Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-06-12
INTERESTING FROM PENSACOLA.

Fort PickenS, at Pensacola, had long been
the Fort Sumter of the secessionists OF the ex-
treme South. With that solitary fort standing
alone, surrounded by hostile batteries, and yet
defying attack, the Stars and Stripes still
waving defiance and threatening punishment
to all traitors, the biggest brag amongst them
dare not fire shot. Batteries, however, were
raised, and others strengthened, troops poured
in, munitions of war, all the deadly imple-
ments OF siege trains continually arrived, but
the fate of Sumter had reused the indignation
of the n orth, and il was resolved that it should
be the last Of the forts to succumb to rebellious
foes.
The secessionists have raised powerful bat
teries, all commanding Fort Pickens. Fort
McRea, since the appearance of our fleet, has
been abandoned, as it lay completely at the
mercy of any of the large ships. The heaviest
battery is under the lighthouse; it mounts
twelve guns, several being coumbiads. There
is second battery called "The Three Colum-
bad Battery" of great strength. There is al
so the s'Nortar Battery" expected TO do terri
BILE work on ickens when they pick up cour-
age to make an attack, but all idea of that has
been exploded. the only explosion alter all
likely to occur in that quarter. This mortar
battery has been artfuliy and skllfully erected.
1t is behind clump of trees, and in the early
days of Gen. Bragg's heroic aspirations il was
supposed that while it was doing its work up
on the fort, the beSieged would be unable to
tell where the fire came from. The batteries
are all masked. They are formed of sand
bags, covered with deep layers of hides, but
they are Indifferent constructions compared
with the batteries erected by the United States
troops on the other side of the island, and
which command the whole secession camp and
quarters. Some time ago Gen. Bragg'S men
were busy night and day carrying shot and
shell, and powder to the different notifications,
Inn rel has 1tU MIA TO
and INSTRUMENTATION. Gen. Bragg has aban-
doned one of his pet projects. This was to
sink the floating dock, but his purpose coming
to the ears of Col. Brown, in command of Fort
Pickens, the latter notified Bragg that the at
tempt made for such purpose would be the
signal of opening fire upon the whole works,
camp and all Bragg replied that he would
sink the doct, at all hazards but he did d'nt
try, and there it yet floats.
The number OF secession troops at Warning
ton is between six and seven thousand, and at
Pensacola some fifteen hundred. Ofthe whole
force the only disciplined, equipped and arm
ed soldiers the Zouaves, numbering about
six hundred. They came from Louisiana, and
are really a very fine body of men. capable of
enduring the greatest fatigue and privations.
Our informant relates the particulars of an
intended night attack upon Fort Pickens,
which he had from General Bragg himself. 1t
appears that plan had been laid to seize the
fort by night, the seccssionists being prompt
ed to their design 10y the treachery of one or
two parties, who during the day, had access to
the fort. In carrying out their plan the
my's engineers paid visits to the island every
night for a whole week. On the appointed
night two of the embrasures were left open.
Five hundred men were entrusted with the
duty of entering and taking possession, seiz
ing the sentines and making an ndiscrimnate
attack upon the afffighted garrison. Bragg
himself, at signal, was to cross over with his
whole force, and complete the capture. For
tunately, upon that very night, the Wyandot,
with reinfOrcemeuls, grounded off the fort,
and threw ont signals of relief. These arous-
ed the garrison, and the signals of the ship
We're returned from the ramparts. The plan
of seizure was thus frustrated, and Immediate
ly after strong force of brave and loyal men
was thrown into the fort, with large supply
Of provisions. That was the inst and likely
will be the last attempt of the gallant Bragg
to reduce FIT. Pickens. Our informant states
that the greatest activity prevails in the fort
and the fleet. The men of the latter are con-
tinually exercised at the guns at target prac-
tice. The secessionists look on grimly enough,
but not unfrequently express surprise at the
accuracy OF the firing. But surprise is changed
to CONSERVATION when the large ten-inch
Dahlgren Gun vomits forth its sulphnrous dis
charge, the effects of which, if turned on
themselves, loaded with deadly missiles, they
can conceive from the distance it throws its
shot. This gun throws she'll with almost uner-
ring accuracy a distance of three miles, and
which, on bursting, scatters destruction all
around. The feet frequently maneuver in the
presence OF the SecessionStS. AT first they
rather liked it, as it relieved the monotony of
their iiveS but lately they seem not 10 like
the place at all, and are stealing off as quick
y is 4 strict surveillance permits.