Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-12-11
Pensacola and Vicinity.

While the reports of sharp fighting com
to us from Pickens and Pensacola, the fol
lowing information regarding those point
viii be of interest:
The entrance Of the bay, between SAINT;
Rosa Island on the east, and the MAINLAND
of the west. is about a mile wide. but with
in it expands into u clpaciOus harbor, from
four to ten miles in width, ard entirely
land-locked. Fort Pickens IS on the OK
treme point of the long, narrow Santa 10
sa, and various batteries and ether work
have been erected here.
On the mainland to the west are the reb
el works and rebel encampmcnts. which
have been so often described Opposit,
the lower part of the island is Fort Me
Rae, and about half mile to the north
and Immediately in front Of the entrance
(the west shore making an abrupt turn t,
the east stands Fort San Carlos de Bar
rancas. In rear Of this fort is situated
Gen. Braxton Bragg's main camp. Neal
the fort are the lighthouse, extensive bar
racks and the naval hospital. About ;
mile above the hospital IS the navy yard
situated IN Tartar Point, where the shor,
bends again to the north. The village o.
Warrenton lies Immediately adjacent to th;
wall of the Navy yard
The town of Pensacola, reported asevac-
uated. is eight miles in a northcasterly d.
rection from the Navy yard, and why Gen.
Braxton Bragg should have ordered its C.
vacuation, if he had positively determined
to breach Fort Pickens ION Monday, it Is
. hard to see. 1t appears much more likely
that Bragg anticipated the destruction ol
his forts and batteries by the very troops
be was on the point of forcing to surren-
der" and an immediate assault on Pensa-
cola by the vessels of war which he had
just "riddled with bullets"
Pensacola harbor is the best harbor on
the Gulf of Mexico. 1t is completely
landlocked, and has twenty two feet Of wa
ter on the bar at low tide. East Bay ad-
mits frigates of the largest class, and is en-
tirely sheltered from all winds. The town
Of Pensacola, which is the principal sea-
port of West Florida, had, a year ago, 4
population of about 1000; but a great
part Of these fed from the ruin and terror
that had oyertaken the city. The houses
are generally old-fashioncl Spanish struc-
lures. The Alabama and Florida Rail
road, which connects the town with Mont
gomery, (Ala.,) was completed shortly af
ter secession. That part Of the road then
unbuilt was finished with great haste by
Davis orders, so that troops and munitions
might be hurried forward for the capture
of Fort Pickens. Although that is nine
months ago, however. PIckens is as yet un-
captured-nor, we judge by the latest
news, is it likely soon to be captured. The
climate is exceedingly healthful, except for
occasional and rare visitations Of yellow
fever. The creole element prcdominates in
the resident population. In 1914, Gen
jackson drove out the British, who had eS-
tablished themselves there by permission of
the SpaniarJs, and assaulted and took the
city and adjacent forts Aglia in ISIS,
General Jackson, II Consequence Of Indian
incursions on United S5atcs tcrrijroy; took
possession Of Pensacola, and obliged Fort
Barrancas, to which the Spanish Governor
had retired. to capiJulato. In 1921. the
whole territory was c,icI to the United
States. We hope it viii turn cut that Col
Brown is no unworthy successor Of Gen.
Jackson.