The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-14

NEWS FROM FLORIDA, FORTS PICKENS
AND JEFFERSON, THE GULF OF MEXICO,
ETC ETC

NEWS FKOM FLORIDA, FORTS PlCkENS
AND JEFFERSON, THE GULF OF MEXICO,
ETC, ETC.
ALTERNATING BETWEEN FORTS PicEENs JEFFERSON,
GUY or MEXICO, July "a, 1861.
Ad3cs and Things at Fort Pickens-Colcnel Wi,son'i
zoaa~s-A Fight wanxd-aow Bragg is Situated
The Flee ia tae Guf-A Full Description Of Fort Jsgr-
son-IE Vass Size and Immense Resoarces-Ttntle Hunt
sng-B@lling Walls from White CoroI-A Negro
Band-JeE Davis Secretary IF State Hiring out Slave
to Uncle Sam-Neao YorIers in the Gu,f, &C., dc.
have been Of discarsive tour among the 60
vernment officials and to the government deets and
strongholds hercabou,s in Florida since last wrote TO
you from Santa Rosa Island having been fitted out with
kind OF rowing commission, which allows to go
pretty much where please for the present In plain
words am just sick enough to be excused from duty
and just we'll enough walk and sail around like gen
teman, and take notes wherever can find anything
noteworthy. surgeons certificate Is an inestimable
gift to ider who desires TO write for newspapers will
give the benefit Of many items Of Information If you
VIII accept them, that are not only calculated to
interest your readers in all parts Of the world but will
claim from peculiar associations especial consideration
In Now York and its proximate localities. These items
do not como under the head OF "starting news"
not record accounts Of any heavy battles cannot, in
truth, imagine you any bloody skirmishes; but yet
furnish you that which will BIO read with an Oliver
u
appreciation Of the contents of tho few hurredly written
letters which have and may hencefoh be, despatched
from the bceaguercd portions Of the coast Of Florida
by other persons than myself. Here we got few
papers, and those do get Of the very latest
dates; but have enough in the stale (Which
have been sparsely circulated in fort camp and ship
board) TO convince me that Florida and its Union de-
fences are almost terra incognitd to those
who now swallow war news'' with avidity.
Fort Pickens, whose "plain, unvarnshed" walls
have had the questionable pleasure Of looking week
after week. with only the variations Of sky and water in
view, very good place of its kind, that Colonel
Brown, the commandment of every Unionist post in Flo
rida, has strongly fortified it. within mile Of
that fort on the day that Mr. RUSSELL tho correspondent of
the London Times, honored it with his presence and
saw him treated by officials commanding matters out
sidesuch titled soldiers and sailors-wh degrees Of
civity and servy that would not have been lavshed
upon Prince had he shown himself at tho sallyport.
Mr. Russell it seems repaid all that savsh attention by
publishing very minute account of all that he and
heard for the benefit Of his newspaper audience and the
rebels. don't blame Russell but do blame Colonel
Brown, who will scarcely admit of his oficesr
into his august presence without tho applicant
FOR admission goes through the most rigid formula of
ception The articles of war and the army regulations
furnish Fort Pickens is, however, capital cond
not hurt the Union cause and j. in with every
within its walls, and the bulk of Colonel VIM Will
sons reg ment lying without wonder why hosttcs
not forthwith commenced against Bragg his adhcrent
The latter seem to know pretty well what Colonel Browns
orders from his superors sad here to be not
in an Offensive direction In any way until positive Gght
shall have been commenced by tho rebels for they
out boldly and perform all of reasonable actions un
der our very eyes and noses Ono Of their smusemens
has been to build small batteries all around u.s. these
so close to Fort Pckons that calm night sentrcs
could have conversed with the builders. Bragg must
have at least hundred and twenty guns, (nostiy
thirty pounders scattered among these batteries
They could have little effect upon the FORT but if they
the foredoomed body Of men cruelty stationed therein
would find it very hard TO reach any shelter excepting
that comprised in bloody and ngorious grave. Then
there is Fort Mcea with small garrison il is true and
lying directly under the guns OF the feet but it could help
employ part Of Colonel Browns force for little time,
while Barrancas in the background (anoter of Braggs
forts) would assa from the land side produce
sion, If it did not do damage Pickens would silence
the batteries and McRea but Barancss not closely with
in reach of the egee Iee and Ike Navy Yard, would DO
serious injury and make work both rough and lengthy
There good red or large calibre both those
places for have them. Ono OF those rned
saw placed rebel water battery directly under
McRea, and afterwards, when the battery proved
insufficient, removed in broad daylight 10 the
Navy Yard, both operations being performed in
the face and eyes of the formal supineness
Of our naval and army officials and without producing
any very remarkable excitement Nobody seemed to
greet that orders' prevented them taking cannon as
prize and its prisoners. To tell You the
truth, don imagine the regulars to be any too
thusiastic in the they paid TO do battle for
And yet they turn up their at volunteers, who
truey anxious for action and Will pat up quietly with
casonal aud incidental discomfort and lltrcamcnt il
They only have fair chance TO show their desire to
maintain, at the hazard Of their lives the supremacy Of
the flag under whose folds all Americans have alike pros
pered, North and South You may have heard that VII
sons regiment is disconnected Under the circumstances
think 1t is the most contented and obedent, well
The best abused body of men that has, far.
departed from New York. But they cannot see
the point OF being kept inactive upon a barren
sand bank the prey OF MOSQUITOES and The
book acquired whims OF Irregular marnes. They
want wor--not that of the holman with which they
have been favored but of the soldcrand when they see
its necessity and are, without papabc reason withheld
from performing it, they naturally enough grumble.
have endured all the bardshps OF many Alexander
-sclkirks without repning. All they want is TO
know in downright umistakeable way, for what they
sent and kept upon that blasted heath" All
well wishers of the country desire 10 know that IT
could not have been 10 reinforce the people IN the fort
FOR the Zouaves ri9dy and unaccountaby excluded
from the latter If there is het hand, to come of
speedily between Fort Pickons and Braggs points, !
hope that the government will be as generous with rein
Orccmens OF men as has been with munitions OF war,
in the shape of arms, ammunition and provisions or
these there is end Therein Uncle Sam could not have
been liberal The place, in BRIEF is literally
crowded by articles for the destruction Of
The rebels too, well supplied in that respect, and
have delanty thrown dozen heavy shells dayout of
range OF us, of courseor practice but then we can
see and hear the explosions.
am not bloodthirsty, but ] am very anxious that
active for the punishment and destruction Of
shall be commenced AT in the extreme South
II only there that the snake of secession either be
scotched killed Begin labor there with spirit and
that the bulk Of the southern forces eliminated
IN the vicinity Of Washington would be withdrawn
and scattered for the protection OF their literal rcsdos
and their homes Since originally reached Fort Pickens
nearly four thousand have been from Bragg for
Virginia and left New York in Wilson his regiment
Bragg has about two thousand five hundred efficient
soldiers mostly Aabamans and Mssi=sppians one good
lght Rosa Island would thousands of
Southern troops points which the holding would
the government more expense than IL does at pre-
sent and lighting would not lose to Let have
fight In such event--and see the Zouavss, while
squads they building plank roads catching
sharks chasing lizards and boats demonstrate in
various phases Of dumb show they hope will occur inn
lmediatcyyou may rest assured that new era in this
most pcrucisus will be at once established.
Everything in favor il pursue the advantages
possess place little reliance upon the expected
Of "a