Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-29

"Secessia.' And, for these grave onencss.
1t recommends that federal force be station
ed at UnioHtown TO cut off traffic and inter-
course. II lets out the fact, too, that there
are TRAITORS IN Indiana who are encoura-
ging smuggling Who would have thought
+? Traitors ia Indiana-we thought that
was soil which produced only heroes and
patriots. - Q ei.sta'fs z7 20
The Fight at PensacoIa--Descript
8 of the Place and FortihcatLons.
The telegraphic news from Pensacola, mea-
gre as it is. shows that the conflict there,
long deferred, has opened at last AS our
readers will doubtless be glad to get the full
est information with regard to the place, for
tifcations, &c. we present below. a detailed
description of Pensacola, It's enyirons and
Notifications
PENSACOLA BAY.
Pensacola bay is twenty seven miles in
length. and, in its widest part twelve miles
in width. IL lies Immediately at the mouth
OF the Escambia river. Running along the
front OF the bay for fourteen leagues, nearly
East and West, is long line of randy shore,
gale, the mad waves dHsh over it. Pensacola
bay has rare properties as an harbour, and
cannot be eycciled on the guilt, ii by any in
this country. 1t is accessible to frigates of
large size, there being twenty-one feet of wa
ter on the bar; and, when once inside, all the
ships of our navy coIld ride in safety. The
channel runs near the coast across the bar,
which is snort aud easily passed. The har-
bour is completely land locked, and the road
81 Il, - d.,
cola bay receives the Yellow water of Pea
river, Middle river and Escambia river,
eleven miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
SANTA ROSA ISLAND.
Santa Rosa island is the great barrier that
forms the main or sea enclosure Of Pensacola
bay. The island is fourteen leagues ia
length, and. on an average, is not more than
one-fourth of a mile wide, although in some
places ii exceeds this considerably. At high
water there are many places where the waves
run over the land Upon the extreme West
ern end of the island, and commanding the
entrance to Pensacola bay, stands Fort Pick
ems. Near Pickens it is barren for mile or
and then commences low
growth Of shrubbary, scraggy pines, live oak
bushe., and small trees OF different varieties
1t is too sandy for cultivation, and is of no
manner OF use, except TO protect Pensacola
from the sea, and to form reliable roadstead
The island is separated from the main land
one and quarter miles; there are two chan
aeis for the passage OF vessels, one on the
side Of the main land. and the other on the
island side. The outer shore oil Santa Rosa
leland is sometimes dangerous to Incoming
vessels. The island, however, affords tho
facility of making regular seige approaches
by an attacking force.
FORT PIcKESs.
Fort Pickens, the stronghold of the Yam
kee Government i'm the gnlf, is built on
low sandy spot on the westermost end of
Santa Rosa island. and little over one
mile distant from Fort McRea. which forms
another sentinel to the day.. Fort Pickens is 4
a first class Fashioned work built of stone
for foundation purposes. With walls of brick
and biturnen. Its walls are forty feet in
height, by twelve feet in thickness. 1t is en-
brasured for two tiers of guns in bomb-proof
and one tier of open or en- bdr5ette
The work has all the usual cOncomitants of
a first class work. viz: covert WAYS, dry
ditch glacis4 and ejutworks complete. The
guns from this work radiate 10 all points of
the horizon. with flank and enfiiading fire in
the bitches and every angle of approach.
The guns command Fort Barrancas, Fort
MGR, a, the Maryland, and the other works
now in possession of the Confederate State
troops. The work was commenced in 1928.
and finished in 1858. 1t cost the United
States. Government nearly one million of
dollars When on a war footing the garrison
consists of j, 200 soldiers It's present arma-
ment consists of: In bastion, twenty-six "a
pound howitZefs; casemate, two "a FOUNDERS
sixty-four 32-pounders, fifty-nine 2O-pound-
ers: en- barbette, twenty-four S-inch howitzers,
six 18-pounders, twelve IL FOUNDERS one To-
inch columbiad, mounted, and four l0-inch
mortars.
The tort is only approachable by land on
one side. Owing to the Openness of the
country which is but q barren bed of sand.
a party attacking from that quarter would
be very much exposed.
"a sXsf FORT M'REA. bfE Fsss
Almost Immediately opposite Pickens ia
Fort McRea, where the Confederate have
concentrated their forces. 1t is powerful
and castie-like masonry structure, built on a
low sand spit OF the main land and appears
to rise out of the water. This fertilization
Is situated on Fosters Bank. and guards the
west side OF the mouth of Pensacola Bayi--
1t is a Fashioned fort, built OF brick masonry,
with walls IL feet In thickness. The work is
somewhat out of repair, and in view of this
fact, Gen. Bragg recently ordered the reno
val Of so heavy guns, and distributed them
among the new sand batteries.
Fort McRea is embrasured for two tiers of
guns, under bOmb-proef classmates, and has
one tier en barbefe Its present armament cor
sists of-iower tier, % forty. two Founders:
second tier, IL eight-inch columbiads, Is thir-
ty-two FOUNDERS, en- bdrbene. 62 twenty-four
Founders, ten inch columbiads, and in time
Of war requires garrison OF $50 men, The
work cost the Federal Government ahout