The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-30
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very few more, for we have reason to believe thai
several gentlemen, who have hitherto enilyed the
Confidence ot the Republican party are actively
engaged In the endeavor to convert their coaa que,
to their new faith. In this Compromise, the most
offensive features of Mr.. Crittenden's nronostion
will be somewhat modified; though if we should
hear within day or two that few more cannon
were planted on the Mississippi, or that the flag Of
the country had anew been nsulted by some armed
mob of rebels or better yet, that Fort Pckens had
Deen attacked and lts garrison slaughtered, We
mIgbtthen expect concessions even more humiat
ing than those now to be forced upon us by the aid
OF Northern votes in both Houses. But even yet
IL may not be too late. Let the People, anew and
more earnestly, warn their Representatives not to
betray their trust Let them write letters and
send deputatons and memorials to Washington.
lhus they may prevent the contemplated sacrifice,
and still prove to the world that the election of
November ., not only meant something, but that
the freemen OF the country mean to stand by it
AFFAIRS AT PENSACOLA.
The suspension of the post office at Pensacola,
and consequent stoppage of our exchange courte-
sizes with the press of that city, have left u.s. most
lnopportunely, in the dark respecting the position
OF affairs at that important point We are indebt-
ed, however, to the Mobile papers for occasional
CLEANS of light, which reveal the most active war
ike preparations for the dangerous assault upon
Fort Pickens. correspondent, writing from the
Navy ard on the 10Th, states that they are pre-
parIng scaling ladders for the assault on Fort Pick
ems, in the joiners department of the Navy Yard
The biacksmiths are engaged in making the articles
necessary to mount the guns; the ship carpenters
are preparing the piles to support the platforms on
which the guns are to be placed and the Iaborers
are conveying the guns to the different places as
signed for them. Col. Chase was here the greater
part of yesterday, visiting every point. cores
pondence was carried on between him and the
commander of the fort, before the Wyandotte was
summoned to the fort of what nature have not
learned. After the steamer Oregon had passed up
to the Navy Y ard, gun was fired from Fort Pick
ems and red flag hosted at the southeast corner
OF the fort; Immediately afterwards the steamer
Wyandotte steamed up to the fort, and remains
there yet, anchored alongside, to the west of the
fortress.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM PENSACOLA.
MAJOR Ben Posey Lane, of Mobile, an officer who
served with distinction through the Mexican war
ana who is now member of one of the Alabama
companies at Pensacola, writes lengthy letter to
the Mobile Erening Ne'os, under date of the l9th
from which we make the following compilation:
we OF the Mississippi and Alabama Regiment,
containing eight Mississippi and two Mobile compa-
MES, under Colonel Albert of Mississippi are quar-
tered at the United States Marine Hospital lust
opposite Fort Pickens, and about mile and seven
eighths of mile distant. Fort San Carlos de Bar
rancas is about half mile south of our quarters
1t is mile and half distant from Fort Pickens
Fort McRae is still further South, and is a mile
and an eighth OF mile from Fort Pickens. We
are in possession of all the military positions ex-
cept Fort Pickens 1t is on Santa Rosa Island
which is forty miles long, and about one mile wide
we can distinctly see the cannon of Fort Pickens
from our piazza. Nearly all the guns have been
shifted to the andside, and the most active prepar
atoms have been made for the defence, Our pre-
parationS consist in four Dahgreen long 80 runs
mounted at the Navy-Yard to rake the bav, and
prevent any vessels from coming inside Fort Pick
ems.
AT Fort Barrancas we have mount ed about twen-
ty-tive 32-pounders. At Fort McRae there are four
Columbiads and large number Of heavy guns
none mounted, unless it has been done to-day
Fort Pickens mounts 2l5 guns, and REQUIRES a gar
rls0n oil 1000 men. Its present garrison consists
as lar as we can ascertain with certainty of SO sol
diers. Some sailors have been sent to it from the
steamer WyandOtte and the stOreship Supply 1t
IS supposed that they could not sp are more than
nifty men. If this suppOstiOn is correct the gar.
rison does not exceed 1873 men. majority of this
number are believed to be dsafected and averse to
lighting us, but are compelled by military discip-
line. The Commander of Fort Pickens is Lieut.
Siemmer, of New England He is very firm and
brave man, as am credibly informed He will
not surrender until he is compelled by an over
wheIming force. 1t would be violation of militia
ry rules to give statement of our strength We
must humbug Slemmer, If we can. 1t is no secret
about our strength in guns and batteries, for he
can see them with his spy-glaSs.
Slemmer has beautiful young wife, and is very
spirited. She tells him to fight to the last. She
flew around us this side in such way that
she was arrested and sent away. The United
States steamer Wyaudotte, of eight guns is living
defence
Fort Pickens is very strong position. On the
water side it has three tiers of guns, two rows of
casemates and one of bdrbeites Very few of them
Sre mounted, and suspect that Semmer has closed
up the lower casemates He is concentrating every
art and means of defence on the land side On that
side there is great ditch which would be a
slaughter peu,if we foolish enough to enter it.
There is vast deal OF impatience and discon tent
among the troops, especially in our regiment. The
men 'eager for the Fray and are very free and
0utspoken in their criticism upon the loss of time
by delay and inactivity. If something is not done
here by next Tuesday, there will be revolt against
the commanders. ! and my friends propose to
leave on that day. | have no time to waste in gar
rison duty. | submit to military prudence by with
holding at resent any discussion of the means
proper to be used to take the Fort. | will say,
however, that 1t can be taken by our present force
in twenty-four hours. | have prepared the plan
and it has been discussed night and dav in nv room
by numbers of officers have submitted it to two
resigned officers of the navy, and they heartily ap-
prove it. At proper time | shall make it public.
We have killed one of Uncle Sans soldiers in a
rather amicable way. One of them was found at
FGrt Barrancas when the Alabama troops took
possession. lie was not made prisoner, but al.
lowed to stay or go as he preferred. He chose to
stay, and was bountifully furnished by the vOlun-
teers with victuals and bad whiskey. He went in
strong on whiskey, and this morn ing he was found
dead in the adjacent woods.
There is some splendid personnel material in our
regiment. The MlssIsspplansare brave and no
BILE set of fellows. They will fight like Ttrcos
There is the most generous spirit of self-sacrfce
pervading the corps. Gentlemen of the highest
position and talents, officers of high rank al
home, found here in the ranks, with a musket
on their shoulder. Gen. Hornsby, who commanded
the army in Nicaragua, and is able officer, is a
private in the ranks. Captain Morrison, Professor
in the Military Department of the Alabama Univer.
stv, is acting as private in Captain Ohara's com
pany He is tirst-rate artillery officer and il will
hp H..
of a battery. And having said this much of the
generous selfsacrifce of Individuals it is also true
that this spirit is grievously abused and outraged
and nothing but intense patriotism prevents an ex-
plosion. In a spirit of charity and Cancellation
forbear any further remarks upon the subject.
One of the editors of the Montgomery Advertiser
who was on duty at Pensacola up to Tuesday last
publishes statement that "all rumors in regard tc
the reinforcement of Fort Pickens or the volun
tary surrender of Lieut.. Semmer, or the intention
of Col. Chase to make an immediate attack or
Fort Pickens, are entirely formed upon conjec
ture."