Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-17
FORT PICKENS.


be SO excitedly fixed on Charleston, Pensacola
Bay, and the siege probable there, takes tie
first place of interest.
In regard to this, as concerning all like
events of the last six months, it is difficult 20
form even general idea, Ms to what are the
real intentions Of our Executive, and whether
1t acts with regard to political or military
plans, or vibrates as these two influences may
In succession most powerfully attract.
Political considerations and the mild deter
mination not to commence the attack, and to
regard nothing as an attack, but the DISCHARGE
Of hostile cannon, might allow the same cords
to be wound around Pickens as have Just net
ted Sumter. If batteries arranged. in peace
and quiet can be placed, some within breach
ing distance of the fort, others able to drive off
all war vessels and to repel all attempts at
landing reinforcements in launches or boats,
without opposition from any quarter, then
the surrender of the one fort is as certain
In the future as that of the other is in the past
The approaches all lost, the fort is lost, as we
have no force to raise the siege, and an open
surrender in name would be preferable to a
delusive defense. A man who quietly allows
his enemy to take, load, cock and aim a pistol
at his head, and waits to resist till the dis.
charge has taken place, would not pursue a
madder course than is this not-fring- the-frst-
shot style of defending a fort. The alta TX
really commences when the first act is done
which lnterferes with the permanent holding
of the work.
On the hypothesis, however that the defense
will henceforth be conducted on purely mill
tary basis, and from the plans and advice of
competent and professional advisers. We can.
within certain limits, anticipate results.
The field of operations at Pickens is esssn-
tally as follows, and may be traced upon The
map which we publish on our first page. The
harbor of Pensacola is an fndenture upon the
Gulf coast, shut in by the long narrow island
of Santa Rosa, which continues the line of coast
running nearly east and west On the west
side Of the entrance to the harbor is Fort Nc
Rae and water battery; opposite, and about a
mile distant, on the west point of Santa Rosa,
stands Fort Pickens. Taking this last as a
center, the line ofthe main land sweeps round
from McRaea quarter of circle, where little
back from the water is Fort Barancas. II then
continues, nearly parallel to the island, about
two miles to the Navy Yard, where it runs off
to the north, making a spacious bay q the
head Of which is Pensacola.
Pickens is thus exposed to the fire of Bar
rancas, and McRae, and such batteries as NAV
be erected on all the stretch of shore between
them, and on the more distant line towards
the Navy Yard. This fire is all remote--too
much so to effect any breach, which would be
impracticable if the fort is fully garrisoned.
The besiegers will then be compelled either
TO denver an assault at once, success in which
would be nearly impossible with their present
resources; or go through with a regular siege,
and Its consequent delay and expense in men
and money.
Their parallels must be made on. and their
attack delivered from the Island of Santa
Rosa itself; while the forts on the main land
can render no very effective assistance One
important element in a siege is that the at
king force should more or less encircle the
point attacked, take the enemy's batteries in
hank, and deliver a converging fire. This, on
account OF the narrowness of the island Is not
practicable till the fort is nearly reached. and
the besieged and besiegers will each deliver
on the other direct FIRE. Again, the southern
forces will be exposed to a hank attack from
the men-of-war, which can take positions am
ply near for that purpose, and this fire from
them will be far worse than their shifting posi-
tions, especially during their elementary move
ments, than any aid they will receive from the
batteries on the main land bearing on the guns
OF Pickens facing them. Their communications
with the mainland will always be threatened,
and may be cut OFF; all these many circum.
stances, caused by the presence of fleet, and
the peculiar position of the fort, will cause
great delay, aid the defense, and render the
siege, even without reinforcements, protracted
and difficult.
Fresh troops at any time before the assault
will enable the garrison to erect out-works,
and II sufficiently strengthened, they, in their
turn, may become the attacking party. If the
garrison is now sufficient or should become
SO before parallels are opened, out-works Of
various kinds-as redans, or Fashioned lines
can be constructed, advanced even as far as
opposite to the navy-yard, and each line of
these will have to be taken in succession in
the same general way, and with the same ex-
pense Of time, as before indicated Between
these out-works and the fort batteries facing
the main shore could be constructed of any
power necessary.
it Is thus OF the greatest importance that a
relieving force should at once arrive sufficiently
strong for these movements, for their accom-
plIshment would give ample time to prepare
q thorough and effective relief for Pickens and
the recapture Of all the Government works in
in the harbor. In Captain Vogdes, the officer
now probably in eommsnd, the country can
place every confidence, as he is a man of high
ability and honor, and probably excelled by no
one one In our army in military erudition.-N Y.
Times.