The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-09

Pickcns II barren for mile thercabouts, and then
commences low growth Of shrubbery, scraggy pines
live oak bushes and small trees OF different varieties
is sandy for cultivation, and Is Of manner Of use
except to protect Pensacola from the sea- and to form
reliable roadstead The island Is separated from the
mainland and quarter miles there are two channels
for the passage Of vessels the side Of the main
land and the other the island SIDE The outer shore
Of Santa Rosa Island s sometimes dangerous to incom-
ing veesels The island however affords the facility of
making regular siege approaches by attacking force,
and yet this force could be excessively annoyed in the
daytime by the shot and shell Of squadron playing
upon them in flank from the Gulf or bay.
FORT PICKENs.
Fort Pickens the great bone Of contention the Gulf
section of the South is the principal work of defence for
Pensacolt harbor II is built low, sandy spot on the
westcrnmost end Of Santa Rosa Island, and little
one mile distant from Fort McRea which forms another
sentinel to the bay Fort Plckens is first class Fashioned
work built Of stone for foundation purposes. with walls
Of brick and bituncn. Is walls forty feet in height
by twelve feet in thickness 1t is smbrasured for two
tiers Of guns bombproof caseaes and tier open
or m tdrtee The work has all the usual concomitsnts
OF rst class work viz: covert WAYS dry ditch 9Lacts
and outworks complete. The guns from this work radi
ate to all points OF the horizon with flank and cnfadng
Gre the dtches and every angle OF approach Its guns
command Fort Barrancas, Fort McRea, the Navy Yard
and the other works now in possession OF the Confederate
States troops. The work was commenced in ISIS,
and finished in 1850 1t cost the federal govern Bent
nearly one million of dollars. When On var footing the
garrison consists Of 200 soldiers Its present armament
consists of-n bastion 20 twenty four pound howzers
sasemate fortywo Founders, 64 thrtytwo pounSers,
20 twenty four Founders barbette "A eight inch howt
zers eighteen FOUNDERS 12 twelve pounders ten inch
colunbiad, mounted, and ten inch mortars, in bad
order Tho possession OF this work therefore, by the
secessionse is OF course Of the hrst Importance for
unless is occupied by them It will secure to the Uned
states troops base Of operations along the whole Gulf
coast and keep open road right into the heart Of the
south which cannot be ohstructed by any fixed for
tiloatons ooce within the gates Of the barbor, and
army could be disembarked AZ any point on tho vide
bay which il might select II cohd run up beyond the
Es,ambia river and land many hours ahead of any on.
posing orce which might bo at Pensacola besides placing
a wide river between il and the la,ter-or oven two
riysrs the Escamba and Black Waer-sy going far
enough up Hence with start Of at least forty eight
hours il could march into interior Alabama. enemy
holding Fort pckcns could rendezvous naval force there
and keep up blockade OF all the ports Of the Gulf un.
LEGS IL could be met the sea. The fort is only
apuroachablc by land on one side. Owing 10 the
openness Of the country which Is but barren bed
OF sand a party attacking from that quarter would
be very much exposed The federal forces now In gsrr
sou at Fort Pickens oonsst OF about two hundred and
nfty men under the command Of Lieutenant Slemmev.
If Fort Pickens be by the secessonis, Pensacola
win be the great naval depot Of the Southern conedcra
cy from which doubt privatoers win be ted for
the purpose Of prcyng upon the in the Gulf
Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
FORT pIcEENs. JUNIOR.
Ths is a snaI outpost Of defence auxiliary of Fort
Pcsons erected by Lieutenant slcmmers orders IL is
situated about mile and quarter from Pickcns aad
commands the Warrington Navy Yard IN possession Of
the Confederate States troops Fort pickens Jr s now
used as station for picket guards, and viii answer
the purpose q eeotually preventing any thing Ike EUR
rri4e Of the main fort.
FORT MRrt.
This work is in the possession of the tonfc ier,te
states rools. II isa powerful castle ike masonry
s,ructure built on a low sand spt Of tho mainland and
c,oars 10 rise out ~ the water II Is further seayyar
han Fort ickcns Of which Il is the rd r across the
channel, and vessel entering must needs tho gauut.
L., Of H. Guns before approaching tho lattor which how
c, of tseif cnectuay closes tho harbor against the
| u,ssIon Of an enemy Of even very heavy forcc.
| This fortlacstion IL situated on Fosters Rank,
| and rusyds the wcst side d tho mouth Of rcnsa.
cola BAY II Is bssoncd fort, buils O brick mescnry,
with walls twelve fcct in thckness. Tho work i somo
what out or reir sod Of ia1 fass Geocrd Bragg