Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-13
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
IxrEREsrISs FROM FORT PrcxEys

FROM FORT P1CkENS.
We have seen a letter-a private one--from
Fort Pickens, written on the 25th ultimo, the day
sfter the recent three days bomtariment had
ceased.
The officers Of Picken, regarded II az a complete
success, Its purpose having been that Of destroy
ing some small rebel steamers which carried
supplies to the navy yard and forts from Pensa-
cola, and from other points beyond the reach Of
our guns. The firing was delayed until the covey
should be as large as possible; for Pickens-a
sensible old fort-judged sagely that such steam.
ers as mig hit escape, like burnt children would
dread the Gre Afterwards
Everything was in readiness for day or two
previous; every gun that could be hroughtto bear
upon the navy yard pointed and elevated for the
purpose; and when, at Q o'clock on Friday NOM
Ing, the fourth steamer: the Times-being the
larger one Of the four-was seen to 90 into dock
at the navy yard, at given signal every iron
throat In Pickens opened at once with voice so
clear that il was matter Of great regret to the
steamers that the pieces had not been born dumb
One OF the steamers sank Immediately at the
wharf, enother one sank 10 the waters edge
curing The day, and next morning had totally dis
appeared from the anxious eyes Of Pickens. The
o'ner TWO were believed to be entirely disabled;
and In short II would seem that the accounts OF
southern sources were not at all exaggerated, the
only error which our southern friends fell into
being that Of installing their own steamers fer
ours There was steamer fight and a fort
nRht-thdt was clear enough as for the rest the
smoke was too thick to enable Gen. Bragg to 20
nuch into detail
The flag Of Fort McRae was shot away, 90 was
The flag Of Fort Barrancas. The rebels seemed
oeslfous OF paying the same compliment to the
waving lines ct beauty which hoated over Pick.
ehs-that deity remaining throughout serenely
unconscious Of their adulation. TheIt artillery
Practice, however, was far from contemplate.
The breach which our southern friendsmade
IN the walls Of Pickens seems to have entirely q.
capped the observation Of our friends ip,id. the
fort 1t was, possibly, one Of those /" breecb,s,,
which the good King Degobett, In the French
cnahscn, IS represented as having put on the
wrong SIDE BEFORE % the whole town of Warning
ten, on the other hand, being, as it seemed to the
eyes OF flcseIs, In blaze from our hot shot-.be
niue town Of Woolsey, adjoining the navy yard
On .he o'ner Side, catching fire at the same time,
ana olazing away with a vigorous sympathy
The loss to Fort Pickens by the lombard ment
wa one killed aud seven wounded, a more s.,,
Gus loss occurring two days later, when a shell
which lad come somewhat unceremoniou,ly into
the fort, and falling TO explode, had remained
mere harmless, seemed to awaken, on the 25,b.
70 sense Of what was expected Of It, and by an
unlooked-for explosion cost the lives Of ak men,
md may wounded.
NAVY YARD.
There have been no arrivals at the yard from
TOE notilla since those already noticed The Mount
washington went down yesterday as far as Mount
vernon, returning In the evening. She went
oown again to-day, taking the Secretary of the