The last letter addressed by me to the Secretary of the Navy, before escaping through the blockade, as hereinafter described, was the following:
C. S. STEAMER SUMTER, HEAD OF THE PASSES, June 30, 1861.
SIR:--I have the honor to inform the Department that I am still at my anchors at the "Head of the Passes"--the enemy closely investing both of the practical outlets. At Pass à L'Outre there are three ships, the _Brooklyn_, and another propeller, and a large side-wheel steamer; and at the Southwest Pass, there is the _Powhatan_, lying within half a mile of the bar, and not stirring an inch from her anchors, night or day. I am only surprised that the _Brooklyn_ does not come up to this anchorage, which she might easily do--as there is water enough, and no military precautions, whatever, have been taken to hold the position--and thus effectually seal all the passes of the river, by her presence alone; which would enable the enemy to withdraw the remainder of his blockading force, for use elsewhere. With the assistance of the _Jackson_, Lieutenant Gwathmey, and the _McRae_, Lieutenant Huger--neither of which has, as yet, however, dropped down--I could probably hold my position here, until an opportunity offers of my getting to sea. I shall watch, diligently, for such an opportunity, and have no doubt, that sooner or later, it will present itself. I found, upon dropping down to this point, that the lights at Pass à L'Outre, and South Pass had been strangely overlooked, and that they were still being nightly exhibited. I caused them both to be extinguished, so that if bad weather should set in--a gale from the south-east, for instance--the blockading ships, having nothing to "hold on to," will be obliged to make an offing. At present the worst feature of the blockade of Pass à L'Outre is, that the _Brooklyn_ has the speed of me; so that even if I should run the bar, I could not hope to escape her, unless I surprised her, which with her close watch of the bar, at anchor near by, both night and day, it will be exceedingly difficult to do. I should be quite willing to try speed with the _Powhatan_, if I could hope to run the gantlet of her guns, without being crippled; but here again, unfortunately, with all the buoys, and other marks removed, the bar which she is watching is a perfectly blind bar, except by daylight. In the meantime, I am drilling my green crew, to a proper use of the great guns, and small arms. With the exception of a diarrhoea, which is prevailing, to some extent, brought on by too free use of the river water, in the excessive heats which prevail, the crew continues healthy.