the country against which our operations
were directed.

New Orleans is a town of some note, containing from twenty to
thirty thousand inhabitants. It stands upon the eastern bank of
the Mississippi, in 30 degrees north latitude, and about 110
miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Though in itself unfortified, it
is difficult to conceive a place capable of presenting greater
obstacles to an invader; and at the same time more conveniently
situated with respect to trade. Built upon a narrow neck of
land, which is confined on one side by the river, and on the
other by impassable morasses, its means of defence require little
explanation; and as these morasses extend to the distance of only
a few miles, and are succeeded by Lake Pontchartrain, which again
communicates through Lake Borgne* with the sea, its peculiar
commercial advantages must be equally apparent. It is by means
of the former of these lakes, indeed, that intercourse is
maintained between the city and the northern parts of West
Florida, of which it is the capital; a narrow creek, called in
the language of the country a bayo or bayouke, navigable for
vessels drawing less than six feet water, running up through the
marsh, and ending within two miles of the town. The name of this
creek is the Bayouke of St. John, and its entrance is defended
by works of considerable strength.

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* These are, properly speaking, one and the same lake. From the
entrance, however, as far as Ship Island, is called by the
inhabitants Lake Borgne, whilst all above that point goes under
the name of Lake Pontchartrain. They are both extremely shallow,
varying from 12 to 6 feet in depth.
-----------------------

But to exhibit its advantages in a more distinct point of view,
it will be necessary to say a few words respecting that mighty
river upon which it stands. The Mississippi (a corruption of the
word Mechasippi, signifying, in the language of the natives, "the
father of rivers ") is allowed to be inferior, in point of size
and general navigability, to few streams in the world. According
to the Sioux Indians it takes its rise from a large swamp, and is
increased by many rivers emptying themselves into its course as
far as the Fall of St. Anthony, which, by their account, is
upwards of 700 leagues from its source. But this fall, which is
formed by a rock thrown across the channel, of about twelve feet
perpendicular height, is known to be 800 leagues from th