che first battery, and extend In semiccuar form
rompsons creek, whefe the impossible marsh already
IT,.
works extended far to the that they be
manned without danger Of moestation from the gunboa
being out Of range Of guns and WIN have 70 be carried
by land attack unless indeed, the gunboas should sue
coed In sencng the batteries the river enabling
troops TO enter from the river side.
On these land decnces mounted about thirty guns,
Of them Of heavy calbre and in addition these
che enemy provided with four field batteries which
can be readily moved 70 any part Of the works
THE xEHkL voRcH
The rebel forces At Port Hudson are commanded by
General Bcal, who was, believe, educated at West
Point.
The sommssary department issues ra,ions for nttsen
thousand men, includes The negrocs at Won on
che fortacatous the the camp Of every
description The number 0f soldiers IL about twelve
thousand the effective lighting force less than
shousand.
Tbe rasous consist chiefly OF corn bread and oasses,
with meat when Il can be obtained which is seldom.
Dcscrtons numerous, and the sick list N large.
VISIT oy yxvy. DAVE oxsnRAI sRAvRscARD.
According 70 Jackson paper, Jen. Davis IN Jack
soo Mississippi the goth inss and left that day for
- important point" Just about this time heard Of
him At Port Hudson and therc doubt he there,
p~obAby the 2Ist. Tho details Of his vist very
seagre, and he to have kept somewhat secret At
sse time Port Hudson OF great importance the
minus Of the Clinton Railroad aud doubt every possible
sHert will be maize TO hold a.
General Beauregard also reported 10 have visited
Fort Hudson about the time OF JED = visit
The Port Hudson Chron,ci. Of the 9th has seep re-
ceived here II consists Of short columns Of mai.
each side % small slip OF brown wrapping
papersnd altogether the startling example OF the
scarcity Of printing paper in Dixie which have soon Il
sevoted mainly 10 startling from the Nor,n
srrr CAVALRY orsosrs sAros Roros .
body Of rebel cavalry. from 6feen hundred 20 i~o
thousand sroug, operates tho bank or toe
river opposite below Baton Roaze 10 10 command
NJ General sibiey Of New Mexico Hwa,ches every
opportunity Ore apsn transports shes the eansos
not around and watches our WITH great
vigilance. 10 undoubtedly detached from the Port
Hudson army for that purpose
THE STATE HOUSE DESTROYED.