The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-12-06
From Pensacola.

CONTRADICTORY El.rnRT> AND RUMoES.
The Old Point boat. which arrived at Bal
timore Saturday morning, brings many ru-
nlors relative to Pensacola One says Fort
pichtns has been taken By the rebels; an
other tha, For, l'lckens was victorious and
Bragg killed. and still another, that after
two days hard lighting. Il great storm arose.
and both parties had to cease lighting.
the baltimore American of Saturday
morning. SAYS the Richmond Despatch of
the 18th gives the following from the Pen>a-
cola Observer OF the 22d and 23d ults. The
paper OF the pa thus announces the begin
ing o. the Il hit: AT five minutes past 10.
this friday morning, heavy and cont.nu-
Gus fire commenced at the forts below
Which SIDE commenced the fight we are I'M
able vet 70 say Later-We learn from a
person Just arrived. at the navy yard, that the
fire was opened by Fort Pichens upon the
confederate steamer Times, and was returned
hy our batteries and forts. The United
States steamer Niagara is trying to cross the
bar for the purpose OF entering the harhor
The excitement in the town IS immense bus
mess is suspended, houses are closed, and
the house-tops are covered with the excited
population. .u
The Observer of the 2}d has the follow
ing: The firing from Fort Plckens during
the morning WAS directed at the steamer
Times, with very little effect. The Times
came up last night. and with the exception
OF TWO or three holes made with ried shot,
is unframed The steamer Nelmes was also
engaged at the beginning; only one shot
struck her, and this did but little damage
The Nelmes went over to the M iin land ana
found the Florida regiment all right. In
passing Billy Wilson's batteries she gave
them couple of shots, which were returned.
The tri.ate Niagara tried hard to come over
the bar. but the reception was too warm, and
she had to back out The only loss OF life
we can learn Of was a private OF Louisiana
regiment and the wife OF u sergeant OF the
marine corps, both killed BY shells IN the
navy ward. \ great many shot and shell fell
in the navy yard, but did very little damage
to the buildings. Oar guns worked all day
ard most have told with terrible effect upon
the other side. We think the greatest dam
age was to one of the ships which ventured
too near"
The editor then proceeds with TRADE OF
abuse against yankees in general and Co.
Brown in particular, and adds: At thirteen
minutes 10 eleven this morning, the fire re-
opened and still continues at a very brisk
rate The people are not so much excited as
Yesterday, and we can see every appearance
of determination to resist to the last eX
tremity if need be, but every one seems tt
mace unlimited confidence IN our success
The Montgomery Advertiser OF the 24tf
saws: For more than six months past the
garrisons of fort Pickens and Pensacola have
been making preparations for desperate
struggle. The suspense is now over, ant
the day long wished for by our gallant vol
unteers has arrived and the strength OF tht
Notifications on each side are likely to b'
fully tested before either party will acknowl
edge defeat. Our works, we Judge, are II
a condition to withstand the combined attacl
of the fort and the Yankee fleet. This VIII
be no Hatteras or Port Royal affair. Ih
confedera,es are too strongly entrenched tt
entertain the idea of succumblng to anything
like an equal force. How long the contes
will last no one can tell, but when a cessa
ton of hostilities is announced We hope t
be able to announce that the flag of the con
: feaerate states waves over the walls OF For
, picksns. The Richmond Dispatch of a la
, ter date saws an official dispatch was receive
: Tuesday night from Gen Bragg, who state
< that everything was quiet about Pensaco!s
Y and that the federal fleet keeps at safe dis
, lance from his guns. The editor adds, W
have every confidence that Bragg will CIV