Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-04-25
Misttllantous.
THE FLORIDA FORTS.
Pensacola and its Fertilization
PENSACOLA BAY.


PENSACOLA BAY.
Pensacola Bay has rare properties as a
harbor. 1t is now, accessible to frigates.
The bar is near the coast, and the channel
across it short land easily passed. 1hs
harbor is perfectly land-locked, and the
road-ston very capacious. There are
excellent positions within for repairing,
building and launching vessels, and for
dock and dock-yards, in healthy situa-
tions. The supply ofgood watar is abun-
dant. These properties, in connection
with the position of the harbor as regards
the cost, have induced the government to
select il as an naval situation, land place Of
rendezvous and repair. The upper arms
of Penscola Bay receive the Yellow Wa
ters or Pea River, Middle River and Es-
Gambia River, eleven miles from the Gulf.
Although there is nothing about Pensca-
cola to attempt the cupidity of enemy, sill
its harbor is one of military Importance
for national purposes. Pensacola Bay,
fortified as it now is, with all its ordnance
in position and properly garrisoned, is
impregLable, except by a long and haz.
ardous siege by an overwhelming and
well-apponted land force, and it could
defy all the navies of the world combined
till it filled the harbor's mouth with the
carcasses Of sunken ships. ....
SANTA ROSA ISLAND.
Santa Rosa Island, on the east point OF
which is Fort Pickens, is situated east by
by northwest by south fourteen leagues.
aud completely shuts out PenescolO
from the sea. 1t is SO low that the sea
in a gale washes its top. 1t is not more
than one e-fourth of mile wide. The west
point OF this island is at the mouth OF the
Pensacola Bay. The latter is not ovel
one quarter of mile wide. The island
is separated from the mainland one and
quarter miles, there being two channels
for the passage of vessels, one on the
mainland and the other on the island side
FORT PICKEINs.
The principal means of defence to the
mouth of Penescola Bay is Fort Pickens
1t is first class pentagola Fashioned work
built of stcne, brick and bitumen, with
covert ways, dry ditch, glacis and out
works complete. It's wall are forty fee
high and twelve feet in thickness. 1t is
embrasured for two tiers Of guns in bomb
proof easement, and one tier of guns opei
or en- 6arbette. The guns from this poin
radiate to every point of the horizon
with flank and enfilading fire in the ditch
es and at every angle of approach. Th
work was commenced in 1928, and fin
ished in 1858. 1t cost the Federal Gov
ernment nearly one million of dollars
When on a war footing its garrison con
sists of 200 soldiers. It's present arma
ment consists of-in bastion, 26 twenty
four pound howitzrs; casemate, 2 forty
two Founders, SO twenty Founders
in barbette "a eight inch howitzers,
eighteen Founders, II twelve Founders,
ten inch Columbiad, mounted, and 4 tel
inch mortars, in bad order.
The possession of this work, therefore, b,
the Secessionists, is, of course of the frs
Importance, for unless it is occupied b,
them, it will secure to the u. S. troops
basis of operations along the Who'll
Gulf coast, and keep open road righ
into the heart of the south, which canno
be obstructed by any fixed Notifications
Once within the gate of the harbor, AM
an army could be disembarked at an,
point on the whole bay which it might Sc
lect. 1t could run up beyond the Escam
bia River and land many hours ahead @
any opposing force which might be a
Pensacola, besides placing wide rive
between it and the latter-oreven tw
rivers, the Escambia and Blackwater-
by going FAR enough up. Hence with
start of at leat forty eight hours,it woul
march into the interior of Alabama. A
enemy holding Fort Pickcns could rer
devious naval force there and keep II
blockade of all the ports of the Gul
unless it could be met on the sea. I'll
fort is only approachable by land on OF
side. Owing to the openness of the coul
try, which is but barren bed of sand,
party attacking from that quarter woul
be very much exposed.
The Federal force now in garrison
Fort Pickens, consists of about two hui
dred and fifty men, under the commar
OF Lieutenant Slemmer. They have pr
visions for six months, and ammunitiC
to resist siege Of equal length. If Il
work be attacked it must be by sudd,
assault by heavy force concentrated {
the island to the eastward, which w
take it with Zouave-like rush in doub
!. quick time--pouring into it in such nur
e bers as at once to overpower every chan
of resistance on the part of the garriso
Though done in the night, and with 4
quickest movement. and though escapil
loss from the batteries .in the approac
o the work at the walls will be a bloc,
! business If the garrison have a mind
make it so. If Fort Pickens be taken