The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-06
THE FORTS IN FLORIDA.

FoRr JEFfERsoS. rortugas, March "a, 1851.
Condition q Fort JeGersoa md It's G1rTts0- ArrisaI u
Recruits, DC, &c.
rou Of know that this military work is one OF
the largest, not the largest, in America and that in
consequence of the troubles in the country com
rany military sent here to prevent the secession
ss from taking possession of it, At the time Of their
arrival We in defenceess state there not being
anything larger than double barrel gun the Island
on Capt. Meigs taking command we were continued
the usual daily task Of laying brick, and silently
and slowly building up the second tier OF classmates.
Suddenly however, one morning. asteamcr hove in sight
and the old bricklayer Phillip ran in hot haste
to the Captain to tell him that the sfousters were
coming "TelI them, my honest fellow said the Cap
tain, that won't surrender and honest old Phil. ran
TO the wharf to do his masters bidding. But the ibus
turned out TO be the roops sent by the Whitney
which brought gung and men under Major Arnold All
vas excitement, and we vigorously put to work
cosing up the embrasures cutting loops, and all the
necessary work to prevent attack from the bloody
minded boys Of Pensacola Well, this fun enough TO
some OF us, and mighty big to many can't say
that we were "eager for the Fray" but every sail
In the distance watched with great anxiety, and
quite feeling Of relief felt when it passed away.
The arrival here Of Captain Meigs very fortunate
for u.s. for Captain Megs at corrected
put stop the rasca,y and oppression which had 50
long prevailed. Men longer discharged without
hearing, and the Captain thought personal in
specon Of the condition Of the work was sacred duty
that he enabled to form his opinion Of the men
without taking IT from the report of old Phillip. This
change at least for benefit and although the
Captain got trouble with the state OF Florida for
an Illegal interference with her laws, and afterwards
made such explanation as was necessary he held to
bail In the Of two thousand dollars for his
and this newly arranged stao OF things,
was brought to cose by Capt Megs ocing ordered to
Washington. HIS leaving here was matter Of deep re.
greet for above his ability as an eng neer, he was
sundays, and such OF the chose TO attend went,
THUG afordpg them rational and sensible means q
spending the sabbath. Beyond this, have before
ssd he was stadious OF our comfort the rnesshan
angements were improved, the pierings from the
public store were stepped BY turning out tie clerk
ishirg smack owned by the overseer at cost were at
charged thirty cent, to cover all the charges
The Sc facts coming 70 light caused him TO be dubbed
"honest Philip" Of derison his superatiye
rasGaty The spirit Of the oppressor once broken
and it passed INTO poyerb among the workmen, Dor
owed from the JOY Of the slaves "tha the Captain had
pulled out Philips tail feathers
The troops here aud have been by the
arrival Of some from roxas By the Daniel WEBSTER and
have IN day or two, by the star Of the West
two more companies The island Is uncommony
healthy, although have three doctors The who
ATTENDS on the men employed on the work gives
any physic, and many think that this common sense
view the subject the reason of great health
OUTSIDE OF the garrison have ,he ghtkeeper the
suffer- both very clever and in the public store
very pous young man, named organ, from the North,
who became converted here, and Will probably become
preacher
The increase Of go many men among us has shortened
the ample quarters which formerly had by the men
the WORK, and the arrival OF The officers took away
room by room from eight to Elk, to four two until
Monday next, when he moves into tho kitchen. The
Daniel Webster proceeds to morrow at ten O'Clock with
her troops intended for Fort Hamilton We learn here
by the papers that Lieutenant Norton of The Engne
is ordered here In command OF the cons.ru tion We
hope very much that shall like him. and that he will
prove friend.
We had a little excitement the other day, by fishing
smack flying at her masthead tabecloth with the re-
.ernblsnce Of tree painted on IT, SO reasonable cir
cumstance was at once reported 70 the Nuor who
ordered the coutumacious captain ashore and, under
the peril OF being sunk at hi. mooriugs to pun the Oh
banner The fisherman could see no
harm in thus airing his table CLOTH aud having turn
for painting, had merely essayed his powers q tree
But The Major through other glasses IL distinct,
" the Palmetto, that badge OF defiance by saucy
south Car ona and down Il must the sixty eight
pounder would enforce his orders sergeant then led
this son Of the out OF the gate and asked the
Major how long he should give him. Five minutes re.
Piled the Major, and down came the re5eisus ensign