Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-02

SCNhS VA OEgAtSAv -
TFrom the New York Times, 97th.l
Public attention has been almost entirely
| diverted from Fort Pickens for half O year
| past, by the greater operations on the line Of
! ,be Potomac, in Missouri, and elsewhere; and
we have now almost forgotten the intense in
terest Il attracted o half year ago. The date
Of its renfcrcements by the neat ruse Of Lieu
| tenant Smith in introducing troops on the dark
night of the 18th of April last, seems now as
far away as the date Of the introduction TO
Troy of the wooden horse, and the hopes aud
fears of spring and summer about II, are now
almost forgotten. About the only thing that
every thing knows of it is, that Billy Wilson
: and bis Zouaves are located there, and have
been greatly troubled by rebels and reptiles.
The public have rested easy in the fact that
Colonel Brown, the commandant of the fort,
not only felt himself able TO repel an attack,
but also to drive the enemy from their works
in case of assault.
The latest reliable advicss we have from Fort
PicAens are by the steam transport George Pea
body, which arrived here on Monday. She re-
| ported every thing quiet at the fort, but the
| officers in command were daily expecting an
attack from the rebels. At the time of her
departure, the only National vessels at the
fort we're the fripate Niagara and the gun boat
HaHerds. The Colorado had then left for Ship
Island in Mississippi Sound. Itappears, ,howev-
er, from the rebel report, that she had returned
| before the engagement took place. The Ma
| tiopal land ferce, under Colonel Brown, con-
| sisted Of l, 100 Regulars and three companies
| eco men each) of Billy Wilson's Regiment, in
the fortress, with four companies under Wilson
! in camp outside. The rebel forces consisted Of
| some Z 600 men, consisting Of regiments from
| Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. 1000 Of
these manned the forts and batteries opposite
| to PicBeus, while 5000 had but lately crossed
over to Deer Point, one and half miles from
Sants Rosa Island, on which is situated Fort
| PickeDs, who were evidently preparing to cross
| the Santa Rosa itself. Besides these, several
other regiments were coming in from Missis
sippi, which would probably run the rebel force
| up 10 over 10, 600 men, against our 500 sol
deTs, Colonel Brown has been very anxious
of late to receive reinfJrcements, though ex-
| pressing his confidence in the impFegnability
of the fort. Besides the Forts Barrancss aud
mcRse, in possession of the rebels, and
which are we'll mounted and manned, the
spaces intervening along the beach on the
rebel tide are likewise fortified, aud are
covered by bomb proof batteries. Over $50
guns bear on Fort Pickens. II was reported
by deserter from the rebel camp at the time
of the departure of the George Peabody, that
they meant to assault the fort in ten days. Ut
is also said by the officers Of the Peabody that
Colonel Brown had expressed his Intention to
attack the rebels first, aided by the Niagara
and CoIorado) The rebel design was said to
be to tffect landing five or six miles up Santa
Rosa Island, and draw the garrison from the
forts and intrenchments, and then, by landing
another body between them and Pickens, cut
off their retreat and thus secure the fort.
Those of Wilson's zouaves outside Of the fort
had from Colonel Brown orders, in case of an
attack, to retreat behind the iutrenchmeuts
which separate his command from the fort.
These iDtrenchments consist in part of a ditch
constructed across the island, leaving a narrow
| 49,, H. g. ~
is fortified on the fort side, having two heavy
batteries of rihed cannon and columbiads. The
pass is covered by heavy battery in the fort,
and apparatus for throwing Drummond lights
on the movements of the enemy has been pre-
pared. This ditch is quarter of a mile from
the fort, and Wilson's camp is about three
eighths of mile beyond the ditch. The side
of the fort toward the rebels' batteries is pro-
tected by three additional batteries, known as
the Scott, Tottep and Cameron batteries. The
Captain of the Niagara had reported that sew
eral gun boats would be necessary to defend the
island at certain points.
Fort MoRae is the nearest point to Perdido
Bay, (tbe mouth of the Perdido River,) and
would be within short range of the Niogdra's
guns passing up the main ship channel.
Fort Barrancas would also be within easy range
of our guns, and the Navy yard, the most dis
tant point, could likewise bs reached, thus en-
ablipg the Niagara to cover the landing Of a
force 10 attack these positions in the rear. The
guns in these batteries are 3mmovable, and q
rear attack with 3, 900 men would place the en-
tire position in the hands of the National
troops
By the advices from Secession sources ii
would seem that Colonel Brown, aided by the
NiugdrG and Colorado, had anticipate the pro
jected attack Of the rebels. The true results
must reach us now in a few days, as the sffail
evidently commenced last Saturday. The
statement that the Colorado had gone to Shi(
Island, at latest sdvices, does not disprove tht
reported fact that she was at Piokens at tn
engagement, as she might have steamed bscl
l there in few hours. short time ago Col
i onel Brown told a gentleman now in this city
Y that he could drive the enemy out of every on
. of his works; but ne said it would take $50
4 men TO hold the shore works against the reb
els, and until the Government was ready t
occupy Pensacola it was no use to waste pow
, der on Bragg. He therefore did not mean Il
FIRE unless first attacked. In that case he pro
, pOsed to return the fire of the enemy and sho
him his power.
, THE STEAM FRIGATEs COLORADO AND NIAGARA
The Colorado, Bailey commander, reporte
to have taken part in the sffair off Fort Pick
ems, is a steam frigate of 3400 tuns, carrying
o A guns and a crew of $50 officers and men, an
:. was built in 1855 She has cruised in the Gull
J, in the vicinity of Pensacola, for some time, a
s one of the blockading squadron. 1t was thi
vessel which lately sent out boat expedition
a to capture the privateer Judith, ly ing under tn
guns of the Pensacola Nsvy-yard, which, afte
: a sharp engagement, succeeded in setting tn
pTivateer ON FIRE. She can throw broadsid
of Ala pounds, and her armament cost $85,
1 24O. She never cruized in foreign climes, hav
i ing only acted as flagship of the HON
9 Squadron.
il The Niagara, Mexican commander, is stear
r frigate of 1850 tuns, carrying II guns and
n of bdO She aIgO has bRen acting n
4 one of the Gulf blockading squadron. 1t wi
n be rsmem bered that she arrived at the South
- west Pass just after the naval engagement wit
Don QuixOts Hollins.
: Fugitive slaves In Camp.