The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-12-04
PENSACOLA AND IRIS FoRrlFlcATloNs.

long deferred, has opened at last. As our
readers will doubtless be glad 10 get thr
fullest Information with regard to the place,
for,ifcatlnns. &c, We present below de.
tailed description al pensacala, its enylroas
and fortificatipns
Pmsacola Bay.-Pensacola bay 10 twenty.
seven miles in length, and, 10 its widest part.
twelve miles in width. 1t lies Immediately
ming along the front Of the bay for fourteen
leagues. nearly East and West. Isl long line
Of sandy shore, narrow. barren and SO low
that, in severe gale, the mad waves dash
over it. Pensacola bay has rare properties
as an harbor, and cannot be excelled on the
gulf, If by any In this country. II is Access
sible 70 frigates of large size, there being
twenty -one feet Of water on the bar; and.
when once inside. all the ships Of our navy
could ride in safety. The channel runs near
this coast across the bar, which is short, and
easily passed. The harbor is completely
land.locked. and the roadstead capacious.
The upper arm Of Pensacola Bay receives the
yellow water or Pea river, Middle river
and Escambia river, eleven miles from the
Gulf of Mexico.
Santa Rosa Isiand-Ssnta Rosa Island is
the great barrier that forms the main or sea
enclosure OF the Prnsacols Bay. The island
is fourteen leagues in lrngth. and. on an
average. is aot more than one fourth of
mile VIDE, although in some places it ex
ceeds this considerably. At high water
there are many places where the waves run
over the land. Upon the extreme Western
end Of the Island. and commanding the en-
trance to Pensacola bay. stands Fort Pick
ems. Near Pickens it is barren for mile or
whereabouts, and then commences a low
growth Of shrubbery. seraggy pines. live oak
bushes. and small trees OF different varieties.
II is too sandy for cultivation, and is OF no
manner Of use, except to protect Pensacola
from the sea. and to form reliable road
stead. The island is separated from the
main land one and a quarter miles there are
two channels for the passage OF vessels. one
on the side OF the main land, and the other
on the island side. The outer shore Of San
"a Rosa Island 10 sometimes dangerous to
incoming vessels. The island, however, af-
fords the facility Of making regular siege ap
proaehes BY an attacking force.
Fort Pickens.-Fort Pickens, the strong
hold Of the Yankee Government in the gulf,
is built on S-dow, sandy spot on the western
most end OF Santa Rosa island, and a little
over one mile distant from Fort McRae,
which forms another sentinel to the bay.
Fort Pickens is q hrst class Fashioned work,
built of stone for foundation purposes, with
walls Of brick and bitamen. Its walls are
forty feet 10 height, By twelve feet in thick
ness. II is embrssured for two tiers Of guns
in bomb proof easements, and one tier Of o.
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sual eoncomitants Of FIRST class work, viz
covert ways. dry ditch glscis and outworks
complete. The guns from this work radiste
TO all parts Of the hofizpn, with flank and
enslsding FIRE in the bitches and every angle
Of approach.
Its guns command Fort Bsrrancas, Fort
MeRee. the Navy Yard. and the other works
now 10 possession Of the Confederate State
troops The work was commenced in 1928,
and hnished in 1855. Il cost the United
States Government nearly one million o.
collars. When on var footing the garr.
son consists OF 400 soldiers. Its present
armament consists Of: In bastion. twenty.
sI a4-pound houitzers; essemate, two AZ
Founders. siIty-isur 30 Founders, hfty.nine
81. Founders en- borbeife, twenty -four 6.inch
heuitzers. SIX Ie- Founders, twelve I3-poun-
ders. one l0-inch roiunbiad, nounted, and
four l0-inch mortan.
The fort is only approachabie BY land On
one side. Owing TO the openness Of the
country, which is but barren bed Of sand,
q party attacking from that quarter would
be very much exposed.
Fort NcRee.-Almost Immediately oppo-
site Pickens Is Fort McRee, where the Con-
federates have concentrated their forces. Ii
- powerful and casile-like masonry struc-
tarc, built on ! low sand spit Of the main
land, and appears 10 rise out Of the water.
This fertilization i situated On Fosters
Bank. aud guards the West side Of the
mouth of Pensacola bay. II is Fashioned
fort. built Of brick masonry, with walls
Somewhat out q repair. and 10 view Of this
TACT, General Bragg recently ordered the re-
mosal Of sixty heavy guns. and distributed
them among the new sand batteries.
Fort heRee Is embrasured fer two tiers
pf guns uuder bomb-procf easemates, and
has one tier ea bar5eNe. rs present arma-
ment consists Of: Lower tier, % forty.two
powders second tier. ~ eighi.ineh colum-
biads. - thirty.tvo Founders; en- barbeffe,
" twenty -four Founders, 3 ten Inch colum-
bisds, and IN time Of var requires a gsrri-
sen Of sir hundred and fifty men. The
work cost the Federal Government about
100000. lie guns radiate at every point
Of the horizon. The full armament Of the
fort j. not complete. but sufficient number
Of guns are Ia battery 10 make very good
opposition. 10 Fort Pickeus. Belos his fort
Is water battery. which mounts some eight
or ten guns. Tie interior Of Fort Mckee
u provided with The necessary shot furna.
ses. officers and soldiers quarters, maya.
liBes. dc.
Ieri Baua1tai.--Fort Barrancas is on
ne North Of Pensacola BAY, and d irectly
iaeing the entrance 70 it, mouth. The work
Isereeted % the site Of an old spanish tort.
IL = Fashioned work. Of heavy masonry,
and mounts lofty-nine guns, all of which
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