The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-05
The SEIZURE OF TaE FLORIDA FORTS.
ARRIVAL OF THE UNITED STATES STORE
SHIP SUPPLY, WITH MRS. LIEUT.. SLEM-
MER

BARRANcAs, THE MARINE BARRACKS AND NAVY
YARD, AT PENSACOLA, BY THE FLORIDA MILITIA
THE PRISONERS SENT NORTH ON PARoLE-rHE
TRANSFER OF THE UNITED STATES TRooPs TO
FORT PIcKENs-GARRIsoNING AND PREPARATION
OF THE FORT TO RESIST AN ATTACk-THE
UNITED STATES STEAMER wYANDoT CRUISING IN
THE BAY, ETC., ETC., Erc.
The United States storeshp Supply, Captain Walke,
commander, from Pensacola, nineteen days, arrived
here yesterday and ,hored of tho Navy Yard The fol-
lowing is a list Of her ofhcers:--
Commander-Henry Wake.
Lieutenants-Joseph A. Dane, henry EbeD and wm
l. Bradford.
Master-W. ~ Allen.
Paymastcr-E w. Dunn.
Assistant Surgeon--wm. W. Ring.
Commanders Cerk-Jonn Van Dyke.
Paymaster's Gerk-E. W. Bowie.
Mrs. Lieut. Slemmer, q. 8 A. servant and child; Mrs.
J. II. Gilman, u 8. A., aud child John Irwin,
Lieutenant U. g. Al lady and two Children Mrs. Samuel,
Robt Dixon, U. s NJ, lady and two children; james
Cooper u s. N, lady and four children; Miss Cooper,
Robert Hunter, U. $. N. Lewis Holiness u 8. NJ; John
Milan, lady and child; wm G. Knowles, John Tyler,
Spencer Clarke also John Farety Daniel E. jameson,
John Gallagher VIM J. Lodge, j. W. Barker T. Massey,
employees Of the Warrington Navy Yard; also nine In
vads from Naval Hospital Warrington; twenty y-seven
the Marine Barracks The hospital quarters barracks
were taken possession of and occupied by the State
troops. The above we're released on parole and taken
of under flag of truce
The Supply brings interesting details Of the seizure Of
the government property in Pensacola Bay by til,
scnists of Florida The Of the intended seizure
reached the federal authorities at the Pensacola works
about the 9th ut, and Lieutenant semmer deeming that
Fort Barrancas was in too weak condition TO resist
attack, determined to his forces ammunition
supplies and Fort Pickens the opposite side
of the channel which, bes des being strongsfor also
commanded the entrance To the bay and the other
forts. The Navy Yard, which is distant about two
and half miles, is beyond the range of the guns
at Fort Pickens In accordance with this design the
morning of the 10Th ut tho force under Lieutenant
semmers command transferred TO Fort Pickens by
Of boats from the United states steamer wyan-
dots and the storeship Supply. Fort McRea which
in too dnpidated condition to be Of any great SERVICE
abandoned and about 28 000 pounds of powder to-
geher with quantity Of fuses and shot, and the tack
ling an gear Of the guns, destroyed Tho guns
BaraDcas spiked and were in that condition when
the Florida troops under command Of Colonel Lomax
took possession Of the fort.
1bese.movements had been but 4 short time executed
when the STATE troops made their appearance and the
Navy Yard surrendered with but short parley The
marines IN the NUMBER OF
made prisoners together with the aborers employees
in the yard. The wives and children Of the command
Fort Pckens had been previously conveyed board the
Supply.
On the ol,wng day the storeshp under flag Of truce
proceeded tie wharf Of the Navy Yard where the la
borers and marines taken board Captain Wake
having given his parole that they should be landed
of Mason and Dixons line Overtures had been made to
the marines join the secessonst forces with the alter
native Of expulsion in Of a refusal. The personal
property force at Fort Pickens furniture carpets
pianos belonging to the officers wives books, clothing
&C. WERE under the flag Of truce conveyed board tho
Supply, and brought North.
The steamer Wyandot has been cruising In the bay,
rendering valuable assistance in many different ways to
the force under Lieutenant Nemrnsrs command at Fort
Pckens. Captain (commandpg) Bergman is at present
assisted In the officer corps by only two engineers all
the other officers having resigned His guard of sixteen
marines he transferred to Fort Pckens increasing the
force thcre to about eighty Tho wyandot will
in the neighborbood Of the fort until reinforce
ments arrive until it's possessors compelled by
attack abandon IT, the atter tho guns OF the
fort viii be spiked and the fort itself blown up while the
garrison by Of boats escape from beach 10
the steamer.
OUR PENSACOLA CORRESPONDENCE.
NAVY YARD, PENSACOLA, Fla, Jan. IA, 1851.
Facts Relating the Capture Of the Nary Yard and Fbrs In
Pensacola Harbor-Looa,ion Of The F6r.ifc1ions-
Strength and Condtiior-The Eracuation Of F5vt Mcfsed
and Hon Il Was Effected, dc. DC
propose giving 70 your readers statement OF facts
reference 10 recent events connected with the Navy Yard
here and the forts that protect and command the
trance TO this harbor At such these facts that
exhibit prominent political interesting even II
they are net from the ''pcn Of a ready writer"
Upon the right hand Of the entrance Of the bay Of
sacoa stands Fort Pckens upon the left hand Is Fort
McRea and upon the shore with the latter mile
and quarter farther up the bay, is Fort Barrancas.
These forts nearly cquidstart from zach other aud
20 situated rs completely TO command the entrance
the harbor. Fort Pckens u On admirably constructed
fortifcaton, at the extremity Of long, narrow sand
spt that separates the bay from the Gulf for dis
tance This fort situated really to command the
entrance 70 the bay completely. IL Is approachabe by
Land only along the neck mentioned above and
its deences arranged that small force may do
fend against vastly superior numbers Fort Mcea Is
rather dapdated concern but u.s. nevertheless strong
water battery. Fort BaTancas Ia well built and power
fu defence OF the Of the harbor neither
construction position is adapted TO resist strong
land attack These three lge fortcaons with all their
guns ammunition, &C. in charge Of single COM
pany OF artillery, under the command, at present Of
Lieut.. "A. j. hcmmer. ThB company oCcuplcu the par
racks near Fort Barrancas.
The Navy Yard situated upon the shore Of the
bay with Forts hcRea and Barrancas, about one and
half mile above the latter IL under the command
of Commodore JAS Armstrong; ,he next officer In rank
at the yard Commander Ebenezer Farrsnd The dis
posable force at the yard consisted Of about seventy
sailors, or "ordinary men, they are termed, and
eight marines, under the command Of Capt Joseph
Watson There also at the yard, subject to the com
mands Of Commodore Armstrong the United States storo
shp Supply, with two thirty FOUNDERS and thirty cght
men, and tho steamer wyandot, with six thirty twos
and eighty For number Of days rumors had been
in circulation OF intention the paf Of tho aubori
ties Of Florida and Alabama 10 take possession Of the
Navy Yard and Mt this point On the night OF tho
9th Lieutenant sommer stationed guard at Fort Bar
rancas the morning OF the 10th ne received orders
from the War DEPARTMENT requiring him to use every
in his power To protect government pre- 6perty and
especially keep the control the entrance 10 tho
harbor He also informed at the same time that the
commandant of the Navy Yard would be directed to
operate with him.