Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-12-14
From New York.

New YoRE. Dec. IL
A letter from Key West, of the 5th, states
the Pensacola dates arc Of the 10Th. 1t appears
that the rebel steamers havo been plying bet ween
tho Navy lard and town constantly carrying guns
munitions, DC. Col. Brown notified Bragg that
he should fire On them, to which Bragg replied
"hre away On the morning Of the 2lst tho
steamers again appeared. Brown disabled one and
the other escaped. general cannonade then
took place between Pckens and Fort Barancas
the Niagara and Richmond opening on Fort Mo-
hao and several water batteries. The engagement
lasted nearly two days. McKae was 81 enced, and
also the bateres in reach Of the Rich mond's guns
No persons inj urcd on board the Niagara.
Jas. Cook was the per- on killed on tho Rich
mond. boh vessels were slightly damaged in
their upper works.
Pickens had not oven a sand bag displaced by
tn Barrancas fire,
Oh the 24ih while rem owing fuse from a shell
it exploded, killing G1e men and wounding many
Others.
Col. Brown says he has the Banancas complete
ly at his mercy, and is awaiting reinforcements to
hold the forts when he shall take them.
Another letter states that one Of Wilson's
Zouaves was killed and another wounded on the
22l. About 800 guns were fired in the two
days.
At3 7. NJ. on the 23d, Warrington was set on
fire by our guns, and tn at place and nearly ell the
navy yard destroyed.
The steamer Times was disablcd at the first
sho..
The rebel fire sacLenel on tho second day Two
companies Of Wilson's Zouayes have charge Of
tho batteries near the fort, two companies assist
ing on the fort and the remainder Of the regiment
are at work in the trenches to repel midnight
attack.
Tho heaviest guns near tx light house, and
the best mortars on both sides Of til hospital.
The water battery below Fort McRae is q bad
customer. The ranges Of our artillery mon are
splendid.
note dated the 2lth, states that Col. Brown
prohibited firing unless the rebels Grst opened, it
being the Sabbath.
One Of our guns burst yesterday. The rebels
have evidently suffered much.
The brig Roland, from Riovi st. Thomas, 27th,
now Confirms the reT Torted escape Of the Sumter,
from Martinique.
Tie I,oauos returned to St Thomas on tho
Thomas, on the 23d, and was dispatched with
coal and provisions for the Iroquois, but missed
her.
Capt. Dupont in his communication to the
Navy Department, dated Dec. 4th, says the ap-
prehension Of taking possession Of the Bay Of st
Helena, so exceedingly valuable a harbor for its.
proximity to Charleston, and for the command it
secures to the rivers, supplying inter-comnunica-
tion with South Car, lima, induced him to dispatch
. second expedition under Commander Brayton,
with orders to hold the Island until Gen. Sherman
is prepared to take military occupation Of it, when
he will transfer the fort to his TROOPS
1t seems to be understood in addition to our oc
cupaton Of Beaufort, Gen. Bush was at once to he
sent with considerable force to occupy the most
important points in the new approaches to
Savannah, and that another force will 20 about
the same time . similar errAnd, in the direction
of Charleston, to hold certain srategetc positions
NEW York, Dec. l3.
The capt,in Of the brig Roland states that the
captain of the gun-boat lroquois is entirely to
blame for the escape of the Sumter. The captain
Of the gun-boat sent man on here at st. Thomas
with signal lights, and gave him instructions to
sgnaize to him the movements Of the Sumter,
and on the night Of tho 23d o! November, signals
were made by the man on shore that she was
leaving the harbor, but no notice was taken Of il
by the captain Of the roquois His 1st Lieut. tried
to persuade him to give chase, which they could
easily have done, as the Sumter drew one foot
more water than the lroquois, but he would not
hear to it, saying that it would be very unpeas-
ant for him TO capture her, as be and Simms had
been school ates, and had sailed very much to-
gether Capt Simms had been his superior off,
GER Another reason that the Capt. Of the lroquos
| gave wss that he did not wish to break the neu
| trality laws. The movements Of the sumter wero
seen from the deck Of the Iroquos These facts be-
coming known 1T st. Thomas the greate:t indig-
nation prevailed among the Americans, and in fact
all others friendly to the U. >.
| tho North Americana, of this morning, has the
| following:
"A letter received in this city from an officer Of
the army at Port Royal, dated Hilton Head, Dec.
4th, says: Last night hset arrived at this port
with twenty thousand troops. Savannah and
1 Charleston will soon be ous.'"