Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-29
From the Pensacola Observer.
PENSACOLA

Now the attention Of the world is turned to our city,
the following description Of Pensacola will be read with
interest by all persons who not acquainted with tue
place.
Pensacola is an ancient town, having been founded
az en- early period by the Spanrds Many of the houses
are built in the olden style The plan regular and the
streets wide although narrow when compared with the
streets of Columbus 1t contains several churches
markethousc three newspaper Offices trweekly and
one daily; some new, elegant buildings and custom
house This latter is new ard decidedly the best in the
city, 1t is port of entry the capital of Eclmba coun
ty and situated the Gulf of Mexico sixty miles
from Mobile in an eastery direction and one hundred
and eighty miles direct line west from Tallahassee
Pensacola bay has properties harbor and can
not be exceed on the Gulf in this country lis acces
sbe to rgates of large size there being % feet of wa
ter on the bar and when 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 harbo. is completely andocked and the roadstead
capacious
The Bay is 81 miles in length and in its broadest part
IL miles in width 1t lies Immediately at the mouth of
Escambia river Running along the front of the bay for
II leagues east and west, is long line of sandy
Shore narrow barren and so low that in severe gale
the mad dash over it. This is Santa Rosa Island
upon the extreme end Of which our eyes are daily
ed in anxious anticipation OF stormy Santa Rosa
stretches out 10 the Chatahoochee river The western
point which is one mile in width is the month OF the
bar, snd fom this point the land grows narrow
Ga average it is not above a fourth OF mile in widh
although in some places it exceeds this considerably At
high water there many places where the
over the island as have previously stated
Near Pickens il is barren for mile or thereabouts
and then commences low growth of shrubbery scrag-
gy pines live oak bushes, and small trees of different
varieties. II s tco poor for cultivation, and ia no man-
ner of use except to form reliable roadstead. The
upper arm of Pensacola bay receives the Yellow water
or Perdido river, Middle river, and Escambia river,
eleven miles from the Gulf Of Mexico The outer shore
Of Santa Rosa island is sometimes dangerous TO incom-
ing vessels. The peculiar position of Pensacola bay
makes It desirable naval station excellent positions
for cockyards be found in the harbor. When the
railroad from Montgomery is completed the facilities
for reaching il will be much increased that will pre-
sent quite another appearance.
The following extract from letter written by officer
of volunteers, at Pensacola, dated the 10th H.
slant, and published by Southern exchange, en-.
braces the latest reliable information we have from that
point:
We actively preparing for the final issue. The
citizens all ordered to leave this place. With their
property, 10 day. After the space of wentY-for hours
no stranger will be allowed pass within FIVE miles OF
the ercampmeut, without permission from the officer cf
the day We are oil working hard, mounting guns, and
tGowiug up toruhca.ons, IN anticipation OF the comrg
fight but have much yet TO DO before we are ready
for regular siege 1t is supposed that the enemy
seeing uupTepared condition will fire the first gun and
bIirg on the engagement. If they do although
prepared, VII fgAt until take the fort for
are bound to whip the hsht as every of us will con-
quer die.
There is now feet of seven large men-ofwar an.
chOred OF the harbOr. They have succeeded in rein
forcing Fort Pickens until the garrison is as strong
they want it, 1t s said that six thousand drill
within tie gals
We have about eight thousand men on our side full
many want, but We need more heavy guns
mounted the batteries. If We had all the guns
mounted the batteries, which we could well spare
from Fort McRAe, then would be ready for action.
But the guns very heavy, aud sadly in want
OF proper machinery to them, aud the distance
is three miles, it is slow business No one here knows
TO when the battle will commerce. The time of
opening the engagement is in the hands OF the War De-
partmen at Montgomery. All well with US.
Your old friend
JABEZ L. RHODES