New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-22
TIE NIAGARA AT FORT PICKENS.
US. STEAM FRiGATE NIAGAR.,

L.. =. STEAM tNiGATE N1AGAEt,
OF Island " Santa Rosa," May q, 1861.
On Saturday morning We arrived here a.ter run OF
about 90 hours from Havana; finding TIE inshe
Sabine, steamers BIooklsn, Powhaian, and Weer
Witch, and s;o-esh Release, anchored here IN POSI-
tons capable Of bringing their guns TO bear or the
rebels We took our position not 10 be counted
out when the hall opened, and dropped anchor, aho
duriog the day, all the officers of the squadron too
ihe oath o! allegiance, administered by our captain ie
being the Senior officer OF the squadron, and, during
tie aite moon, the Brook and POwhaian goL under
way, being detailed to otler duty. The officers ol
Fort Pckens reported themselves aboard and decAred
their ability TO exierninste the Rebels, unaidtd as
,oou az any Aggressive movement was made by ihem
or they received orders from the Department. All
they uire is veselsone TO speak ana TO over
haui strange vessels standing 10, and M to lay oil santa
Rosa preventing the Rebels from landing any forces
on the island aud attacking them in the rear
Yesterday come Of Onr officers visited Pickens and
examined he preparations. They have received tue
heavy battery Of colnmbiads sent them aud have them
mounted and things arranged that they peed
not the loss of single lie aii being under cover
AID the walls Of the fort completely protected by
sand fo,tt aon only leaving room iOr the muLzles oil
tie "a to run ont. Further up on Tie island they
have erected sand battery, with six heavy guns
mounted, which are manned by picked division oil
men from the sabine, ready TO open lire Oh tie Navy
Yaid al the WORD. In the bay, boats crew now
guard TO prevent surpri,e while boats o the squad
ron pull mp the channel taking obseiyaiions ana sOn-
iugs and are times close TO the rebel shore s 10
hold conversation with the seniries, but as yet have
not been inteTiered witb.
A few DAYS ago the rebels were towing the dry dock
out from tie navyyard aud Col. Brown judging their
motive was TO sink II III the channel 10 prevent Isv
gaion sent them word that il they moved il one foot
further, ei her way, be would opon ire upon them
ana there they left IT, ont oi the ne Of attack, and II
wall, fortunately, escape destruction when We eom-
uenCe operations.
There are many little incidents we hear Of the love
displayed by zone TO the power under which they
have been nurt1red from the cradle 20 the pIefent
time aud tie strong dependence that all Will soon be
well. One incident REMINDED of the spirit Of the
women oi 80, that musf relate IL. Ii may be that
you have heard il be ore, but IL will bear repetition:
Ii appears that, when Capt. Armstrong WEE about
to surrender the yard, bis daughter after vain en-
deavor to pertuade him not act demanded OF him
dozen men and she would protect the place until aid
came; but no. he traitor IN heart, and ruft 20
act; the dear old flag hauled down from Where il
had 10 long waved ard the renegade Ran-aw run his
sword through il, venting his spleen upon the flag
which had 30 long kept him from starvation. Human
nature coud uot STAND II and the brave woman, seziDg
the ag took her scissors and cut from u the Union,
telling them that tie tlGe not far distant "hen ,hc
would replace unsnllied, but for the rpc, she lcf
them as their legacy, being their jnst deserts.
must now ehd my letter, although have much TO
say but the letter bag is about to cOe, and be sent by
the Water Witch TO Key West, aud l must embrace
TIE opportunity that oiers as we eaAnot have any
regular mall