The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19

contains but small garrison, with four
months provisions, but enough, its COM
mander asserts, to hold out against any
force the Confederates. can bring to bear
against it. Until the Federal Government
loses command of the Gull, Fort Pickens
is in no danger.
Brigadier General BRAxToN BRAGG, of a
"little more grape" fame, commands the
Southern army at Pensacola, numbering, at
last advices, about 5000 men. General
BRAGG's deeds in the Mexican war, as an
artillery officer, belong to the history of the
country. No name shines with brighter
lustre. He is native of North Carolina,
but resigned bis commission in the Federal
army, and moved to Louisiana, about six
years ago. He is about 43 years of age.
We reproduce herewith description of
Pensacola bay, and the Notifications in that
vicinity, mainly derived from series Of
articles published in the PIONEER AND DEM>
ocRAT two or three months ago. +.
PENSACOLA BAY.
Pensacola bay has rare properties as a
harbor. 1t is now accessible to frigates.
The bar is near the coast, and the channel
across it is short and easily passed. The
harbor is perfectly land locked, and the
roadstead very capacious. There are ex-
cellent positions within for repairing, build
ing and launching vessels, and for docks
and dockyards, in healthy situations. The
supply of good water is abundant. These
properties, in connection with the position
of the harbor as regards the coast, have
induced the government to select it as
naval station, and place of rendezvous and
repair. The upper arms of Pensacola bay
receive the Yellow Waters or Pea river,
Middle river and Escambia river, eleven
miles from the Gulf. Although there is
nothing about Pensacola to tempt the
cupidity of an enemy, still, its harbor is one
of military Importance for national pur.
poses. Pensacola bay, fortified as it now
is, with all its ordnance in position and
properly garrisoned, is impregnable, except
by a long and hazardous seige by an over
whelming and we'll appointed force, and it
could defy all the navies OF the world COM
bined, till it filled the harbor's mouth with
the carcasses Of sunken ships.
.....-.t -. SANTA ROSA ISLAND.
Santa Rosa Island, on the east point of
which is Fort Pickens, is 81 uated east by
northwest by south fourteen leagues, and
completely shuts out Pensacola from the
sea. 1t is so low that the sea in gale
washes its top. It is not more than one
fourth of a mile wide. The west point of
this island is at the mouth of Pensacola
bay. The latter is not over one and
quarter mile wide. The island is separated
from the mainland one and quarter miles,
there being two channels for the passage of
vessels, one on the side of the mainland, and
the other on the island side.
FORT PIcKENs.
The principal means of defence to the
mouth of Pensacola bay is Fort Pickens.
1t is a first class pentagonal Fashioned work
built of stone, brick and butemen, with
covert ways, dry ditch, glacis and outworks
complete. Its walls are forty feet in height
by twelve feet in thickness; it is embrasured
for two tiers of guns in bombproof case.
mates, and one tier of guns open or en- bar
bette. The guns from this work radiate to
every point of the horizon, with flank and
enflading fire in the bitches and at every
angle of approach The work was com.
menced in 1928, and finished in 1853 1t
cost the federal government nearly one mil.
lion of dollars. When on war footing its
garrison consists of 1850 soldiers. Its
present armament consists of-In bastion,
26 twenty>four pound howitzers casemate,
2 forty.two Founders, 81 thirty-two pound
ers, So twenty -four Founders in barbette,
"a eight inch howitzers, 6 eighteen pound
ers, II twelve Founders, ten inch Column
bad, mounted, and ten inch mortars, in
bad order.
The possession of this work, therefore, by
the secessiOns is, of course, of the first i'm.
portance; for unless it is occupied by them
it will secure to the United States troops
base of operations along the whole Gulf
coast, and keep open road right into the
heart of the South, which cannot be OBJ
structed by any fixed Notifications. Once
within the gates of the harbor, and an army
could be disembarked at any point on the
wide bay which it might select. 1t could
run up beyond the Escambia river and land
many hours ahead of any opposing force
which might be at Pensacola, beside pIac-
ing wide river between it and the latter
or even two rivers, the Escambia and Black.
water-by going far enough up. Hence,
with start of at least forty>eight hours, it
could march into interior Alabama. An
enemy holding Fort Pickens could rendez.
vous naval force there and keep up a
blockade of all the ports of the Gulf, unless
it could be met on the sea. The fort is only
approachable by land on one side. Owing
to the openness of the country, which is but
barren bed of sand, party attacking
from that quarter would be very much ex.
posed. The federal force now in garrison
at Fort Pickens consists of about two hun.
bred and fifty men, under the command of
Lieutenant SIemmer. They have provisions
for six months, and ammunition to resist
siege OF equal length. If the work be at.
tackled it must be by sudden assault from
a heavy force concentrated on the island to
ho CT Nd xx,h. oL 81 A.. -