Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-05-16
Important from Pickens!
Condition of Rebel Intrenchments.
General Condition of the Fort
and the Squadron.
The Rebels Warned TO Evacuate A. the
Duration of MIR. Lincoln's Twenty Days

The New Orleans Delta of Friday con-
tains long letter from correspondent at
Pensacola which, though abounding in rebel
braggadocia, is evidently correct in many of
its statements, and sets forth some matters
in clear light which have hitherto been
but partially explained The writer says
that Bragg earthworks, extending between
Fort McRae and the Navy Yard, are not
visible from the sea or bay. They also have
parapets of sandbars of great thickness with
covered redoubts or mines, into which the
gunners can retreat. They are all manned
by select artillery companies taken from the
several regiments, who are kept in constant
practice.
The correspondent thinks that with Forts
McRae, Barrancas and these various sand
batteries, Bragg can open semi circle of
fire upon Pickens of over a hundred guns,
most of them 32s, butseveral of them eight
and ten inch columbiads. These batteries
will have the great advantage over the fort
for a concentrated fire, while Pickens will be
under the necessity of scattering and diffus-
ing its fire along line of several miles,
The indications, however, are that the navy
yard will be the chief object of attack by
the fort. All their work seems to be on the
side of the fort facing the yard, where they
are throwing up sand batteries and mount
ing their heavy guns. The effects of such
a fire upon the navy yard would of course
be very destructive.
OF this the writer is much afraid, and de-
nounces any such attempt as "Vandalic,"
remarking with charming innocence, that
the Confederate States hold this valuable
property in trust to be settled for in any
future peaceful adjustment with the United
States
His next statement is the form of the con-
fessiOn that the strength Of Fort Pickens
has not been exaggerated He sailed round
the harbor, and was allowed to approach
within few hundred yards Of Fort Pick
ems He says:
''Bear in mind that McRae is on spit
of the main land, few hundred yards fur
ther out to sea than Pickens, which stands
on the extreme point of the long, narrow
distant from the navy yard Barrancas, and
McRae, the distance being l4-l0 miles.
"As we passed by the island, we could
perceive very distinctly all that was going on
in and about the forts. The sentinels were
walking the ramparts, and number OF
men were engaged in piling sand bags be-
tween the barbette guns, of which we count
ed apparently thirty-two--all but two being
placed on the side of the fort--facing the
Navy Yard and our batteries. On the is
land, outside Of the fort, were number OF
working parties carrying bags Of sand into
the fort Another party were carting provi-
sicns from the beach onthe extreme point O
the island. There were several officers noun
ted, who appeared to be experimenting
these parties. On the high, green glacis
by which the fort is approached from tn
island, we observed several horses grazing
The provisions were hauled from the beacl
to the fort in small carts and caissons Alon
the beach on the bay, and ON the seaside
we observed groups on foot and on horse
back, who appeared to be wandering abou
for amusement or on piquet duty.
'The casemate guns and the sand batter
les were so masked and concealed that coul
, not distinguish even the embrasures. Tn
: old flag Of the United States waved hig
above the fort. 1t was quite evident thl
: the garrison Of the forthas been considerabl
reinforced. Some of the companies hay
their field guns on the island, as quite nun
? ber of horses-as many as seventy or eight
have been landed. This whole force
under the command Of Col. Harvey Brow
the same officer to whom was assigned Il
duty Of defending Washington City durin
the Inaguration Of Lincoln. lr
>. "On the arrival of Brown, Yodges ar
9 Slemmer, who had preceded Wilson in Il
command, came over under the flag of truc
and waited on General Bragg to inform hi
that Colonel Wilson had succeeded to Il
;, command of the garrison, and that he shou
8 expect said Bragg to leape The Nary Ka
and other property Of the United States
twenty days v
This would indicate that unless the rebt
took their departure on or before last Su
day, Col. Brown commenced offensive oper
tions on Monday, heexpiration Of the tive
lty days. ~'...-i..ft
The writer then goes on to describe I
feet, viz: The Sabine with battery oft
8 inch guns and forty 32s; the sloop
n Louis Of twenty guns, 32's; the steam
!" Powhattan with twelve inch guns;
\ Brooklyn with fourteen 8 inch guns;
store ship Supply and the Wyandotte wi
five 8 inch guns After berating all the o
4 GERS Of the feet, who happened to hav,
second cousin orother relative near or rem,
in the South, for their "treaehery" to
Southern cause, the correspondent betr,
~ L.