eastern Mississippi
were abundant. Before they abandoned Pensacola, the Confederates had
taken up fifty miles of rails from the Pensacola and Montgomery line,
and used them to make a connection between the latter place and
Blakeley, at the eastern head of the bay, opposite Mobile. From the
known dispositions of the Federal forces, I did not think it probable
that any serious attempt on Mobile would be made until spring. Already
in possession of Fort Morgan and Pensacola, thirty miles east of the
first, and the best harbor on the Gulf, the enemy, when he attacked,
would doubtless make these places his base. It was important, then, to
look to defensive works on the east side of the bay, and such works were
vigorously pushed at Blakeley, above mentioned, and at Spanish Fort,
several miles south. I had no intention of standing a siege in Mobile,
but desired to hold the place with a small force, so as to compel the
employment of an army to reduce it; and for this its situation was
admirably adapted. The Mobile River, forty miles long, and formed by the
Alabama and Tombigby, is but the estuary at the head of Mobile Bay,
silted up with detritus by the entering streams. Several miles wide, it
incloses numerous marshy islands in its many channels. These features
make its passage difficult, while the Mobile and Ohio Railway, trending
to the west as it leaves the town to gain the high land above the
valley, affords a ready means for the withdrawal of a limited force.

The officer commanding at Mobile was well qualified for his task.
Major-General D.H. Maury, nephew to the distinguished Matthew Maury,
formerly of the United States navy, graduated from West Point in time to
serve in the war with Mexico, where he was wounded. A Virginian, he
resigned from the United States cavalry to share the fortunes of his
State. Intelligent, upright, and devoted to duty, he gained the respect
and confidence of the townspeople, and was thereby enabled to supplement
his regular force of eight thousand of all arms with a body of local
militia. It was a great comfort to find an able officer in this
responsible position, who not only adopted my plans, but improved and
executed them. General Maury had some excellent officers under him, and
the sequel will show how well they discharged their duty to the end.

From Mobile to Meridian, and after some days to Selma, ninety miles
east. The railway between these last places had been recently laid down,
and