The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-04-10
from, that quarter would be very much

from, that quarter would be very much
exposed ad 4e e..
The Federal force now in garrison at
Fort Pckens, consists of about two hun
dred and fifty men, under the command
of Lieutenant Slemmer. They have pro
visions for six months ami ammunition to
resist o siege of equsl length. IF the
work be attacked it must be by sudden
assault from heavy force concentrated
on the island to the eastward. which will
take it with a Zouave-like rush in double
quick time-pouring into it in such num-
bers as at once TO overpower every chance
of resistance on the part of the garrison.
Though done in the night, and with the
quickest movement, and though escaping
loss from the batteries in the approach,
the work at the walls will be bloody
business if the garrison have mind TO
make it so. If Fort Pickens be taken
by the Secessiouists Pensacola will be
the great naval depot of the Southern
Confederacy, from which, DO doubt. pri-
vateers will be fitted out for the purpose
of preying upon the commerce in the
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
Fort McRea.
This work is in possession of the Flor
ida troops. 1t is powerful and castle
like masonry structure, built on a low
sand pit of the main land, and appears to
rise out of the water. 1t is farther sea-
ward than Fort Pickens, of which it is
the Ms.a vts across the channel, and a
vessel entering must needs run the gannt-
let of its guns before approaching the lat.
ter, which. however, OF itself, efectually
closes the harbor against the admission of
an enemy of even very heavy force
The fertilization is SITUATED on Fosters
Bank, and guards the west side of the
mouth Of Pensacola Bay. It is a bas-
toned fort, buils Of brick masonry, with
walls twelve feet in thickness. isis EN-
brasured for two tiers of guns, under
bomb proof easements. and has one tier
en- barbette. It's present armament con
sists of--Lower tier. % forty two pound
ers; second tier, IL eight inch columbi-
ads,rlS thirty-two Founders; in barbette.
60 twenty four ponnders. 3steni inch CO
lnmbiads, and in time of war requires a
garrison of six hundred and 6f,y men.
The. work cost the Federal Government
about 100000. Its guns radiate at ev-
cry point of the horizon II is very
effective work The full armament of the
fort is not complete, but sufficient NUN
ber of guns are in battery to make q very
good opposition to Fort Pickens Below
this fort is a water battery, which mounts
some eight or ten, guns. The interior O.
Fort McReais provided with the necessary
shot furnaces, officers and soldiers quar-
ters, magazines, &c.
.ss5 Fort Barrancas
Fort Barrancas is on the north OF Pen
sacola Bay. and directly fronting the en-
traEce 10 its mouth. Tue work is erected
on the site of an old Spanish fort. Th
| fort is Fashioned work, built of heav,
masonry, and mounts forty. guns. ar
in time of war requires a garrison of tw,
hundred and fifty men. The armauen
of the work is fully mousted, and it
magazines are in good order. In th
rear of the fort is redoubt, which i
auxiliary to Fort Barrancas. Some ex
tensive repairs have recently been com
p!eted on this redoubt, and he faukinI
howilzers of scarp and countersearp ca
he mounted with very little labor. Whe
the Florida-troops seized the fort ther
were in it 6 eighteen Founders, 20 twenty
ifour.pounders, 2 twelve Founders. ten
inch co1umbiads, 4 eight inch columbiad.
and 2 twenty.four pound mortars. I
the flank defenses, 8 twenty four poun
howl zers were found. The powder ha
all been removed The fort containe
12SS eight inch shells. 993 twenty -four
pound balls, and all the implements fo
working the cannon. It's present arma
ment consists of IL thirty two -pounaerG
2 eight>ibch Paixhans, Q eight-inch &C
Elumbiads, 8 twenty-four- Founders, S eigt
teen Founders, 2 twelve Founders,
twelve pound howitzers, flank. defense,
|eighteeD-inch mortars.
Fort Barrancas is now in command {
Captain O'Hara, formerly of the Unite
States Army. 1t has a garrison of thre
hundred regularly enlisted men of tn
Confederate States. Captain O'Har
has, by the most untiring efforts, place
this fortsin a proper state of defens'
The guns are all mounted, and the troop
we'll drilled as cannoniers A few day
ago, Captain O'Hara warned the con
mander of the United States Steamt
Wyandot to the effect that in future, G
his vessel makes her tripa under flag {
truce to aud from the Pensacola Navy
yard, he mast keep farther off from Fol
i Barrancas.
Fort Aarion, at St, Augustine
Fort Marion is an old Spaniard worl
built of petri6ed shell or coral, and
supposed to be the Oldest fort on the Cor
tMent. 1t is about forty feet high, and
surrounded by ditch twenty f, ct wild
which once. at high tide, was filed wit
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