Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-19
THE RETNFORCEHENT OF FORT
Flick Fms
SINGULAR STATEMENT OF A PROJECTED

SINGULAR OF A PROHIBITED
ASSAULT.
The Mobile Mercury, Of Monday evening
18th inst, says it has "reliable confirmation o.
the reinforcement Of Fort Pickens," and pro
ceeds to make the following statement, = POr
ton Of which reads singular enough:
On Friday evening, a little after dark, sigma
guns were heard out at sea-six distinc
reports-seeming TO be some dozen or hfteer
miles away. l. was surmised at first that they
were signals Of distress, but soon it was con
cluded to have some connection With a rein
foTeement Of Piekens. About 9 O'Clock ther'
was discovered TO be an unusual stir abou
Fort PiekeBs, and unusual lights displayed
From various indications and circumstances
It was apparent that reinforcements weru
being landed and introduced into the fort. tn,
guns beard out at sea were surmised after tina
discovery, TO be signals from the ships cup,
posed to be on their way to soGthern ports; be-
II any zane in during the night, they we're mo-
observable, and no signs we're seen OF then
Saturday morning.
During the day The Wysndotte had beer
cruising about the bay as usual. She went
up 10 Pensacola, and was about to take on
board a person believed to be from Washing.
ton City. The citizens detained him anG
handed bin over to Gen. Bragg. An exam
AAAAAAE III AAAA 10 AZ MN IL my
Illicit undertaking, and be was released. He
went over to Fort Picsens, and It is thought
now that be may have carried the order to
throw the men on the ships into the fort. The
reinforcement is supposed to be the men who
have been waiting on shipbosrd for that pur-
pose for some weeks.
There is another supposiiien OF the reason
OF the reinforcement at that particular time.
They NAV have obtained at Plekens some hints
/ - a. F,k.-l,N -F,fA - Enn -s-I.I -, -
about the hsur Of midnight.
There can be 20 doubt that an assault on
Fort Picksns was ordered fer that night about
the hour Of midnight. The asssulting party
vas composed Of five hundred picked men, two
hundred and fifty Of whom were picked men
from the Mississippi Ninth, to be led by c. W.
Harris, Of the Home guards; fifty from the
Tenth Mississippi, and the others from other
troops az Pensacola. All necessary prepara-
tons were made for moving at about eleven
O'Clock. The storming party were led down
to the Dsvy yard, fromWhenee It would probably
have embarked in boats. There are some
other particulars about the preparations, SIS
given to US, which we think had as well not
yet have the publicity Of a newspaper ~eircula-
ton.
It is surmised that ForDey was to bsvs been
the leader. There was no doubt entertained
Of its success, ard il all be true a. stated to
u.s. we NllIA FDlN ENEktAU would nave LdIlen
that night but for - whst2
Fortune, or Glance, viii have to bear the
blame, and delay, tie real culpable party, will
probably escape. Before the hour arrived, It
was evident the fort had been reinforced, and
al thought Of the meditated assault was aban-
donsd. Tbs men picked for this special ser
vice lay on their arms al night at the navy
yard without any perfection frem The chill
air Of the night some Of them not having SO
much 80 a blanket. They made no complaint.
Colonel Forney cOmplimented them by saving
they would 30 FOR anything Not a cap was
distributed to tbem-the business was to be
done with cold steel.
There Is 10 truth in the report that General
Bragg had a position N Santa Rosa island
with 1900 men.
The WYandotte is positively notified to stay
outside in the future.
~CHAHLEsroE, April I6.-The heet stopped
three vessels coming in and Afterwards per-
further nntil orders are received from Wash.
ington-
L is estimated that 10000 troops are IN and
about the city and more arriving. General
Benuregard says be can get $4,000 men IN this
s Fate, and declines the ofers Of regiments
from Georgia and Alabama.
Good Authority states that there Is no doubt
that England and France will soon recognize
tbs independence Of the South.
The Isabel has Just come in and reports that
the federal feet has sailed, accompanied BY
ths Baltic, With Major Anderson on board.
Judge LAne EntIsfs as arrivals IN
tine Confederate ArsV.
HU~ErsyIEzEs April is Judge o. W. Lane,
recently appointed United States Judge of the
Northern District Of Alabama, and Confirmed
BY the senate to that position, has thrown up
his commission and volunteered a. A urjvate IN