The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-05-16

Late and Interesting Intelligence From
Fert Picksns.
Our Southern Exchanges bring us
news from Pensacola up to May 9Th,
and some of its features are both inter-
esting and important. The corresPon-
dents are uniform in their statements
that the only reason Gen. Bragg has not
opened upon Fort Pickens, has been
fbe pou-arriyal of the ten inch mortars |
which a break in the railroad prevent
ed the arrival of sooner. There is no
talk whatever of abandoning the seige.
As there were no conveyances of any
consequence at Pensacola, those heavy
guns were dragged long distance
through the sand by the volunteers.
Gen. Bragg superintendent this work,
and among those engaged in it, one
correspondent noted an ex-memoer OF
Congress, two members of the Alabama
Convention, and two members Of the
Legislature of that State.
It appears that there is complete
xne of sand batteries, masked, with
strong parapets of sandbags and GOV.
cred redoubts, stretching all along the
shore from between the Navy Yard and
Barrancas, and between the latter and
Fort McRea. The men are drilled
constantly at these batteries. With
McRae, Barrancas, and these various
sand batteries, Bragg can open semi
circle of fire upon Pickens of over a
hundred guns, most of them 32s, but
several of them and 1O-inch Colum-
biads, The policy of those in COM
mand at Fort Pickens is thought by
the Southern troops to be the destruc-
ton of the Navy Yard, and this fact
gives them great discomfort, and they
complain loudly of the vandalism of
such an act. The soldiers of Fort
Pickens have been throwing up sand
batteries and mounting their heavy
guns, and number of men were en-
gagged in piling sand bags between the
barbette guns, of which there were ap-
parently thirty-two-all but two being
placed on the side of the fort-facing
the Navy Yard aud the rebel batteries.
The more intelligent correspondents
do not underestimate the strength of
Fort Pickens. They all say the Fort
Is very strong, we'll supplied with men
and provisions, but bound to yield in
time to the Secessionists. The squad
ron off the Fort, carrying some one
hundred guns, is source of embarrass-
mensto them, restricting their line of
Notifications, and annoying them in
many ways. One evidence that is CIV
en- of the evident intention of the fleet
to participate in hostilities, is.the cut
ting down of trees on Santa Rosa Is
land, to give way for a broadside. One
correspondent of the New Orleans
Delta says:
"But for the presence of this fleet
the capture of Fort Pickens would be
comparatively easy, either by storming
or by approaches on the island. But
with the sweep of the island, which
the squadron now commands, the cree
ton of batteries is an impossibility,
and storEing party would be exposed
to most destructive fire. Its reduc-
ton would have been effected by es-
calade eight or ten days ago, but for
the most reckless and criminal allusion
in the Pensacola papers to the prepar-
atoms on foot for some decisive move.
ment, on the receipt of which the gar
rison was aroused, the squadron was
signalled for reinforcements, and all the
troops on shipboard, with a strong
force of sailors and marines, were land
ed on the island"
1t appears that on the arrival o.
Colonel Brown at Fort Pickens, he
sent flag of truce in the hands o.
Col. Slemmer, to Gen. Bragg, and {
message that he should expect the lat
ter to leave the Navy Yard and ethel
property of the United States in TWEEN
ty days. Gen. Bragg declined to en-
terrain such proposition, and We may
therefore soon look for active move
ments against him. There is every
reason to apprehend speedy begin
ming of active hostile operations al
Pensacola.-Detroit Tribune.