Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-20
[. 5. STEAMSHIP RICHMoND, J
Off Fort PickenS, Nov, 22, 1861. !

Ot Fort PIckenS, Nov, 22, 1861.
Al anchor off Pass rOutre, recover
ing from the effect of our late affairs with
Holins at the head of the passes, the U.
5. steamer Mississippi found us, on the
evening of the 18Th, at G p. Nj. AT eigh t
o'clock we were under way with full
, head of steam, bound for Fort Picke
The order from flag officer Mexican
for US TO join him at Pensacola, was hail
ed with delight throughout the ship, for
it is useless to deny that we had repu-
tation to recOcer, in consequence of the
want of decision and frmness evinced
= by our late captain on the night of the
= llth October, and we now hoped TO be
] able to do it.
On the morning of the 10Th Novem-
Der, we anchored off Santa Rosa Island
near the frigate Niagara, and the next
day your correspondent visited Fort
Pickens. The aspect of everything
within and about the Notifications was,
of course, eminently warike. The sand
in the enclosure had been thrown up in
immense quantities forming covered
face, which entirely protected the en-
brasures on the inner side, so TINT shells
bursting inside the fort could not injure
the walls or endanger the men. OF the
armament Of the fort shall say nothing,
| for obvious reasons, other than is all suf-
icient for any emergency.
| found the officers were very sanguine
of success in the event of their opening
fire upon the rebel batteries, and hailed
our coming as likely to expedite the at
tack.
On the 22l November, at 1915 AM,
three guns roared from Fort Pckens at
the steamer Time, that had Just entered
the Navy Yard dock from Pensacola.
AT the same instant we manned our
Scarcely a minute after the first shots
came from our side, when "Barrancas,"
the light house battery, and M Rae"
replied, and at il they all went peIl NELL
The firing on both sides was at first
wild, but we shortly obtaned the range
OF NJ Rae, aud dropped shells over and
on all sides Of the walls.
Until 3 z. Nj. the batteries near
Nj Rea did no: trouble us much, but
about that time they succeeded in bring
ing two riaed guns TO bear upon US, and
instituted a series Of experiments which
speedily eliminated in shell hitting US
abaft the main chains, about four and a.
half feet under water, forcing in the outer
planking, and as it exploded, literally
lifting the ship bodily in the water.
This shot was followed in about twen-
ty minutes by another, which passed
through the rail over No. gun, knock
ing the tangent sight from the gun, and
dashing full in the face of The captain of
the gun, who was just sighting his piece,
tore his head aud right arm from his
body, and passed out of the correspond
ing port on the other side Of the deck.
1t was now apparent that we were
drifting gradually in shore, while the en-
emy had exactly obtained our range,
therefore Captain Ellison directed the
ship to be hove ahead by the bower chain,
and none too quickly, for she had hardly
when three more shells burst in the very
spot we bad moved from. Just then the
lag officer signalled "Get under way"
which we did, and giving the batteries a
ew final shots steamed out of their range.
The Niagara came out with US, but as
he had been so far out during the action
he escaped with a blow from a spent
hot and lost no men.
SATURDAY, Nov. %. This morning,
It about 10 o'clock Pickens again opened
ire, and the Niagara steamed into long
ange of the forts, directing us to remain
where we are until further orders. As
write e p. NJ Warrington is burning.
nd the firing is going on between Pick
MS and our batteries. The U. S. store
hip National Guard has just arrived.
Our old ship is in very bad state;
am hole to port, a lO-inch shell hole to
arboard. and all the forward copper off
ON the Torlugas coral reef. How
uch more we can stand without going
to the box remains TO be seen, but we
.ep up our spirit: and are ready for
Ity.
SUNDAY, Nov. "a. 1861. p. M.-No
ing Oh either side-day of rest. Pick
Is has one gun dismOunted. one man
He'd, one mortally wounded, one slight
wounded. Warrington and the entire
,rth side of the navy yard is a mass of
noking ruins. Pickens fired murtars
l last night at regular intervals.