The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-21


and is situated at the southern terminus Of the |
wilmington and Weldon Railroad and the east
eru end Of the Wilmington and Manchester Rail |
road. The city stands on the left bank OF the
Cape Fear river, just below the confluence OF the
northeast and northwest branches, about thirty
five miles from the ocean. The principal manu-
factories in this city are steam saw and planning
mills and turpentine distilleries. The hmbor |
admits vessels Of about three hundred tons, but |
the entrance has a dangerous shoali opposite the
city are two islands, dividing the river into three
channels. The islands produce the lines! rice In
the State.
IMPORTANCE or WILMINGTON TO THE HhhhLa'
There is no port on the sea coast in rebcldon
which is of such great value TO the kebels as
wilmington, for from that place have gone
throughout the Confederacy majority Oh the
supplies imported from England, France ana t1e
United States, via Bermuda, Nassau, HaylRi,
and St. Thomas JEFF. Davis, In speech 81 WI
mipptou November 5, 1853, said he "telt the iul
importance Of the harbor, the only one still open
for trade, and would do all that could be donetor
its defense" A regular mail and passenger line
has been kept up between secessia and the west
India islands since the war began, aud althougn
block AIDED by a score or more gunboats, scarcely
week has passed but two or more blockade-run-
uers have passed in or out from that port.
1t has cost the United States millions OF dol
lars 10 keep up the blockade, while on the other
hand tens of millions worth of goods nave Deen
run in, and proportiOnate value IN cotton ana
turpentine run out. In fact, the interest OF tue
Confederate loan in England has been regularly
paid by the sales Of Gotten run OUT ot thls port
alone. A Confederate officer, now a prisoner IN
our hands stated not long since that ne invested
a few thousand dollars in the stock OF a
blockade-ruDning company, and IN eighteen
months he had realized over hye hundred per
cent. upon his investment, and that hts profits
were in gold, which was lying subject 10 bis order
in London. Many have become Immensely
wealthy at this business and Of late JEFF. Davis
and his Rebel crew have ordered that portion
of the cargOes run in shall he on Confederate
account. There is no business brought on by
the war which is so profitable as this blockade
running.
THE BEGINNING OF THE wAR-THE NORTH
CAROLINA PRIyATBERs.
In the carly months of the Rebellion Whining
ton boasted half dozen privateers, some two
or three steamers, and few imprOysed ssiling
craft, who for q time annoyed and captured litt.e
coasting craft as they hugged in along shore 10
passing to and from the West Indies; but the
presence of few well-armed gunboats soon put
4 stop 70 these petty piracies, and these craft
were converted into blockaderunners, and for a
time they were Ousily employed 10 running oul
cotton turpentine, and rice. Finally the trlil
steamers were seized by the Confederate War
Department for the transportation OF troops ana
supplies while few of them were fitted for State
gunboats.
THE REBEL NAVY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
These little craft were no match for the UnioI
EuRboRts, but they rendered important service
in the sounds of the State, and on more than ont
occasion they exchanged shots with our vessels
but uniformly ran away after some slight shoy
of fight After the capture OF Roanoke island
Newbern, and Beaufort, the Rebels turned thei
attention TO constructing several iron-clads. Tn
two deserving the most notice at present are Tn
North Carolina and Raleigh, which were built a
Wilmington. These craft have been quite untor
ha-a I.,r hytt1i n n
they attempted to create havoc OIL New Inleto
the night of the 9Th Of May, 1864.
APPROACHES TO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BA
SAILING DIRECTIONS.
The entrance TO Wilmington harbor, or rathe
Cape Fear river, is guarded by three extensiy
bars known as the Western, New Inlet, an
Main bars. To enter by the Western bar chan
mel in days gone by, 10 was customary, when i
four fathoms OF water, to bring the high and lo'
lights on Oak island in range, and steer Il b
N passing on either side OF the buoy until Bal
Head Lighthouse bore Z E, and Cape Fear We
open about two ships lengths to the southward Q
the south emo of Bald Head point, then the cours
wa, east until Bald Head Lighthouse bore
and the citadel on Fort Caswel n Il I E, the
the course was n L by + / Il, until reaching iy
fatb Oms, several short courses were steered unit
the spit of Battery Island was cleared. The lowe
anchorage is at Bmithvile.
NRw INLET BAR.
The channel over the New Inlet bar is to th
norlhward and eastward of the western ba
entrance, and is probably at the present time tt
best and most preferable place Of ingress Y
undtr circumstances the most favorable IL is daI
gerous to attempt the crossing Of either Of thes
bars.
MAIN BAR.
This bar or shoal is now connected with II
Fingers" and is impossible.
THE REBEL FoRTIFICATIONs.
On Federal point is located the celebrated Fo
Fisher, perhaps one of the largest earthWOrks
its X nd on our coast. 1t has been building fro
the time the war broke out up to the prese
time, daily becoming larger, stronger, and mo
inyil cible against attack. It's armament is un
qu He'd In range, and its gunners are reputed
be the best rifle shots in the Contederacy, exec
ing even the famous artillerymen Of CharlestC
bRrhor This work mounts about fifty Of q
best Euglish rifles, mostly Blakeleys.
Adjoining II are one or more large water ba
ttr e. mounting guns Of a heavy calibre and
la,ge range. Opposite Fort Fisher on the ma
land are Two large water batteries, whose gu
GRO FIRE with the fort from point below bus
IN g." on the coast survey map. These gu
also will reach up the river, having q sweep Of
leaSi three miles from the centre, taking In
crc Q of over six miles. At the former site
the Federal Point lighthouse, is also fOrmdab
ear hwOrk whose guns cover from selward &
o. rance TO the channel over New lnlet bar.
AClstince Of only about nine hundred yards az
mar Fort sher, is the mounted battery, whit
Is built up OF sand, and on the summit Of Whil
irum which often fly Iar OUT 70 sea among o
blockauers.
To enter New Inlet our vessels would be su
jected 20 a most terrible angular and rdking hI
therefore the heavy screw frigates, whose draug
OF water would not permit them 10 enter the ha
Dor, will be compelled TO lay outside and deliy
their broadsides; three of these ships and Of
screw sloOp and the sde-wheel slOOps alOn
would throw over one hundred 9-inch shells
one broadside, which would be the heaviest Il
yet known In our naval history. lt seems as
these vessels alone would be able 10 drive {
Rebels from their works. The distance fro
Fort Fisher 10 where the vessels would and C
probably anchor, Is about two and One-eigh
miles. II must be smooth weather 10 do II.
there is any sea on they could not work as we
enough to make the "dust' fly.
There Is a small battery on Zeek's islaI
opposite Fort Fisher.
Now let us examine the defenses by the way
the Western Bar channel There are batter
on Oak island near the two lighthouses viii
marx the ranges for the entrance 10 the cham
They are small, but mount several good riii
sweeping far down the channel over the bar a
CUT eeAEard- These guns are intended 10 "a
the oeekh OF vessels running in. The next wi
met WIN, excepting the battery at Bald Head
ninlLh island, which s say two miles distant
fGrt Cas~ell a work constructed by Uni
States engineers. Il Is Of pentagonal form
mounts, it is said, about sixty guns az the pres
time. IL hae Deen strengthened Of late ana a
he said 20 be a very formidable vvorlr Ttr o
I'm oasilvr saanh down 10 the -, - - .