The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-05-22
Correspondence of the \. Tribune.
THE WAY FORT PICKENs WAS REIN
FORCED.
{. S. STEAM SLooP BRooKLyx. at anchor off
Pensacola, Fla. April q. 1861.

/ L. s. STEAM SLooP BRooKLys at anchor off
! Pensacola, Fla, April 81 1861
! Huzza! We have done it. We have satisfac.
torily settled one important question that has
long been sgitating the public miad, and that is,
whether We were to re-eu!orce Fort Pickens or
not ! have the great pleasure Of assuring you
| this was accomplished between the hours of II
and IL O'Clock on the night of Friday, the 18th
inst, witaOut the firing of gun, or the spilliny
| OF one drop Of blood The manner in which il
was successfully done is briefly as follows: A
bearer Of dispatches arrived from Washington
during the day, bringing the orders We had SO
long anxiously looked tor, and as soon as il be.
came dark We began work with good will and
in earnest. At first the marines from the frigate
Sabine and the sloop st. Louis came on board
our vessel, and Immediately after the accomplish
ment of this, the anchor was hoisted BY the
jolly salts without the merry chaunt of
General Jackson the day
Heave, yea no
~ New Orleans the people say;
1eo, haaye yeoi
We ran as close to the shore as possible for US
to do, came to anchor, and without moments
delay lowered the boats and filed them with
| troops.
At IL o'clock. Lieut.. Albert n. Smith, of Mas.
sachusetts being in command. they started on
their mission, not knowing whether they were
facing eternity, Or whether they would live to
see the light of another day. As they left the
side of the vessel, many May God cause you
TO succeed" came from the lips of the loyal men
by my side II live thousand years, shall
not forget the feelings bad when saw those
brave fellows shake hands with all their old COM
rades, and, a. q tear would nov and then glisten
in the gloom, but instantly wiped away by .
cenched hand, / felt they all knew their danger,
and knowing it, dared TO face it with that true
courage eminen;ly worthy OF all praise, and may
they receive il!
Tho party were Instructed to send up signals
should they tie attacked, and l do assure you
never were there keensr eyes than ours on that
eventful night as We peered into the darkness
| mOmentarily expecting to see q rocket pierce
the midnight gloom; but none appeared. While
| We we're thus anxiousy awaiting some evidence
Of the snccess on-success Of their mission,
a boat is hailed-a faint answer comes back
Lieut. Smith and the boats crews" and in
| whispering tones We hear the news, "they have
been successful'-brsther officers shake hands
and give Lieut.. Smith that praise justly deserved
by him. They went around inside OF the har-
boz, passed under the guns Of Forts McRae and
Barrancas without being heard, and safely landed
| all the troops without interruption.
This being 90 successfully accomplished, it was
almost instantly concluded to attempt it again,
| and SO orders were given that all the Marines in
the squadron should tske to their boats, prepar-
tory to being put into the fort this being quickly
done, the steamer Wyandotte took them in tow,
and towel them as far as che could 20, whore
they left her, and pulled into the hsrbor, taking
the same course the FIRST party had, and in good
time reached the fort and safely landed all that
were in the boats. just as the day was break.
trvry al
from the beach, and when they returned to US,
our anchor was instantly cup" and We steam
ing to old anchorage, with very different sen.
ssti0ns than We had when we started for the
work. Thus you see, the Brooklyn has accom-.
piished what she was sent here for, viz the re-
enforcement of Fort Pickens, in spite Of their
General Bragg, their horde of msrderous trait
Ors, and the threats that oceans Of blood would
would be spilled if even the attempt we're made.
We have done it. IL also proves that my views
of the entire practicabity of such . scheme
were very correct.
On Tuesday, the l5th We were delighted to
see the splendid steamer Atlantic sailinginto our
| midst, and we were completely overiOyed when
it was ascertaned that she was laden with troope,
horses, batteries ammunition, stores, &C., DC,
for the fort. The next day the frigate Powhat-
tan arrived, and yesterday the Illinois came
, among US, laden the same as the Atlantic was
all the forces brought by these transports, to-
gether with the guns, ammunition, stores, &C.,
&c, have been safely transferred to the fort,
giving it . thousand or more troops, aud together
with the fleet outside, making it impregnable
ia fact, with our present force, we think We can
| hold it against the entire South. The number
Of rebels in this vicinity 10 about 5000, and they
are constantly at work erecting batteries along
the beach, and fortifying their positions in every
wav they can. We expect to get some pretty
| hard knocks in case of an encounter, but may
God protect them when our dogs of war are lei
loose, and are speeding their implements O.
death.
We expect to see the Baltic, Harriet Lane
| Pawnee, and other vessels in few days, as i
seems to US this is to be the Fighting ground.
There are some with US who "gO it strong" fo
a war of determination, their sentiments bein,
that the Federal Government would be rccrean
to its duty if a single Southern traitor were lef
alive. We live in a world of excitement, ar,
up night and day, and only last night, in conse
quence of an alarm, We were beat to quarters
and stood by our guns all night. In fact, thi
is so almost every night, and We are get,in,
somewhat tired of it, being nearly used up; bu
We console ourselves with the idea that we ar
in good cause, and hardships must be endured
|
once again to get among civilized people-ther'
are none in this section.
| have been ashore but once since these trou
bles began, and that was to attend solemn duty
the burying of that gallant and beloved officer
Capt. Bergman, of the Wyandotte; be was IA
ken sick on the Sd inst, and died on the 9TH
brain fever being the trouble. We buried hin
in the Naval Cemetery, all the officers goin:
ashore. Gen. Bragg having given permission
fifty blue jackets accompanied US, and on arri
wing at the wharf found the seamen aud officer
of the Wyandot,e drawn into line to receive US
II was solemn procession, as We followed Il
the grave as brave q man as ever trod a quarter
deck, and one whom
| " None knew him but to love him,
| None named hin, but tp praise"
Upon this occasion we had view of Genera
Bragg and part of his troops, and assure you
with the exception of some from Mississippi
they are the most God -forsaken looking mortal
it Was ever my fortune to see.
THE BALTIMORE sTEAM-GUN.
| A gentleman direct from Baltimore, and VIII
has seen the steam-gun (abost which consider
III - L.. g.. Id