Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-17
The Impending Civil War.

built in tho olden style, with low, narrow
windows and projecting roofs, which in
some instances run INTO a shelter across
tho sidewalks. In speakingof Pensacola,
the Mobile AdrerhScr, in recent issue,
says -
Pensacola is historic ground, and its his
toric note is essetially military. Cen!u-
ries ago the warike events OF which it, |
with its vicinity, was scene, gave its
name place on the page Of history. In
its time it has known many masters, and
none surrendered it except of necessity, |
few without a struggle, and none gained it |
except by the power of compalsion. It'll
is ''debatable ground" by its tradition, |
its chronicle and its local conditions Be- |
fore the days Of De Soto it was not the un-
disputed possession of tho aboriginal pa-
tionalitieS; for our meagre records of those
times and people show that different
tribes came and sojOurned on the waters
OF the bay and made it a sort Of common
tcrrroY-a quasi neutral ground, where
they could spend 4 warm season in iishe-
Ty, and enjoy the cool Gulf breezes which
! famed the waves of the bay of "Pensaco-
/ la"-of "Ochus"-of "Panzacola"--or of
= Pensacola" as we Of this day finally have
it in its confirmed nomenclature In later
times the Spaniard, the Frenchman, the
! Britishcr and Anglo American contendcd
for its ownership, and each and all pos.
sessed and held it VI Ct armiS primarily, and
some 10y treaty right, for time. There
Jackson added something Of fame to his
name-there Briton fought with Spanard,
! Spaniard with French and Indian, and
! Indian with Indian and now again il is
the fair bone Of contention between the
rival races of Anglo-Americaus. In these
latter days of its history il is become the
point of interest in the eyes fthe nation,
and may possibly have tho eyes of the
world directed to 1t Gs the Crimea Of the
New World. Let US consider this posi-,
bility, promising that It is contingent upon
the course of governments, and not upon
the humors Of those concerned in the pro-
ceedings Of the iacQle. The war between
those mighty Powers, Russia, France and
England, was fought out op the narrow
field Of the Crimea, and NOW, before blow
is struck, it may be consideJcd that, in a
large measure, the complexion of our diff
fereuces with the United States may be
decided by the course pursued ut this new
Crimea, the classic " Bay of Ochus," and
before this Sebastapol of Pickons. If we
get into difficulties, it may be through the
agency Of this same troublesome locality
in its proving true to its tradition.
As n summer residence, Pensacola is de>
iighttul ; for the town is pleasant, the
drives & cd, the scenery romantic, the
water excellent. and thore is a fine brco2e
from tho sea in the hottest day of sum-
NOR The sunset scenes are as beautiful
as any in the Bay of Naples.
PENSACOLA BAY.
Pensacola Bay is twenty seven miles in
length, and in its broadest part twelve
miles in width. It lies immediately at
the mouth Of the Escampia river. Run,
, ming along the front of the bay for four
teen leagues, nearly east and west, is .
long line of sandy shore, narrow, barren,
; and as low that in a severe gallo ths Rad
waves dash over it. Pensacola bay has
rare properties as a harbor, and cannot be
, eXcolIed on the Gulf, if by any in this
country. tits accessible to frigates OF
large sizo there being twenty one feet OF
water on the bar and when once inside,
all the ships of or navy could ride in
safety. The channel runs near the coast
across the bar, which is short and easily
passed. The harbor is completely land
locked, and the roRGstead capacious.
The peculiar position OF Pensacola bay
makes it desirable as q naval station, rs
excellent positions for doclyards can be
found in the har5or. When the railroad
from Montgomery, now in progress OF
, completion, shall have been finished, the
! facilities for reaching it will be so much
, increased that 1t will present quite aDoth-
er appearance. The upper arm Of Pensa>
cola bay receives the Yellowwater or Pea
river. Middle river and EsCambia river
eleven miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
/, FORT PICKENs.
Y Fort Pickens, the great bone of contcn-
ton in the Gulf section of tho South, is
t the principal work of defence for Pensa-
e cola harbor 1T is built on low sandy
spot, on the wcsternmost end of Santa
. Rosa Island, and little over ono milo
0 distant from Fort McRcl, which forms
another sentinel to the bay. Fort Picken.
! is first class Fashioned work, built o
stone for foundation purposes, with wall,
@ Of brick and bitumen. Its walls are forty
feet in height, by twelve feet in thickness
/ 1t is ombrasured for two tiers of guns il
+ bombproot casemates, and one tier opcr
It or en- J7rJcte. The work has all the usual
d concomitants of a first class work, viz -
= covert ways, dry ditch glac;s aud outwork,
- complete, The guns from this point radi
ate to all points OF the horizon, with flank
. and enfilading fire in the bitches and ey-
IS cry anglo of ofapproach. Its guns com
It mand Fort Barrancas, Fort McRae, Tn,
g Navy yard, and the other works now il
@ the possession Of the Confederate States
If troops. The work was commenced il
is 1898, and finished in 1853. 1t cost the
federal government nearly one million o
|. dollars. When on a war footing the gar.
| rison consists of 200 soldiers. Its pre-
II sent armament consists of-In bastion, u
= twenty four pound howitzers casemate
). 2 forty two Founders, 81 thirty two
/, Founders, so twenty tour Founders it
borbette, "a eight inch howitzers, 6 eish
= teen Founders, IL twelve pounders ter
d inch columbiad, mounted, and ten incl
a mortars in bad order.