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Appendix No. 9.
UNITED STATES.
Selections, State
Papers, Cust, James.
State of Louisiana.
This stretch of coast contains the mouths of the most important river in the world. To its many Some- outlets, and the approaches to New Orleans, it is impossible to do justice in a limited space. thing has been said under Pensacola of the general conditions, and we shall make a few brief extracts from the State Papers, but we must here again refer to the original as well worthy of study; the discussion there contained, as well as the lessons of the history of our own wars and of the civil war on this theatre, should be attentively considered, allowance being made for altered conditions, if circumstances require us to take action on this coast.
For eight or nine months in the year vessels may ride in safety at anchor off the Gulf shore anywhere between Pensacola and Galveston. The land there forins a lee, and affords shelter from the northers. From 2 to 20 miles from the land, and in depth varying from 3 or 4 to 20 or 30 fathoms, the anchorage is good.
However strongly New Orleans and its approaches may be fortified, owing to the great width of the passages, the assailant cannot be deprived of good exterior anchorages, especially the very excellent one west of Chandeleur Island, the rendezvous of the English in their projected attack on New Orleans, which failed, partly owing to the plan being betrayed in Jamaica.
Since then circumstances have changed. The bars at the mouth of the Mississipi formerly excluded all but small vessels of war, and the strong current of the river made the ascent of sailing- vessels exceedingly uncertain and tedious; now these bars and currents are impediments no longer, and all the armed steamers of Great Britain and France might be found in array in face of the city of New Orleans before a rumour of their approach had been heard.
The Engineer Reports have proposed as many as eight positions for defence-with Ship Island in Mississipi, nine.
The expenditure on harbour improvements for this coast from public funds has been immense. Upon the bayous, it is true, only 90,000 dollars, but the mouth of the Mississipi alone has cost 2,500,000 dollars, and great expenditure continues yearly upon the whole river system of the Mississipi and its affluents, the Missouri, Ohio, and Red River, and upwards of 20,000,000 dollars have been spent up to 1879, by which their navigability from the sea has been, and is, constantly increasing.
Louisiana is classed in 1870 as thinly populated and poor, but this must be taken in consideration with the vast territories which the Mississipi drains, as a comparatively local value.
Sailors, 2,176 (in this case the proportion of river boatmen would be large); fishermen, 678; raftsmen, 637; shipwrights, 381.
Old census, 726,000; new, 940,000.
Organized militia, 2,189; unorganized, 138,000.
Actual forts :-
Defences of Mississipi Sound :-
Fort on Ship Island; old type casemated fort, west end Ship Island, east side Ship Island Channel, intended as fortified maritime depôt of coals and provisions, and defence of navigation of sound and eastern approaches New Orleans. In good repair.
Defences of New Orleans:-
Fort Pike, Rigolet's Pass; old type casemated work, on the south side of the Rigolets, a pass connecting Lake Pontchartrain with sound and gulf, to guard extreme east approach to New Orleans for vessels drawing 7 feet or less. During the civil war, while in the possession of the Confederates, with obstructions in channel, it pre- vented incursions of United States' gun-boats into lake, which otherwise would have cut rail and lake communication between New Orleans and east. In fair condition, but garrison and armament withdrawn.
Fort Macomb, Chef Menteur Pass, south side of pass connecting above lake with Lake Borgne and gulf; covers approach of vessels drawing 4 feet or less by Lake Borgne and Pontchartrain, also guards the Gentilly Ridge and railroad to New Orleans which crosses the pass a few hundred yards from fort. Modification for modern ordnance proposed, but no funds.
Tower Dupré, at mouth of Bayou Dupré. Canal now extends within a few hundred feet of Mississippi River, connecting with Bayou Dupré, Borgne, and gulf; vessels drawing 4 feet or less can pass through. It was through this bayou British approached New Orleans in 1814. Fair repair, no armament; can be put in condition in a few days to receive rifled field guns and suitable garrison. Battery Bienvenu, Lake Borgne; designed to guard against boat expeditions, viâ this bayou, by Bienvenue branches, to rear of lower portion of New Orleans. Old; no recent work.
Tower at Proctorsville, Lake Borgne; designed to command east approaches. Old; no
recent work.
Fort Jackson, right bank of main river, 70 miles below New Orleans, with Fort Saint Philip opposite, intended to guard against attack by fleet. Isolated casemated work, with masonry scarps and new exterior earthen batteries; incomplete. Modifications required. Funds asked for.
Fort Saint Philip; as above, inclosed barbette work, with new exterior earthen batteries;
incomplete. Modifications required. Funds asked for.
Fort Livingston, Barataria Bay, on west end Grand Terre Island; guards west approach to New Orleans by bay, and connecting bayous and canals to river bank opposite town. Secures anchorage for light draught vessels. Likely to be given even greater importance by projected Barataria ship-canal, and canal, already far
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