Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-04-15
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THE PROBABLE SEAT OF WAR.
FORT PICKKNs.

YoRT PICKKNe.
Fort Pickens, the apparent strong
hold Of the Federal Government in the
South, i built on low, sandy spot on
the westermost end Of Santa Rosa Island,
and . little over one mile distant from
Fest McKee,, which lorna another sem.
tinsl 70 the bay. Fort Pickens i first
class Fashioned work, built Of stone tot
foundation purposes, with walls OF brick
aud bitumen. Ito walls are forty feet
10 height, by twelve feet in thickness.
1t is cmbrazured for two tiers OF guns in
bomproof case ates, and one tier open
or en- barJete. The work has oil the
usual conoomitants Of frat class work,
viz: covert ways, dry ditch glaess and
ont-works complete. The guns from
this work rsdiate to oil poiuts OF the
horizon, with flank and en6ading fire
10 the ditches aud every angle OF ap-
proach. Its guns command Fort Bar
.ancas, Fort McRea, the Navy YARD and
the other works now in possession OF
the Confederate States troops. The
work was commenced in 1928, and fin
ished 10 1853. 1t cost the Federal Gov
ernment nearly one million Of dollars.
When on q war footing the garrison
consists of 1900 soldiers. Its present
armament consists Of: In bastion, 26
twenty-tour pound howitzers; casemate,
2 forty-two Founders, 81 thiry-two poun-
ders, so twenty-four Founders; in bar
bette, "a cight-ineh howitzers, 8 eigh-
teen Founders, IL twelve-pounders,
ten-inch columbisd, mounted, and 4 ten
inch mortars, in bad order.
The fort is only approachable by land
on one side. Owing to the openness OF
the country, which is bnt ba zen bed
Of sand, party attacking from that
quarter would be very mach exposed.
The Federal forces now in garrison at
Fort Pickcns consist Of about two hun
dred and fifty men, under the command
Of Lieut.. SIemmer.
FORT NC REA.
Almost Immediately opposite Pickens
is Fort McRea, where the Secessionists
have concentrated their forces. 1t is
powerful and castle-like masonry struc-
ture, built on q low ssnd-spit Of the main
land, and appears to rise out Of the
water. This ratification is situated on
Fosters Bank and guards the west side
of the mouth OF Pensacola Bay. 1t is
Fashioned fort, built OF brick masonry,
with walls twelve feet in thickness. The
work IS somewhat ont Of repair, and in
view of this fact, Gen. Bragg recently
ordered the removal Of sixty heavy guns,
and distributed them among the new
sand batteries.
Fort McRae is embrasured for two
tiers of guns under bomproof classmates,
and has one tier en- barbette. Its pres
ent armament consist Of: Lower tier, %
forty-two Founders; second tier, II
eight-inch columbiads, Is thirty-two
Founders in barbette, II twenty-four
FOUNDERS, 3 ten.;nch columbiads, and in
time of war requires garrison of six
hundred and fifty men. The work cost
the Federal Government about $4OO, 900.
Its guns radiate at every point Of the
horizon. The full armament OF the fort
is not complete, but q sufficient number
Of guns are in battery to make very
good opposition to Fort Pickens. Be-
low this fort is a water battery, which
mounts some eight or ten guns. The
interior of Fort McRae is provided with
the necessary shot furnaces, officers and
soldiers quarters, magazines, &c.
FORT BARRANCAs.
Fort Barrancas is on the north Of
Pensacola Bay, and directly facing the
entrance to its mouth. The work is
erected on the site Of an old Spanish
tort. 1t is Fashioned work, of heavy
masonry land mounts forty-rine guns, all
of which are in battery and ready for ac-
ton. 1t Is at present garr'soned by
three hundred troops Of the regular
army of the Confederate States. In the
rear Of the fort, and short distance from
it, is redoubt from which Barrancas
receives reinforcements in time of action.
Some extensive repairs have recently
been completed on this redoubt, and
tlanking howitzers of scarp and counter
scarp mounted. In the flank defences
of Fort Barrancas eight twenty four
pound howitzers have recently been
mounted, Fort Barrancas contains 2ss
eight-inch shells, 903 twenty-four pound
balls, $50 eighteen pound balls, aud all
the implements tor working the same.
Its present armament consists OF eleven
thirty-two Founders, three eigbt-inch
paixhans, two eightinch columbiads,
Q ght twenty-four Founders, FIVE eight
cen Founders, two twelve FOUNDERS, eight
twelve pound howitzers flank defence,
two eighteen. inch mortars.
THE CHASE BATTERY FORT A.
This is q new sand battery erected by
the Confederate troops, and is SO situa-
ted as to rake the trout of Fort Pickcns.
The work has several columbiads in
battery.
THE SAND BATTERIES.
Along the bend from Warrington
Navy Yard, to the extreme right Of Fort
Mclsea, there are efficient sand batteries
erected at suitable intervals, with the
guns bearing upon Fort Pickens. They
arc built at considerable distances apart.
80 as to scatter the fire Of Fort Pickens.
should an engagement take place with
that work.
ToaT PICKgNs, JUNIOR.