Meanwhile, however, the golden opportunity had been lost; the Powhattan had returned to her station, and the harbour was again hermetically sealed.  The Sumter, therefore, was again compelled to return to her anchors, and eight more days passed wearily away without affording another opportunity of evasion.  The interval of expectation, however, was again occupied in drilling and exercising the crew, which was now beginning to get into good working order; measures being also taken for extinguishing and removing the lamps from the lighthouses at Pass a L’Outre and the South Pass, Captain Semmes addressing to the Navy Department at Richmond the following letter upon the subject:—­

   C.S. steamer Sumter, Head of the Passes,
   Miss.  River, June 30th, 1861.

Sir,—­I have the honour to inform the department that I am still at my anchors at the “Head of the Passes,” the enemy closely investing both of the practicable outlets.  At Pass a L’Outre there are three ships—­the Brooklyn and another propeller, and a large side-wheel steamer; and at the South-west Pass there is the Powhattan, 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 it), 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 and McRae (neither of which has yet dropped down), I could probably hold my position here until an opportunity offered 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 a L’Outre and South Pass had been strangely overlooked, and that they were still burning.  I caused them both to be extinguished, so that if bad weather should set in, the blockading vessel will have nothing “to hold on to,” and will be obliged to make an offing.  At present the worst feature of the blockade is that the Brooklyn has the speed of me, so that, even though 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 to, both night and day, it will be exceedingly difficult to do.  I should be quite willing to try speed with the Powhattan if I could hope to run the gauntlet of her guns without being crippled; but unfortunately, with all the buoys and other marks removed, there is a perfectly blind bar except by daylight.  In the meantime I am drilling my gun-crew to a proper use of the great guns and small arms.  With the exception of diarrhoea which is prevailing to some extent, brought on by too free a use of the river water in the excessive heats which prevail, the crew continue healthy.