Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-21
FROM FORT PICKENs.

pouring in. The correspondent OF the Mobile
Register writes =
have been requested by several Mobile
friends to let them know day or two before
the fight is to commence, as they would like
to come over, look round, and if need be, take
a hand. | would give them such Information
gladly, if it were possible. But, commence
when it will, don't think that risk much in
saying that in sixty hours atter the trs1eun
is fired, there will not a ankee lett IN Fort
Pickens. A hundred and forty guns converg-
ing on any one point sixty hours would drive
the devil from his hole. For several days
it will be essentially a big gun ight-such
fight as was never witnessed on this continent
a cannonade that will shake the land and the
sea- The steamer Powhattan amused herself
a couple of hours yesterday morning i'll firing
shell and shot at target. Those who wit
messed it through glasses, pronounced the
shots buncombe! She had better tried McRae,
only two or three miles distant.
The editor of the Register, returning from
a visit to Pensacola, gives the following MARIA
tive of operatons:-
"The main body of the army occupies the
entire line of the western shore OF the Bay
from tie city to Fort McRea, at the mouth of
the Bay. Gen. Bragg pronounces this the
finest body of troops lie has ever seem he
work done by them is very great and OF the
hardest kind. Gen. Bragg las had immense
difficulties to encounter i'll his post. Until
three weeks ago he had oni. seven mules and
carts to perform the transport duty OF an army
covering ten miles OF lines, having heavy
guns to carry and mount, and stores, shot aud
shell to transport. He is now amply provided
with first rate wagons and teams. they were
Obliged lor weeks to carry OH ilier backs the
~
a murmur has been heard. Seldom has an
army of 1000 men been worked harder for
given time.
With all this work an immense deal has
been accomplished to put the post in condf
ton for defensive ard offensive operations.
For the first the work is done-periect and
| complete. 1t is impregnable us against Major
Brown or the fleet For the second it will
take but a little while to render the abanduu-
| mcnt of Fort Pickens a matter OF military me-
| cessity. Nor can the enemy prevent it by re-
enforcement on the Island or in the fleet, be-
cause the more men you crowd into Pickens
| the greater will be the destruction; while if
| the whole United States feet were 10 attempt
a,rGgse Ue.vsap. i.he. .lyarhor r,.it Mntlid
| Boosting OF the Lincoinites Fort Pickcns is
doomed whenever the confederate states com.
| mand it. That such an artillery combat as
that would be accompanied by great loss on
both sides is unquestona be-that the navy
yard, with its fine buildings and beautiful i'm.
provements would be destroyed by the guns
OF Pickens is certain, but that the latter tort
can be preached and its garrison DESTROYED or
driven out TO their ships is equally certain
The enemy has not been idle, and shown by
his works that he is conscious OF his danger,
knows what he is about, and has taken every
military disposition Tor defence
He need not have erected the sand batteries
on the beach to show to our side the weak
points in his fort. There is no reason to doubt
that before he takes to his ships for safety, lie
will destroy Fort Pickens. 1t is believed that
it is completely undermined and the trains laid
TO blow it up. There is difference among
military men and civilians, too, as TO the poll
cy of an attack upon Pickens, even with the
certainty OF its reduction. The reason for
the attack is that the United States flag in
suits, While II flies over Il soil declared TO be
independent of the government it emblems,
and that honor demands it should be expelled
at every cost. This is true, but it is also true
that it is no more insulting to-day than it was
two weeks or months ago, and ii we have put
up with that insult tor several month because
we could not help it, may we not do so for a
time longer if it is a manifest advantage to the
cause and our ultimate triumph? Those
against the attack urge that the presence OF a
federal army and navy at and off Pensacola is
doing no earthly harm to the contede ate
cause, while they might be employed else
where 10 its injury. Pensacola is not a city
of commerce-the dominion of the enemy is
confined to barren island, and except the
hirengs, he has no subjects except mosqui.
toes and sand flies.
He is keeping that post at great cost incon.
venlence and privation TO the troops and dan.
ger to the fleet. As the hot season advances
oil 1ie
will attack the troops, and the inevitable Au.
gust storm will compel the feet 10 "cut and
run" or go ashore While this is The case as
to them, as to us no harm is done. Ready to
repel any attack at any moment the enemy
chooses to make it, and drive him from the
island if lie dares the conflict the Pensacola
Navy Yard, meantime, forms an admirable
camp of instruction, where 10000 troops, I'M
der experienced officers, and in the presence
OF the enemy, are rapidly hardening into dis.
cipllned veterans. When they are thoroughly
schooled, send Them to the field, and replace
them by 10000 new levies to undergo the
same training. Meantime, MAJOR Brown and
his people can stay at Pickens, and find all the
amusement they can from watching the pro.
ceedings with the spy glass, fighting the mos
qultoes, and eating ship stores for their din
ner.
The Montgomery Advertiser of the 18th
inst, relates the following incident =
gentleman who has but recently returned
from Pensacola informs US that on Friday
last company of suspicious persons were ar.
rested by detachment of alabama Mount
ed Rifles, of Wilcox County, and brought to
the headquarters Of Gen. Bragg. One of
them-a fellow by the name of Anthony-xas
arrested some time since Tor supposed dislo, al.
ty to the southern coniederacy, but was dis.
charged on condition that he would leave that
portion of the country. Not being sufficiently
wise TO adhere 10 his pledge, he has been re-
arrested, charged with provisioning and com
mnnicating with the fleet off the harbor. An.
other person Gen. Bragg detected at tempting
to inform the commander at Fort Pickens of
the position OF the vessels which lie had assist
ed 10 scuttle and sink in the channel Both
OF these parties were arrested on the Perdito
Bay. 1t is extremely probable that they have
already, or will suffer DEATH as they were to
be tried on Saturday last
Seventeen fugitive slaves passed through
Pittsburg a few days since, on their way
northward They were well known TO be iu.
Uif md bain q a.,