Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-14

The steamship Illinois, Captain Terry,
which left this port on the 9th Of April, with
army utores and three hundred regular
troops on board, for Fort Pickens, returned
to the port yesterday morning, and now
lies at Pier No. 4, North River. From state.
ments made TO our reporter, by the officers
Of the Illinois, We gather the following facts;
The Illinois left the feet, off Pensacola, for
home, on the I'd inst, and, in a short line
met the steamship philadelphia, bound for
Fort Pickens with stores. The day previ-
Gus to sailing, Captain Terry visited the fovt
and had along interview with the officers in
command. Colonel Brown, commander of
, the forces in the fort, desired him particu-
larry to impress upon the public at the North
the fact that Fort Pickens will never be
surrendered until every man is driven ont.
and that is q feat which he dehes the rebels
to accomplish. The fort has been put up in
as perfect condition as possible, and is now
pronounced impregnable. The courtyard
in the fort has been dug full of holes for the
reception of any shells which the enemy
may choose to throw over the walls.
In these holes the deadly missiles are at
liberty to explode while the garrison wink
their eyes in perfect security. The sand dug
up has been inclosed in bags and mounted
on the ramparts, four and FIVE bags deep,
and can not be penetrated by any shot from
the rebels. The casemates have also been
walled up with sand bags, so that the men
may securely Smoke their pipes behind them
amid the greatest confusion of exploding
missiles, which the enemy can throw within
the walls. The guns Of the fort are mostly
directed toward the Pensacola Navy. YARD
now held by the rebels-and Colonel Brown
says the first shot he receives will be the
signal for the utter demolition of every build
| inn within thn uard Tho 1or-. H-.iI.-- :.
the yard erected for the purpose Of casting
all kinds of shot is kept IN active operation
day and night, casting shot for the rebels.
One of the four ten-inch columbiads in Pick
ems is loaded ard aimed at this building, and
it is thought that it will require but a few
shot to destroy il. The rebels know how
thoroughly the Maynard is commanded by
the Federal guns, and were busily engaged
when the Illinois left in unroofing and con-
veying away all the combustible material
about the buildings. Colonel Brown was
engaged in planting mortar batteries at
various points on the Island, commanding
the Navy-yard and its vicinity.
The flagship Sabine, the Powhattan,
brooklyn, Supply Wdtsr Witch, and Ryan-
dotte lie just outside, ready to run in to the
assistance of the troops ON shore at a me-
ment's notice. Captain Adams of the Sabine,
who is in command Of the feet, is looked
upon as rather a slow coach. He is deemed
a trustworthy officer, although his sympa-
thies are known to be with the South. Cap
tain Porter Of the PoOhdttGn is quite the re-
verse, being active, energetic, and anxious
for a shot at General Bragg. He is exercis-
ing his men at the guns constantly, and they
appear to relish it quite as much as he does.
Slx rltied cannon were put on his vessel by
the Illinois. There is any amount of ammu-
MON on board the fleet, and also in the fort.
A little steamer called the Orient com
manded by Lieutenant Brown, plies in the
ofiDg as a sort of sentry. She has a twelve
FOUNDER on board, by virtue of which she
overhauls every vessel attempting to enter
or leave the 'harbor. All articles contraband
of war are seized and coniscated, but every
thing else is allowed to pass, This course
greatly annoys General Bragg, but when
he ventures to demonstrate, he is quietly in
formed that even his provisions coming that
way will probable be cut off in a few days.
The rebel army do not relish the idea of a
blockade, and many are applying for leave
of absence on the plea of sickness.
There are eleven hundred men in Fort
Plckens, which is q larger number than is
really needed. The officers, who are "spilin'
for a fight" want about five thousand more
sent to them, 80 that they can cross from
Santa Rosa to the main land, and extermip.
ate General Bragg and his horde of rebels,
There was, before the arrival of the PhiLa-
delphia, sufficient provisions in the Fort to
last the men six months. Every out of the
way corner was filled with army stores, and
protected from the weather, and from de-
structlon during an engagement, by shelter
ing sand-bags. Sand, bags, in feet, are
freely used about the Fort, to protect the
officers quarters, sheltering the men while
working the guns, Strengthening the walls,
and conducting to safety and comfort in
various ways. A very effective company of
Flying Artillery. under Captain Berry, is
quar'etsH On .,,e iSiT9nd' ard preparing for
any emergency. TAN shears have been
erected within the Fort, on top of which a
look out is constantly stationed. With his
spy. glass he commands q view of tho rebsl
army, the Navy. yard, and the feet, and
keeps Colonel Brown posted in regard to
their movements.
A short time since O spy was caught in
Fort PicBens, aud is now confined on board
the Poi0hdttan. He applied at the gates of
the fort for admission, and succeeded 10 get
ting past the guard. On being questioned,
he represented himself as being a corre-
spondent of the Pittburg Journal. When
taken on board the P0whdttan, he desired to
send ashore for his baggage, and was allowed
to write a letter. His epistle did not suit
him when finished, and be tore it into frag-
ments. These pieces being put together sub
sequently, stamped him as a traitor. On the
following day a flag Of truce was sent to the
fort from the rebel army, the bearers of it
begging permission to search the island for
the Pittsburg Individual, whom they de-
nounced as a deserter and a chief. Their
object was to ascertain what batteries had
been erected on the island, but in this they
failed completely, as they were requested to
return TO their companions as speedy as Dos
sible. They subsequently, sent another white
flag demanding the return of the correspond
ent, claiming bin, as a deserter, and received
for their answer the satisfactory inform.
alton that he would doubtless be hanged as
a spy.
This individual represents General Bragg's
army as about five thousand strong. OF this
number, one thousand are boys, stationed at
Baranacas, and the remainder are all Cap
thins, except the few who are Colonies. He
says there is no discipline among them, each
man soldering" on his individual RESPONSE
bility. doing just as he pleases, lighting,
quarreling, and getting drunk whenever he
can obtain whisky enough to elevate him to
that condition.
The Illinois touched at Key West on her
return, for coal, when Captain Terry i'm
proved the opportunity to call upon Major
French, in Fort Taylor. There are about
eight hundred men in the fort, which is we'll
stocked with ammunition and provisions,
and all are well. There is a great scarcity
of provisions in the city, and Captain Terry
left there all he could spare. Secessionists
there have modified their language and i'm
proved their sentiments materially within a
few weeks, and the city will eventually come
out strong for the Union. Several American
flags were flying in the streets, having taken
the place Of the Secession banners. Many
of the citizens, including some Secessionists,
had applied to Major French for provisions,
but he had been unable to supply them. A
coal merchant there named Tin, who usually
the Aaahte on any terms, but readily sold
to the Illinois, his sentiments having under
gone q change. He also sold q pilot. boat,
called the NonpdreiL TO the United States
Government, BE represented that the me
chanics and laboring men Of the city were