Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-27
PEysAeoLA-DEsJRIPIIoN OF THE PLACE AND
FORTIFICATEONS.

FoRTIFIGATI0Ns.
TIE teegraphic ffom Pensacola, meagre as Il s
shows that the cona,t there long deferred has opened
last As readers doubtless be glad to get the
f1 at Information with regard to lhs place, iorheatious
&c we present beoS detailed description OF Pensaco
/ IA, is euvirons and fort'fcltious
PENSACOLA BAY. -
Pensacola bay Is tweutyseyen mles In length, and in
lis widest part twelve miles in width. It lies umedi
atoly at tho mouth Of the E.cambia river. Running
a0ug the front OF the bay for fourteen leagues, nearly
Eos: and west is long line of sandy shsre narrow,
b1rrcn aud low that in severe gaze, the mad waves
dssh over It, Pensacola bay has properties
harbor aud cannot be eKeelled the gulf f by any in
ths county. 1t is accessible to figa,es Of largo size
thore bsing twenty eet Of water on tho bar and,
vhca once inside, all the ships OF our nayy coud ride in
s1fy The chanbel this the bar,
which ia Short and easily passed The tarbor is COM
bleiely aadlocked, and the roadsead capacsis. The
upper of Pensacola bay receives the Yellow water
OF Pea river, Middle river and Escambia river, eleven
/ miles from the Gulf OF Mexico.
SANTA ROSA ISLAND.
sauta Rosa Island is the great barrier that forms the
nsin or SEA enclosure OF Pensacola Bay. The island Is
fourteen leagues in length sad average, is not
more than Onefourth OF mile wide, although in some
pecsa I exceeds this consdsraby At high water there
nro many PAGES where the wave, over the land
Ijpen the extrems Western entof the island, aud com
uandrg the entrance Pensacola bay stands Fort Pick
eus Near Pckens barren for mile hercabouts,
aid then commsncs low growth OF shrubbsry, scrsg-
gv pines ve-oar bushes aud small trees Of different va
,es. IL is sandy for cultivation, and OF no man.
ner of use except protect Pensacola from the and
20 form q reliable roadstead The island Is separated
from the main land one and quarter miles there are
two ohanhea for the passage OF vessels one on the sd'
af the main land and the other the island side. Toe
outer shore Of SAINT. Rosa Island Is sometimes dangerous
70 incoming vessels. The leland, however, ards the
facility Of making regular sisgo approaches by an attack
ing force.
FORT PIcKKss.
Fort Pickeus, the stronghold of the Yankee Govern
Ineu in the gull, Is built on low, sandy spot on the
wesos. end of Sant. Rosa island aud little over one
mile distant rcn Fort hcRle which forms another
Joel 20 the bay Fort PIckens is first class bastioned
work. built OF stone for foundation purposes, with walh
Of brick and bituaen. It's walls are forty feet In height
by twelve feet 10 thickness. 1t b emorasursd for two
tier of guns in bomb-proof caseuens and one tier OF
open or en- barbsis The work hes sll the usual con-
conap,s OF first class work, via covert ways, dry
ditch gac.s aud ouworks complete. The guns from this
work rad ale 10 all points Of the horizon with flank and
e16Ading 6rJ in tho di.ches and every angle Of ap-
p,oaca.
! Ia guns command Fort Barrancas, Fort kcRea. the
Navy-YArj and other workFhos in possession OF the
Col. State troops. Toe work commenced n
1928 and fqished in 1888 Il cost tho United States
Goyetnaent nearly one million of dollars. When on
var footing the garrison consss Of 500 soldiers IT,
present consists Of in basti)a, twenty six "a
pound howz If; casems,e two 42pounders, sxty-fcur
% Dlundera hllnine 2OpOundef en- 5dFOeNe, twenty
our silch hoSitz,rs pouaders, twelve IL poun
I RS oIeIOnch coiambiad, mounted, and four lO-nch
mortars.
The fort is only spproachable by land on one eide
Owing TO thc openuess Of the country, which Is but
barren bed Of sand party attacking from that quarter
you'd be very much exposed.
FORT TRRA.
Almost Immediately opposite Pckens is Fort hcRes,
where tho Cnnfedeaes have concentrated their forces
IL il powerful and c.ste-ke masonry structure, built
on low sand spit Of the main land, AID appears to rise
ont of the water This fertilization s situated on Fos-
ters Bank and guards the west side Of the mouth Of
Pensacola bay. II is Fashioned fort built Of brick ma
sonry with walls twelve feet In thickness The work Is
Somewhat out of repair and in view Of this fact General
Barg recently ordered the removal Of sKiy heavy guns,
and distributed them among the new sand batteries.
For McRea is embrasured for two tiers OF guns under
bombproof cssemates and has tier barbstte Its
cssnt armament consits Of Lower tier % forty two
pound rs second tier IL eghtinch couubiadf Is ir-
tytso pounders barbetLe, 62 twent.our FOUNDERS,
ten inch clum oiad. ana In time of requires garr
| son ei six hundred and ~ The work cost the
Fede4l GoVernment about $500 600. Its guns radiate
ct every point Of the horzsn The full armament Of the
for. ia not complete, but sicen number Of gus are
IN battery make very good cppoaiton to Fort Pc
kens Below this fort i5a water battery, which m'unts
sons eight or guns The interior Of Fort hcRea
prov with the necessary shotfurnaces officers and SOL
deEs' quarters, magazines, Il.
FJRr DARRAScAs.
Fort Brarcls is the North Of Pensacola bay, and
directly iaclug the entrance 10 is mouth. The work Is
erected on the size Of old Spanish fort Il baston-
ed work, Of heavy masonry, and mounts forty-nine
rnns all which in battery and ready for action 10
a pcssnt garrsoped by three hundred troops Of the
eguIr army of the Confederate States In the rear OF
the fort and short distance from h Is redoubt from
which Barrancas receives rentorcemens in time OF ac-
! roa. Some extensive repairs hAyo recently bfen com
oil ted on this redouot aud finkDg howzers OF scarp
sad counter scarp mounted In the flank defencis OF
Fot Birrabca eight twenty four pound howtzers have
bsc7 mounted Fort Barancas contains 2s8 eightinch
Esbel. 9ss twenty pound ball $50 eighteen pcunc
bls and ailthe implements for working the canuon-
Its present armament consists Of eleven thir.ytTo
FOUNDERS, three eight rch pai1hahs, two eighl-inch
colunblds eight tWentypoubders, five eighteen pound'
er twelve poundcrs, eight twelve pound ho"ii1ere
nix defence, two eghteeniuch mortars
raE CHASE BArrERY--LLsD PORT A.
This s now sand battery erected by the Confederate
ronps aud is 60 situated 70 rake the front o. Fort
p,ekens The work has several coumbiads in battery.
TIE BAND BlrrEkrEs
Along tho bend from Warrington Navy Yard to the
txfsns rish. Of Fort McRei, there are Ell mt s,rd
llsferes erected a; suitable intervals, with the gum
a arirg upon Fort Pckers They are bulk consderi
b, distance apart as to scatter the fire OF Fort Pick
cue.
erI-. TBr MARINE HOSPITAL -
General Bragg has his headquarters here; adjoining
are me general Barracks large three story building;
only portion Of tho plan Of which Is completed, but
evea now having room for Eve six hundred men. In
hs rear Of these Il the parade ground with room for the
of full regiment, and with convenient hou-
4 aroupd for quarters for officers the whole encom-
osssed with groves of iveoak and other growth From
he barracks railroad track furnishes means Of convey
ae, for sores and from the redoubf, about thou-
sand yards in the rear oil Fort Barrancss.
LrerstArIvE PRkrEs-During the session Of the
Uopse of Rspresen a,iyes on Wednesday afternoon.
lssriphis despatch handed to the Speaker who az
nornced from the Chair that vessel had just run the
blockade aud had entered the port Of Savannah, with
CARO- for the Confederate States among which were
s4l Il Il Ia Rles and other muuiioes Of war The In
tsllgence was received with loud applause. In ie.
minutes thereafter another telegram was delivered,
u oh.aned n great victory