The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-14
important Naval and Military
Movements.
Arrangements for the Immediate Departure Of
the Gunboats Crusader and Mohawk and
Steamships Empire City, Star Of the
West, CoatzaeOalcos and Philadelphia.
The Florida Forts to be Reinforced
and Supplied,
PENSACOLA AND ITS FoR7lFIcA1lows.

PENSACOLA AND ITS F0RTlFlCATl0Ns.
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Now that the United States government have conclud-
cd TO evacuate Fort Sumter public attention will next bo
forces From the latest information from thaa
quarter the troops Of the Confederate States were con-
centratng at Pensacola in large numbers everything
being prepared TO give Fort Pickens protracted SIEGE
We bayc therefore, thought that anything bearing upon
this subject would be interesting readers and have
therefore concluded TO describe in BRIEF Pensacola and
its fortifcations
PENSACOLA BAY.
Pensacola bay has properties harbor II is
accessible to frigates The bar is the coast
and the channel it short and easily passed The
harbor perfectly landlocked and the roadsead very
capacious. There excellent positions within for
pairing building and launching vessels and for docks
and dOckyards in healthy situations The supply Of good
water abundant These properties in connection with
the position Of the harbor regards the coast have
duced the government to select naval station and
place Of rendezvous and repair The upper arms of
Pensacola Bay receive the Yellow Waters Pea river
Middle river and Escambia river, eleven miles
from the Gulf. Although there is nothing about Pensa-
cola to tempt the cupidity Of enemy, still, its
harbor is one Of military Importance for national pur-
poses. Pensacola bay, fortified it is, with all its
ordnance in position and properly garrisoned mpreg
nabe, except by long and hazardous sege by
whelming and well appointed land force, il could
defy all the naves Of the world combined till il filed
the harbors mouth with the OF sunken ships
SANTA ROSA ISLAND.
Santa Rosa Island on the east point OF which
is Fort Pickens situated by northwest by south
fourteen leagues, and completely shuts out Pensacola
from the s so low that the In gale washes
its top. It is not than fourth OF mile wide
M
cola bay. The latter is not over and quarter mile
wide The island is separated from the mainland one
and quarter miles, there being two channels for the
passage Of vessels the side of the mainland and
the other the island side.
FORT pIcKENs.
The principal means Of defence to the mouth Of Pensa
cola bay is Fort Pickena. 1t Is first class pentagonal
Fashioned work. built Of stone brick and bitumen, with
covert ways dry ditch, gacis and outworks complete.
Its walls forty feet in height by twelve feet thick-
ness liz embrasured for tiers Of guns bombproof
easemates and tier Of guns open en- barters The
guns from this work radate to every point Of the hori
zon with flank and enfladng fire in the bitches and at
every angle Of approach. The work In
1925 and finished in 1863 1t the federal governments
nearly million of dollars. When footing its
garrison consists Of 26O soldiers Its present arma
ment consists of-In bastion, 26 twenty four pound
howitzers casemate, forty two pounders 64 thirty
two Founders, SO twenty four Founders; In barbette
"a eight inch howitzers eighteen pounders IL twelve
Founders, ten inch Columblad, mounted and ten inch
mortars, in bad order
The possession Of this work, therefore, by the
sionists Isl OF course, of the FIRST Importance unless
II is occupied by them ii will to the United States
troops base Of operations along the whole Gulf coast
and keep open road right into the heart Of the
South, which cannot be obstructed by any fixed for
t1cations. Once within the gates Of the harbor,
and army could be disembarked at any point
the wide bay which 1t might select. 1t could
run up beyond the Escambia river and land many
honrs ahead OF any opposing force which might be at
Pensacola beside placing wide river between IL and the
Iatter-or two rivers, the Escambia and Black
waterby going far enough up. Hence, with Of
at least forty eight hours, could march into interior
Alabama An enemy holding Fort Pckens could rendez-
a naval force there and keep up blockade OF all
the ports Of the Gulf unless could be the sea
The fort s only approachabe by land side Owing
to the openness Of the country which is but barren
bed Of sand, party attacking from that quarter would
be very much exposed The federal force in garri-
at Fort Pcens consists OF about two hundred and
fifty men, under the command Of Lieutenant
slemmer. They have provisions for six months,
and ammunition 10 resist siege Of equal length.
If the work be attacked must be by o
sudden assault from heavy force concentrated
with Zouave.like rush in double quick tme-pour-
ing into 1t such numbers as at once to overpower
every chance Of resistance the part OF the garrison
Though done in the night, and with the quickest move
ment and though escaping from the batteries in the
approach, the work Mt the walls will be bloody business
If the garrison have mind to make II II Fort Pick
be taken by the sccessionss Pensacola will be the
great naval depot Of the Southern confederacy from
which no doubt prvateers will be fitted out for the pur
pose OF preyng upon tho the Gulf OF Mexico
and the Caribbean sea.
FORT MREA.
This work is in the possession of the Florida troops
s powerful and caselk masonry structure built
low sand pit Of the land, and appears to rise
out Of the water. is further seaward than Fort Pick
ems OF which the ris across the channel and
vessel entering must needs the gauntlet OF guns
before approaching the latter, which, however, Of itself
eectualy closes the harbor against the admission Of an
enemy Of even very heavy force.
This fertilization ia situated on Fosters Bank,
and guards the west side Of tho mouth Of Pensa-
cola bay sa Fashioned fort, built Of brick masonry
with walls twelve feet thickness. 1t is embrasured for
two tiers Of guns under bombprosf casemates, and has
one tier IN buyHs Its present armament consists Of
Lower tier 22 forytw Founders; second tier II eight
| inch Coumbiads, is thirtytwo pounders In bar
bette 90 twenty four Founders, ten inch Columblads
and in time Of war requires garrison OF six hundred and
fifty The work cost the federal government about
$500 000 Its guns radae at every point OF the horizon
II very effective work. The full armament Of TIA
fort not complete, but sufficient number Of guns are
battery 70 make very good opposition to Fort Pckeps
Below this fort 10 q water battery which mounts soma
eight ten guns Tue interior Of Fort Mcae provided
with the necessary shot furnaces officers and soldiers
quarters, magazines, nc.
FORT BARRANcAs.
Fort Barraneas on the north OF Pensacola BAY and
directly fronting the entrance lis mouth me WORT
is erected the site Of old Spanish fort Inc fort 10
Fashioned work, built Of heavy masonry, and mounts
forty nine guns, and in time Of war requires garrison
Of two hundred and nfty men. The armament Of The
work 10 FUZZY mounted and ts magazines are In xood or.
der In The rear Of the fort s redoubt which IN anxi