The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-14


am General very respectfully your-obedient servant,
HARVEY BROWN, Colonel Commanding.
Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant General United States
Army Washington II. c.
HEApQu sRrERs DEPARTMENT or FLORIDA I
fcRr PcsEys, Nov. 25, 1851. !
GEsERAL-The bombardment Of the 22d and Esd has
e!iccd some facts that Of Importance and notice
them that we may in future benefit by them.
ffrsIha with the mos, efficient guns Of the largest
cabre and served IN the best manner serious injury
can be done to stone brick walls, guns in sand
batteries or TO troops serving them, unless probably by
rhad guns, II properly protected distance OF from
two thousand to three thousand yards.
ScoadThat shells and hot shot not to be depended
on for firing wooden buildings unless having in
them irccndary composition.
Tii,dTha pieces of port fire are nearly useless as
such incendiary composition.
Ib'fhrhat brick buildings covered with slate cannot
be fred by either hot shot shells at the distance
named unless by accident unless the shells have
fires.
Fyh-Thst the trouble and expense incurred in pro
lectg forts by sand bag rayerses &C.. is FAR than
repaid by the saving of the lives Of the defenders
Sith-That dependence is to be placed on James
rifle proectes, either it respects accuracy range
II had had guns to be depended could have siencci
the most Of the eneys sand batteries the guns in
Barancas.
sernts--That ships with their present armament cannot
for an hour contend against ried guns, and that
navy is not at supplied literally with good rled
guns 1t will be very likely to be disgraced.
EighthThat on service here and believe the remark
applies with equal force every river harbor in the
CUR, gunboat drawing six feet water and well armed
with good ried guns do and better service than
forty gun ship than such ships as the Niagara and
Richmond
Nhlhat sail vessels utterly useless in enforcing
a blockade.
7snhrhat PARROTS ridcd guns Efficient and that
forts should be Immediately supplied with them with
a fail supply Of ammunition
Iwoud strongly urge that dozen of PARROTS thirty
Founders or to be had Of larger calibre be sent to
this post, with good supply of ammunition early a.
possible. had one which found to be excellent, but
when the navy met with such mishap in tho Mississippi
was compelled to let Flag Officer Mexican have il and
Of my twelve pounder Parrot guns put one
his ships to save them from being driven OF The
waters by lite steamer having rlaed gun board
am, General very respectfully, yonr obedent ser
vaut, HARVEY BROWN Colonel Commanding.
Breadicr General T. THOMAS, Assistant Adjutsnt Gene
| fal, United States Army, Washington, d. C.
Interesting Letter from an Officer OF the
United states steam Frigate niagara.
In addition to the accounts from our own corresuon.
DENTS that have already appeared the HERALD We dpd
the following interesting letter, which VIC give TO our
readeIs--
From the Providence Evening Press. Dec 121
On Wednesday, the 10th, II became pretty generally
knorn among " that the Flag officer had male up uis
mind q commence the bonbardmunt of Pensacola pro
viGing that Col Brown ready and We knew fiat
the Colonel only waited for the flags action, we felt
pretty certain that the ball wogd be opened once
need not ell you thai all hands up tconcert
pitch and as eager to comenae yon at the North
have been anxious 20 have and although VIC felt sure
That some formidable masked batteries would disclose
themselves, ready find out where they were
ana Try ie elect ul our eleven inch gus la sencng
them.
THE oB5EcToF THE ATTACK.
The OBJECT Was u destroy the Navy Yard, so as 30 put
STOP TO their Use vi government property and tools IN
building any more extensive means OF defence
bHter down Of their lorti.caous. Orders were
gwen to our engineers to place bags illod with COAL
arouod such portions o. the machinery were expo sed
! 70 shot, and nearly all tho work doRe which
cessary u prepare ship for action Early tho morn.
iag of the 2at the biag Officer shore 10 confer
with Colonel own in regard TO preininares. At twelve
O'Clock he returned and thon received orders 10 com
rieie all necessary arrangements orders patch
Cd to me Richmond and Montgomery then in port giving
that should IN at daylight so A. engage For,
McRae, the water battery the sisl battery lust ia
front Of AcRae, all thce Of which could bring guns
20 bear upon either iort fickcns the shipping We
could form no idea oil the strength o these places
was highly important that should draw their ire as
they cniaded the pa!ape guEs Picaeps II had been
arranged tat - soon as me stcamets came down from
Pensacola 70 the Navy lsrd the fort was to open fire
upon them az to sink them II possible cut Of all
means Of bringing down reinforcenens from the town
and the FIRST gan the fort tic signal Tor US
to move IN shd open fire Orders were passed to have
sufficient food for the day cooked before eight O'Clock
the morning and at late boar Turned 10 dream os
! terrible battles and hair breadth escapes.
| OPENING OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
by sunrise On the morning Of Che I'D were all ready
oar boats had kpcn hostod out and moofcd aongs ide
shot aud shell got rp and steam All ready move
short nore. The usual morning payer offered up,
tho chapain uporing blessing upon the events of the
day after which the Flag Officer addressed few words TO
the men in bis usual clear quick 70 the point
| ner lie urged upon them /" strict obedience to all
orders, eoolnoss Judgment and precision firing The
answer was three hearty cheers. About half past
We could sec the steamers coming down 10 the Navy
Yard. little sIlspesng that their doom scaled In
very short time they fast to the dock ana just
twelve minutes OF ten O'Clock 4 snoke issue from
Fort Piclens. and heard the booming Of the gun
hurst forth from Our men, and IL ships anchor
lively il ours then In order to bring our
guns within range. II was necessary for into
very shoal water and equcnty required the utmost
! caution N working The ship. Even with perfectly
snooth ssa there would be only twenty inches water
under our keel, aud if it should begin to blow or
heavy sweii set in. il necessary have the
ship N such position that corId easily un into
oetpcr wa,st VINE working onr way III the Richmond
came up under our stern and she draws less water
open IRE US soon as she was within She passed by
us, took position the land an! uuened i-
hentine tie water esstery and Fort scRae were doirg
their best ofrlghen as by throwing shot that about
mile short We KEEP, steadily until we ihoul ht that
We were witiln range, aud then came to anchor.
TIE ACTION.
FIRST sho. the eighty four pound rifle and
told with very good effect. Tho next was from an
seven inch gun, bur it Eel short A fag moro were
fired, but with Iuch the result. Fgin. that ,yo
too far of boat sent in charge Of the
master, ia order to sound. and hsrng found that wo
could get somatat c.oser without the water shoaIny
ouch more, We l1ve up anchor and in about one.
fourth Of nile further nurTg she time thai boat
ling several Of tLeir shots very near
IT, Bat fortunately none hit. We again opened fire
rlsn bros s,de aud this time a some purpose
every ehot told, ana there must have been fear
u, ssattering " pieces rs OFT shell exploded their
beias DO not think there any tage. practice
IN the that shsw such ieccrd Of elective shots
ihe rebels constantly throwing shot us, and
Spe either increasing the charge Of powder or
else getting esvathu. for their SHOT gradually
nea, though it was not utii iate the afternoon that
ve struck Ry twelve o'clock beth the Richmond
nd NlMgnrA t0geer with iisa glns bearing ll0m Fort