The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-29

good spirits. They express the belief that
they can maintain their line in front of US
against any force we can bring.
They are told constantly by their officers
and especially by their chaplains, that this
IS war OF subjugatiOn, devastation and
abolition.
There are formidable intrenchments at
Centerville, but no seige guns.
He says that no troops had gone forward
to bis knowledge, the coast operations lot
causing any dispersion of their forces. This
is contradcted by other authorities. ,.
He brought with him good horse and
is we'll clothed with double wooden UNDER
clothes, and heavy wooden overcoat, has
Sharpe's rifle, and presented as good an ap.
pearance as our orderlies generally.
Information has been received here today
from rebel sources of the intention of the
enemy to burn Hunters Mills.
A MORTAR FLEET.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-It lis under.
stood that Capt. ID. ID. Porter's visit to the
city last week was connected with the outs
fit of a small mortar feet. Some twelve
schooners at this port owned by the Govern
ment and already fitted for ordnance arma-
ments,are now receiving additional strength
ening so as to carry, some of them one and
some of them two gigantic mortars some
of them weighing nearly $500 pounds each.
These vessels are nearly ready for service.
The Government has just purchased
Vanderbilt's Staten Island ferry boats,
Westield and Clifton. They are the finest
boats on any ferry line running from this
city and capable Of carrying 5000 to 1000
men with considerable battery, while
drawing but five or six feet of water.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-The Assistant
Secretary of the Navy, Mr.. Fox, received
despatch from Baltimore, stating that the
Norfolk Day Book published advices from
Richmond to the effect that an engagement
was going on at Pensacola. Parties who
read the papers say that it states that the
frigates Niagara and Colorado engaged
Fort McRae, and that the Fort brisk'y re-
turned tie fire, and further that the vessels
received damage and were compelled to
haul off.
The Day Book adds that Fort Pickens
was firing on the Pensacola Navy Yard.
Another despatch says that the fight
commenced on Saturday and was in pro-
gress Sunday night.
Fort Pickens, by firing hot shot, had set
the Pensacola Navy Yard on fire three
times, but that the rebels managed, up to
the latter day, to extinguish the flames.
They had not, however, been able to sup
press those of the burning town of Warren
ton, which the hot shot had utterly destroy
ed. 1t was thought at Old Point that our
victory was decisive.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Passengers at Baltimore by Old Point
boat say the Norfolk Day Book has dis
patch from Richmond to the effect that an
engagement was going On at Pensacola.
Parties who have read the paper say the
Niagara and Colorado engaged Fort. Nc.
Rae which briskly replied, and that the
vessels were damaged and had to haul off,
that Fort Pickens was firing on the Navy
Yard Different versions OF the affair at
Pensacola say that on Friday Pickens
opened on the Navy Yard and Fort Bar
rancas that the Colorado and Niagara
participated and bad to haul off very much
damaged. The news all comes from seces-
sion sources and must be received with due
allowances.
The secession reports say that the affair
at Fort Pickens took place on the 10th.
Fort MONROE, Nov 25.--The Iribune's
special says Fort Pickens opened fine on
Gen. Bragg's Fort on Saturday. Particu-
lars meagre and through rebel sources.
Bragg telegraphs be was taking the bonn
bardment cooy. Rebels claim to have
oreeched the walls of Pickens. Navy Yard
on fire three times and put out; village OF
Warrington burned by Browns fire the
first dav