Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-20
The War News.
From Pensacola.

From Pensacola.
New York, Dec. ia letter from Key
West Of the 5th inst, states their Pensacola
dates are to the 26th ult.
1t appears that the rebel steamers have
been plying between the Navy Yard aud
town constantly, carrying guns, munitions,
&c. Colonel Brown notified Bragg that he
should fire on them, to which Bragg replied
"Fire away" On the morning Of tho 21st
the steamers again appeared. Col. Brown
disabled one and the other escaped. A
general cannonade then took place between
Pickens and Fort Barraucas, the Niagara
and Richmond opening on Fort McRea and
several water batteries. The engagement
lasted nearly two whole days. McRea was
silenced, and also the water batteries in
reach Of the Richmond's guns. No person
was injured aboard the Niagara. Jas. Cook
was the person killed on the Richmond
Both vessels were slightly damaged in their
upper works.
Fort Pickens had not even a sand bag
displaced by Barancas' fire.
On the Gath, while removing the fuse
from shell it burst, killing five men and
wounding many others.
Col. Brown says he has Barancas COM
pletely at his mercy, and is only waiting for
reinforcements TO hold the forts when he
shalltake them.
! Another letter states that one of Wilson's
Zouaves was killed and another wounded on
the 22d. About $500 guns we're fred in
the two days.
At 8 o'clock P. NJ. of the 2Sd, Warrington
was set on fire by our guns and that place
and nearly all the Navy Yard destroyed.
The rebel steamer Times was disabled
the first shot. The rebel fire slackened on
the second day. Two companies of Wilson's
Zouaves have charge of batteries near the
Fort; two companies assisted in the Fort
and the remainder of the regiment have
work in trenches to repel any midnight at
tack. The heaviest rebel guns are near the
| light house and their best mortars on both
sides of the hospital. The water battery
below Fort McRae is a bad customer The
ranges of our artillery men are splendid.
A note dated the oath, states that Col.
Brown prohibited firing unless the rebels
first opened, it being the Sabbath. One of
our guns burst yesterday. The rebels have
evidently suffered much.
Lieut.. Warden, who has arrived in New
York, having escaped from the rebels, say;
that Major Vogdes and twenty-five of Viii
sons men were confined in Jail with him
from whom he learned further of the actua
condition of Fort Pickens, and is satisfied
that twenty days bombardment from
Bragg's batteries could not breach the fort
He has no doubt that Fort Pickens can cas-
ily reduce the batteries and Notifications in
that vicinity as well as Fort McRae, and
that General Brown first opened fire for
some purpose yet unexplained.
A letter in the N. Y. Times from Fort
Pickers dated Nov. 25tb, says:
We were under continuous and heavy
fire from the forces and batteries of the
enemy, fourteen or fifteen in number, for
two days, with loss of only one private
killed, and one sergeant, one corporal and
four privates wounded, and which is singu-
lar but one man was hurt on the ramparts,
the most exposed place.
You can have some idea Of the amount
of fire we gave and receivee when tell you
that we consumed fifty thousand pounds of
powder, and three guns were fired every
minute for two days.
The Navy, unfortunately, could net give
us the assistance we expected, in conse-
quence of drawing too much water, and we
therefore failed in the great object of our
hopes, the capture of Fort McRae.
! About two-lhirds of Warrenton is burned
and although we cannot see it, think as
much of Woolsey, n village north of the
Navy yard; and good many buildings in
the yard arc burned.
By attacking Bragg at this time, zoe thinG
'Oe have made an important diVersion il
favor of Gen. Sherman at Beaufort, no
only By preventing Bragg from sending
more troops there, Che has sent some) Ju
By compelling him to bring others here; h
'Oas also daily strengthening his batteries
We have very effectually weakened hin
for some time to come, and have compelle,
him to expend vast amount of ammuni
ton which he can i'll afford to lose.
During the engagement the "Richmond
alone fired on the first day 562 shot ant
she'll, using nearly 5000 pounds of powder
l tell you old boy there was some nois
Friday. Pickcns is all right thus far, anC
can hold out forever if kept supplied will
ammunition and provisions.
The island about the fort is covered will
shot and shell thrown from the enemy, i
looks as though the skies had rained II
inch she'll, and drizzled AZ pound shot.
Rrou, UUtssourt