The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-12-06

WIN VI sho ~oo sho NoreAhS"-
tons. NJ. t a..
J. The tclegrsphio news from Psnsueola.
meagye as u i, shows that Che conflict
there, loug deferred, has opened n last.
As our readers will doubtless be- ala,l to
GET the fullest information with regard to
the place, fortifjaatifns, &C., we present
below detaile INSCRIPTION of Pensacola,
It's envrons and Notifications.
PEssAoan< BAY.
Pensacola bay is twenty sseven miles in
length, and, in its widest part. twelve
miles in width. IL lies Immediately Mt
the mouth of the Escambia river. Run
ming along the front Of the bay for four
teen leagues, nearly East and West, is a
long line of sandy shore, narrow, barren
and so low that, in q severe gale, the mad
waves dash over it. Pensacola bay has
rare properties as an harbour, and cannot
be excelled on the gulf, if by any in this
country. 1t is accessible to frigates OF
large size, there being twenty-one feet of
water on the bar; and, when once inside,
all the ships Of our navy could ride in
safety. The channel runs near the coast
across the bar, which is short, and easily
passed. The harbour is completely land
locked, and the road-steads capacious.--
The upper arm Of Pensacola bay receives
the Yellow water of Pea river, Middle
river and Escambia river, eleven miles
from the Gulf of Mexico.
SANTA ROSA ISLAND.
Santa Rosa island is the great barrier
that forms. the main or sea enclosure of
Pensacola bay. The island is fourteen
leagues il, length, and, on an average, is
not more than one.fourth of mile wide.
although in some places it exceeds this
considerably. At high water there are
many places where the waves run over the
land. Upon tho extreme Western end of
the island, and commanding the entrance
to Pensacola bay, stands Fort Pickens.--
Near Pickens it is barren for mile or
thereabouts, and then commences o low
growth of shrubbery, soraggy pines. live
oak bushes, and small trees OF different
varieties. 1t is too sandy for cultivation,
and is of no manner of use, except to pro.
tect Pensacola from the sea, and to form
a reliable roadstead. The island is sepa.
rated from the main land one and a quar-
ter miles; there are two channels for the
passage of vessels, one on the side OF the
main land. and the other on the island
side. che outer shore of Santa Rosa is
land is sometimes dangerous to incoming
vessels. phe island, however, affords the
facility of mnking regular seige approach
es by an attacking force.
FORT PICEgNs,
Fort Pickens, the stronghold of the
Yankee Government in the gun, is built
on low, sandy spot on the westermost
end of Santa Rosa island, and a little over
one mile distant from Fort MeRea, which
forms another ssntinel-to the bay. Fort
Pickens is first class Fashioned work,
built OF stone far foundation purposes
with walls of bric.s and bitumen. Its wall,
are forty feet in height, by twelve feet in
thickness. 1t is embrasured for two tiers
OF guns in bomb-prOof easements, and
one tier of open OF en- bdrbete. The work
has all the usual concom:tants Of first
class work, viz: covert ways. dry ditch
glacis and outworks complete. The guns
from this work radiate to all points of the
horizon, with flank and enfilading fire in
the bitches and every angle of approach
The guns command Fort Rarrancas
Fort McRea, the Navy-Y ard land the 9th.
er works now in possession of!the Gonfed
crate State troops. The work was com.
menced in 1928, and finished in 1858. II
cost the United States Government nearly
one million of dollars. When on n wal
footing the garrison consists of l,20v sol
diers. Its present armament consists Of:
In bastion, twenty-six 24-pound howitzers
casemate, two. 24pounders, sixty-four 5.l
Founders, fifty.nine. 70. FOUNDERS; o., 5.u'
bette, twenty,four 8-ihch howitzers, six Is.
Founders, twelve T2-pounders. onb TO-
inch columbiad, mounted, and four ID
inch mortars. -.' .-
The fort is only approaohable by ,and
on one side. Owing to the openness of
the country, which is but barren bed Of
sand, party attacking from that quart N
would be very much exposed.
FORT M'REA.
Almost Immediately opposite Pickens
is Fort McRea, where the Confederates
have concentrated their forces. 1t is q
powerful and castle like masonry struc-
ture, built ON low sand spit of the main
land, and appears to rise out of the water.
This fertilization is situated on Fosters
Bank, and guards the west side of the
mouth of Pensacola Bay. 1t is bastion-
ed fort, built of brick masonry, with walls
- feet in thickness. The work is some
what out of repair, and in view of this
fact, Gen. Bragg recently ordered the
removal of 60 heavy guns, and distributed
them among the new sand batteries.
Fort McRea is embrasured for two tiers
ofguns, under bomb proof classmates, and
has one tier en- bnbstte. Its present arma-
ment consists of-lower tier, % forty-two
Founders; second tier, IL eight-inch col
umbiads. Is thirty-two Founders, en- bar.
bette, go twenty.four Founders, 3 ten-inch
columbiads, and in time of war reqires a
garrison of $50 men. The work cost the
Federal Government about $500, 900. Its
guns radiate at every point of the horizon.
The full armament of the fort is not COM
plete, but sufficient number of guns are
in battery to make very good opposition
to Fort Pickens. Below this fort is a
water battery, which mounts some eight
or ten guns. The interior of Fort McRea
is provided with the necessary shot-iur-
naces, officers and soldiers quarters,
magazines, &C., &c.
FORT BARRANCAs.
Fort Barrancas is on the North OF Pen
sacola Bay, and directly facing the en-.
trance to its mouth. The work is erected
on the site of an old Spanish fort. 1t is
n FASHIONED work, of heavy masonry, and
and mounts forty-nine guns, all of which
are in battery and ready for action. It is
at present garrisoned by three hundred
troops of the regular army of the Confed,
crate States. In therear of the fort and
a short distance from it, is redoubt from
which Barransas receives achievements
in time ofaction. Some extensive repairs
have recently been completed on this
redoubt, and Aanking howitzers of scarp
and counter-scarp mounted. In the flank
defences of Fort Barrancas eight twenty
four pound howitzers have recently been
mounted Fort Barrancas contains 1886