Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-02-19

The REBEL Force n LoUIsANA.-A corre-
spondent Of the y. Y. Herald, captured some
time since near New Orleans and lately re-
leased, makes the following statements about
the rebel forces in Louisiana
The entire force under arms up 10 the 1st Of
January in the Western Department numbered
about thrty-fve thousand men, composed Of
eighteen thousand Texans, nine thousand Louis
ianians and Mississippians. and eight thousand
Arkansians. These forces were under the CON-
mand Of Lieutenant Gen. Kirby Smith. with
Lieut.. Gen. Holmes and Major Gems. Mlgruder,
Price, Mouton, Taylor, Green and Walker as
subordinate commanders
Gen. Magruler, in Texas, has been reinforced
with the division under command Of Major Gen.
Green, consisting Of about six thousand men. all
Texans. Gen. Price, at Camden, Ark, has
been strengthened by Mouton' 5 command, about
five thousand strong, and Is preparing for a
movement against Little Rock; anl Gen. Taylor,
the defender Of Western Louisiana, has now
under his command but the division Of Gen.
Walker, numbering some four thousand men,
his man force being near Smmsport, making
active preparations for defending Red river.
The most formidable deiences Of Rel river,
below Shreveport, are being constructed NJ the
si,e ot Fort de Kussy, about thirty miles below
Alexandra, mounted with some twenty guns Of
heavy calibre, supported by serious obstrUctions
IN the river, and assisted By two powerful gun
boats
The only other positions Of defence in Louis
i1ua are 10 Grand COteau, about l2J miles above
Fort de Russy and ~ Shreveport At Grand
Coteau, eighty miles by direct line from Shreye-
port, ,Ley have but three heavy guns mounted.
A.. Haf. Itt1,
commanding the river completely, aud mouatei
with guns Of very heavy cahbre Shreveport is
Gen. Smiths headquarters, and in case Of neces-
sy be, it Is stated VIII superintend the deleuces
in person.
The naval force at the command Of Gen.
Smith, and which is intended to act as an aux
iliary in the defence OF the river, consists Of
several rivers teamers, eOtton-clad, mounted with
piece or two Of light artillery, and INTENDED
more as transports than war vessels. Besides
these, the ". H. Webb has been rehtted
and strengthened lately, and IS justly consider
ell one Of the most powerful boats Of her size
afOat Her speed is uncommon, and she can be
handled with the utmost ease. She is armed
with two riAed guns Of thirty-two pound calibre,
and viii undoubtedly prove dangerous Gus
toner. But the most formidable boat the
river is lately finished ram, built after the fash
ion of the Merrimac, armored with double rail-
road iron, and made of the finest material pos
sible to be procured. Her engines were manu-
featured in England expressly for her, and are
very powerful and most perfect in their action
Her armament can scarcely be excelled, consist
ing as reported, of the eight-inch riAed gun
captured on the Indianola, one eleven-inch, sent
from Richmond year since, and six oroadside
forty-two Founders, rifed. Her two heavy guns
are in the bow, and intended TO be fired at the
moment she strikes another vessel Her ram,
or besk, is very powerful, and extends some
twelve feet beyond the bow proper. Her engi-
neer, Jones, is the same who was on the Arkan-
sas, and on her trial trip she ran her six miles
an hour up the rapid current of Red river. She
will prove an ugly customer to deal with, and
will probably add greatly to the efficiency Of the
defence of the river.