The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-02


Commanding Post and Departn ent Of Florida.
Assistant Adjutant General.
C Chief Quartermaster.
d Chief Commissary.
Chief Medical Officer.
Chief Engineer.
Ordnance Officer.
OUR PENSACOLA CORRESPONDENCE.
UNTEp STATES HoMu SQUADRON,
Orr PENSACOLA HAKBoR, April I8, 1861. (
B'f9 History Of he Army and Noral Movements in the
G-Geaeral Bragg, Of the Rebel Forces, Dimes Beard
the United States F1gase Sa5ine-Tae First Reinrorcemsn
Of Fort Psckems-7he Daals of its Accomplishments
The Coadiin Of Fort Picers for Defence An Alleged
Traitor arrested in the F6rt-Remsral Of Guns from F,
McRae by the Secessionias The Armament Of Fort
Pickens, dc.
Thinking that news from this quarter may be accept
able to your readers at this time, send account,
huriedly penned of the movements Of the government
forces for the past two weeks.
On the 3lst Of March the Brooklyn returned from Key
West where she had gone ten days previously for prov
sions, and at once took on board Company A, First
artillery which had been temporarily transferred TO the
Sabine BY the Brooklyn, Captain yogdes, commanding
the United States artillery received an order from
General Scott to put his company in Fort Pckens but
Captain Adans' orders Of previous date, from the
Navy Department, conflicting with this movement, he
Captain Al declined TO land the troops until he could
hear from Washngton-especiay since attack seemed
to be contemplated by the Southern forces against the
fort. General Bragg and Commodore Ingraham had
dined on board the Sabine with Captain Adams the
previous day. and just prior the arrival OF the Brooklyn
large party Of Southern officers had visited the Sabine
Among them ex-Congressman Push and Mr.. Buloch
candidate for Governor Of his State), now "high
prvates In the Eufaula Rifles, and stationed the
Navy Yard.
Lieutenant J. R. N. Mullany took command Of, and
Leutenants NJ r. Jones and Alfred Hopkins ordered
70, the wyandot.
REINFORCEMENT OF FORT PIcKRNs.
At one clock Friday afternoon, April IL, the wyan
dot out Of the harbor having board Lieutenant
John L. worden, United States Navy, as bearer of de
spatches from Washington Captain Adams the senior
naval officer OIL Pensacola.
Tho nature OF the dispatches not known until Lieu
tenant worden had left the squadron again. in the wyan
dot, for Pensacola to proceed thence TO Washington
Then became known United States troops
TO be landed Pckens further reinforced to any extent
thought necessary by Captain Adams.
After dark the squadron pu. out s & ooas ana 1ae az
board the Brooklyn Theee Captain Adams determined to
land and put in the fort with the artillerymsn We all
firmly believed that the forces under General Bragg would
oppose the landing OF reinorcementsthat force would
be put Santa Rosa Island miles east OF Pckens
and attack our landed and that Fort hcRae would
re upon any boats attempting land troops the
mouth Of the harbor We had come TO the conclusion
that IL would be "somebody hurt" before morning the
excitement and anxiety of the blue jackets and marines
TO get on shore great for their life has been 30 dull
and inactive here that however much they might be OPP
poeed to fighting their own countrymsn they were "sp
The wyandot bad been ordered TO come out after
landing Lieut. worden. Az half past seven T; ~ L. we
Dor, and at eight p Pensacola light was extnguished
This made us fear that the Wyandot had been tired
upon The landing party OF blue jackes-conssting of
160 from the Sabine 100 from the Brooklyn and fifty
from the St. Louis, all picked men-werc at once pnt
under arms ready TO 20 on shore 10 the regulars
nrod on N
wyandot appeared and turned out that she had Tired
the guns heard having got aground at the bar and
was doubt the cause Of the lights being put out
Now surely, the Souhorncrs would be on the alert;
the blue jackets therefore put on board the Wyan
| dot At ten p N. the Brooklyn stood la uuder the
anchored the beach, about three miles east
OF Fort Pickens At half past eleven r ~ the art cry,
eighty nve rank and hc left the Brookn IN nne ooats
whose crews armed and pulled for the mouth OF
Lieut. A. y. Smith, United States Navy, led tho way
In whale boat sounding az he went The other boats
| were commanded By Leuts. T. II. Newman and Il.
| Bclknap, United States Navy.
on the bar small saaboat was captured after ch ,se,
which were VI the pilots OF the port Geo 0dmix
on) Lieut. Robt Sweatman, of the Confederate Stat ?
army, and another man. when asked by Lieut. Smith
what they were doing theret' Oldmixon replied,
| that "there vas low great opposition among the
pilots and che understood there vessel 10 the
eastward, ana was bound down 10 herr Lieut. Smith
told him that the Brooklyn TO the eastward and as
ehe doubt, was the vessel he was IN search Of why
he would give the pilot "a tow,@which l ne dd, is
purpose OF making signals 70 Fort cRae, but che had no
| chance Of escaping.
The boats kept on and landed tho troops the wharf
the north side Of Pckens and by thu sayport about
midnight after being obliged TO pull within half mile
Of Fort Mcac, in consequences Of the shoa which makes
OF from the west end of Santa Rosa Island The troo)
shed rapidly into the fort and after tne boats had
recrossed the oar their way back TO the Brooklyn,
Oldmixon and his friends released. At one A. N
| Of the 18th, the wyandot with three hunire
armed blue Jackets on board. stood In under tue
land aud at three A. M took In tow string OF boats con-
tanning tho marines from the Brooklyn which she lot
about two miles cast Of Pckens. These boats, led by
Commander Poor In his zig, stood down the coast Lieu
tenant +. Lewis and masters mates had charge
landed on the beach tho south side Of
Pckens from whence they procccded around 70 the sally
port This movement must have been seen from hcRio,
bearing were Manned ready 10 return any shot,
fire from kcFsae would only have resulted In the loss
Of e without Fort Pckcns any nearer 70 being Ia the
possession OF the Southcrners and persuaded tn IT
this was the reason they did not open their batteries
| our men.
II not being necessary 70 land the landing party OF
scamen they taken back " their respective ships
aud the Brooklyn and wyandot at their h)rac
After tho first reinforcement Of Fort Pckens tho g,ri
| son consisted OF -
| Rank ani re.
The old garriso 81
Company A, First artillery. SO
Unitcd States marines. 1l5
rota, ..........................2 2ss
Gensral Bragg has prohibited ali beats from landing
near tho Naval Hospital, but bss very kindly promised
to sond tho mail ettors for tho squadron and garrison
s,snal osrternaster, with set Of signals has boon
put In Fort Plckens from the Sabine, so that commune
weare anchored about thlce and a half miles south
| southeast ~ Fort Pickens
II Is surmised from certain little transactions that th
Southernes are possessed OF United States Naval Sign
book Provisions sent 10 the fort on the lth by
| the wyandot Fort PickeDs now make good de-
fence and unless in bosterous weather Tho vessels q
i tho "a n nd