Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-02
Pensacola aud vicinity,

While the reports Of sharp fighting come
to us from Pickens and Pensacola, the fol-
lowing information regarding those points |
will be OF interest
The entrance Of the bay, between Santa
Rosa Island on the east, and the mainland OF
the west. is about a mile wide, but within it
expands into q capacious harbor, from four
TO ten miles in width, and entirely land
locked, Fort Pickens is on the extreme
point of the long, narrow Santa Rosa, and
various batteries and other works have been
erected here.
On the mainland to the west are the rebel
works and rebel encampments, which have
been 30 often described. Opposite the lower
part OF the island is Fort McRae, and about
/ a half mile TO the north, and Immediately
in front OF the entrance, tthe west shore
making an abrupt turn 10 the east STANDS
/ Fort San Carlos de Barrancas. In rear OF
this fort is situated Gen. Braxton Bragg
main camp. Neal the fort are the light
house extensive barracks and the naval hos
pital. About a mile above the hospital is
the navy yard, situated on Tartar Point,
where the shore bends rgain to the north.
The village of Warrenton lies Immediately
adjacent 20 the wall of the Navy yard.
The town of Pensacola, reported as evacu-
ated, is eight miles in a northeasterly direc-
ton from the Navy yard, and why Gen.
Braxton Bragg should have ordered its evacu-
alton. II he had positively determined to
breach Fort Pickens ''on Monday" it is hard
to see. 1t appears much more likely that
Bragg anticipated the destruction of his forts
and batteries by the very troops he was on
the point of 'fOrciug to surrender" and an
immediate assault on Pensacola by the yes
sells of war which be had Just ''riddled will
bullets"
Pensacola harbor is the best harbor on tbs
Gulf of Mexico. Itis coiap pletely lsndl0cked
} land has twenty two feet of water on the ba'
at low tide. East Bay admits frigates Of tn
largest class, and is entirely sheltered from
all winds. The town of Penracola, which ]
l the principal seaport Of West Florida, had,
3 year ago, a population of about 4, 600 but
great part of these fed from the ruin and ter
ror that had overtaken the city. The house
are generally old-fashioned Spanish struC
9 lures. The Alabama and Florida Railroad
g which connects the town with Montgomery
4 | (Ala \ was completed shortly after secession
That part of the road then unbuilt was finish
ed with great haste by DAVIS orders so thf
o troops and munitions might be hurried fol
d ward for the capture of Fort Pickens. A
n though that is nine months ago, howeve
Pickens is as yet uncaptured-nor, we judg
by the latest news, is it likely soon to be car
e tured. The climate is exceedingly healthfu
d except for occasional and rare visitations
n yellow fever. The creole element FREEDOM
+. mates in the resident population. In 1871
= Gen jackson drove out the British, who ha
d established themselves there by permission
the Spaniards, and assaulted and took the cit
Y and adjacent forts. Again in 1918, Gener
jackson, in consequence of Indian ineursioI
y on United States territory, took possession
Al Pensacola, and obliged Fort Barrsncas,
Is which the Spanish Governor had retired,
capitulate. In 1921, the whole territory VI
ceded to the United States. We hope it wi
turn out that Col. Brown is no unwortE
I. successor of Gen. Jackson.