New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-19
FRGN FORT PyCRkENs.
Correspondence Of The ". Y. Tribune.


enlisted men of THE command to thank you for sap
plying us with copies of The TRIBUNE Separated as
we are from our homes, unfolding thu honor of our
flag in what has now unfortunately virtually become
an enemys country, nothing is gratifying to us
than to learn what is going in distant homes.
Our enemies having appropriated to their own use the
mail and absorbing letters and papers, lie seldom
that we have been permitted to enjoy that luxury.
Occasi lnally an officer receives a newspaper, which,
after passing through many hands at length s trans
ferred to the solder whose heart IL made glad by the
eight Of il.
All of the soldiers true patriots; they are attached
TO our country, and are faithful TO iis Gag They de-
spise those that have deserted il in ts hour OF distress,
and honor and cheerfuly follow those that have stood
faithfully by it. II has been my luck to have been
through nearly all OF the struggles at THE place having
arrived off The barbor in the Brookyn after
Lieut. Senner, in January last, retired from the main
land to this post. Our orders when we left were TO
reinforce the place, but owing to understanding
which the late Administration had entered into with
Mai. Chase, we were ordered To remain ouSside the
harbor and attempt to reinforce the fort uness 1t
was attacked but how TO do so in that our wise
Administration did not instruct Nor did we receive
orders to land, under which our naval commander was
willing TO act until the morning OF the 2thoi last APni;
up to that date we were compelled by instructions
10 remain on fhipboard with the knowledge that
taking advantage OF any stormy night, the enemy might
land and take the fort viii out our being ace TO nave
rendered our friends any assistance. From statements
published in the Secession spers, we have snee learned
that the night Of the 10Th Of April had been selected to
assault tie work. The attacking parties had been de-
tailed marched 10 the wharf, and were ready 10 en-
bark when learning that the fort had been REINFORCED
the orders were countermanded, and the attack post
poned. The information to the Reinforcement OF the
fort was probably obtained from one inside OF the
fort. During this night attempt was made by
tie enemy to corrupt Of the sentlnes on the ad-
vance guard. Sixty dollars in Alabama money was
given 10 him 10 bride bis companions with, and the
promise of much more il lie would spike the flank
guns. Indignant at the attempt TO bride him, the
soldier revealed the facts, and gave tie money to bis
company commander. Similar attempts were made
upon some others Of the command, as was shown by
careful and repeated examinations of the guns, some
Of which had evidently been tempered with. To what
extent the enemys attempts were carried it is imposed
BILE to ASCERTAIN To the honor Of the soldiers let il be
said that while undergoing the greatest amount of Pr-
vations being constantly exposed to the dangers Of at
tack while required TO labor hard all day, and after
ward to stand watch frequently all night constantly
expecting 10 be attacked few fany Of them were cor
rupted by the most tempting offers Of the enemy. In
their simple honesty they stood by their counrys dag
when politicians and statesmen were desertingit. Let
the country honor and reward their honesty and devo-
ton.
To return TO the account Of the embarkation, from
which have digressed. For several days previous to
the 10Th the weather had been stormy, the sea was
very high, and was with difficulty that the ships re-
tanned their anchorage You must understand that
they were about four miles outside Of the harbor, and
the wind was blowing on shore. Had We attempted to
land on the outside Of Santa Rosa Island our boats
would have probably been all lost, and to land Inside
required that we should pass under the fire Of the enc
my's batteries. The ground over which our boats had
to pass had for several days been occupied by small
steamer and by pilot boats acting a. coast guard Tor
the enemy. The steamer was armed and should 1t
encounter our boats might easily have sunk them The
rougbness Of the sea, however probably kept her In
side Of the harbor. One Of the pilot boats we encoun
tered and took II prisoner until amer We had effected
our landing. Had the enemy discovered our move
ment and opened his batteries upon US, he might have
done Us considerable damage, but II would have been
difficult TO bit US In the dark. The principal danger TO
be apprehended was that, discovering our movement
the enemy might open bis fire upon US as we entered
the harbor, and the steamer down. Even should
we effect our landing it might DO at the very instant
of assault, when We would be exposed at the came
time TO the enemys attacks and the FIRE Of our friends
All Of these difficulties were foreseen and as far a.
possible provided against; the steamers lishts were
put out and she moved a. near was safe 10 the
Shore The men were embarked early In the night
by which we avoided meeting the enemy. Asitw was
not probable that he would attack much before day.
light, we moved along the shore; but rs the sea wa
high, we had to enter the barbor, and were landed
safely under the walls OF the fort, into which we
marched about 2 p. IN. The movement occupied about
hours. Fortunately, the encmys steamer was absent,
and did not discover the movement until it too late
to prevent il. The next morning were joined about
daylight by about 80 marines, audaf necessary, we
could have had 400 sailors These reenforcemens
secured the fort from an assault and probably savedt
it would have been next to impossible to defend
against determined attack with the small garrison
which was then inside Of the worka garrison no small
that il could not furnish TO each gun. 30 fer
as an assault was to be feared the work was secure
against any amount Of force which the enemy could
bring previous to the arrival Of the Atlantic. The
latter, however, brought supplies and men, which
enabled us to put il In an efficient state of defense
Since that time we have improved all our means to
render the place secure from any attack the enemy
may make upon it.
As many erroneous ideas are published about the
nature Of the attack and defense Of Fort Pickens,
shall endeavor TO correct Of the erroneous impress
si0ns about 1t. Every fortified place hs or ought to