Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-17

HishlT Entorsa1ius from P~snsacela-The
Bloekade Neing Rnfsreed = Activity
AWong the Rebel Trosps-BrAaa'a Act
lVitY IN Breotins New Batteries, go.
We have received intelligence rom Pensa-
cola 10 the 9Th inst, detailing some interest,"
ing facts concerning the enforcement Of the
blockade Of Pensacola and the movements
Of General Bragg. The steam transports
Dick Keys and LtlCis, which left Mobile on
the 7th with provisions for Pensacola, ar
rived of the Pensacola bar at FIVE o'clock p.
N. Of the same day, when they were stopped
and boarded by the United States war
steamer Fotchdttdn, and their papers and
cargo examined. Commodore Porter granted
them permission TO proceed 10 Pensacola,
remarking that he thought that General
Bragg wished 10 use the boats for conveying
troops to Santa Rosa Island, and that they
would be badly whipped after Bragg got
While the Keys and Lewis were sounding
and getting under way, the Brooklyn came
up and ordered them 70 follow her to the
Sabine. Through some Misunderstanding
the Reys had got under way for the bar,
when the Pophdftdn and Brooklyn both fired
across Der bow. She rounded to and a boats
crew Of armed men were Pnt aboard OF her.
They were compelled TO lay to under the
guns of the Sabine till the 9th inst, when
Lieutenant Brown warned them not to at
tempt an entrance into the harbor, or he
would send them North as prisoners OF war,
and their boats would be sold as prizes. The
Popkdttdn followed the KEYS and Leipis on
their return home till they passed Perdido
River. They reformed to Mobile on the 9Th,
after IN unsuccessful attempt to feed the
rebels.
General Bragg had recovered somewhat
from his grief a" the re enforcement of Fort
Pickens, and is agair at work trying to con-
c%entrate metal enough to reduce that work.
Brsgg's batteries extend over a semicircle of
four and one-half miles. This semicircle
commences at the nayy-yard and terminates
OF the water battery, beyond McRae. AT
short intervals, for two miles and a halt,
there is an uninterrupted line of batteries
along this semicircle. A new battery has
been constructed one and a half miles from
Fort Pickens, named the Quitman, consist.
ing of two thirty-two Founders and one
howitzer. It is between Fort Bsrrencas and
Fort McRae, and commands the eastern en-
trance of the channel. Besides the two forts
there are nineteen batteries on the Confed.
crate side, between Pensacola and Fort Nc
Rae. The batteries are masked, so that they
are not visible from the sea or bay, and have
strong parapets Of sand bags of great thick
ness, with covered redoubts Of mines, into
which the gunners can retreat.
These mines are bomb proof. There is a
continuous line Of these batteries between
the navy yard and Barrancas, and between
Barrancas and McRae. They are all manned
by select artillery companies, taken from the
several regiments. The men are drilled
constantly at these batteries. With McRae,
Barrancas and these various sand batteries,
Bragg can open a semi circle of FIRE upon
Pickens of over a hundred guns, most Of
them thirty.twos, but several Of them eight
and ten-inch columbiads, These batteries
will have the great advantage over the fort
of q concentrated fire, while Pickens will be
under the necessity of scattering and diff
fusing its fire along a line of several miles.
There is but little or no sickness prevalent
among the soldiers. Many persons residing
in Pensacola are becoming alarmed lest the
city should be attacked by United States
forces, and are moving their families into
the country. General Bragg, it is stated,
has caused a number of vessels to be sunk
in the harbor, so as to prevent the approach
OF the feet off the harbor.