Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-16

Col. Browns OmeiaI Report of the Fight
Fort Pickens.
Col Harvey Brown, who commands al Fort
Piclens, has sent to the war department an
official report of the fight he has had with the
rebel forts and batteries. His account OF the
fight is as follows -
''Having invited Flag Officer Mexican to co,
operate wun me IN attacking the rebels, aud
to which lie gave a ready aud cordial assent,
on the morning Of the 22l opened my batter
les on the enemy, to which, i'll the course of
half an hour he responded from his numerous
| forts and batteries extending fIom the navy
yard to Fort McRae, distance OF about four
miles, the wnO.e nearly equl-distant from this
fort, and on which line he has two turts-Mc
rae and Barrancas-and fourteen separate bat
teries, containing from one to four guns, many
OF them being lO-inch coiumbiads and some
twelve Il and l3-inch sea coast morlars, the
distance varying from 2lO0 to 1900 yards from
this fort. Al the same lime Of my opening,
| Flag Officer Mckean in the Niagara and
Capt. Ellison, in the Richmond, took position
| as near to Fort MCRae as the depth OF wafer
would permit but which unfortunately was
not sufficiently deep to give full effect to their
powerful batteries. They, however, kept up
spirited fire on the fort and adjacent batteries,
during the whole day. My fire was iucessant
from the tine Of opening until 1t was too dark
to see, at the rate OF a sho! for each gun every
fifteen or twenty minutes, the fire Of the enc
my being somewhat slower. By noon, the
guns of Fort McRae were all sileneed but one,
| and three hours before sunset this fort and the
| adjoining battery ceased fire. | directed the
| guns OF batteries Lincoln, Cameron, and Tot
ten, principally on the batteries adjacent to the
navy yard; those Of battery Scott to Fort
McRae and the light house batteries, and those
OF the fort to all. We reduced very perCepti-
bly, the fire OF Barraucas, entirely senCed that
in the navy yard, and in one or tw 0 of the
other batteries, the efficiency oi our fire at the
close of the day not being the least impaired.
The next morning again opened about the
same hour, the navy unfortunately, owing TO
| a reduction in the depth OF water caused by
change Of wind, not being able to get SO near
as yesterday, consequently the distance was
too great TO be efitctual. My fire this day
was less rapid, aad, | think, more efficient,
than that OF yesterday Fort McRaa, 50 ef-
fectuaI!y silenced yesterday, did not ire again
today. We sienced entirely one or two
guns, and had one OF ours disabled by shot
coming through the embrasure.
About three O'clock fire communicated
to one OF the houses IN NarrigE ION, and short
ly afterwards to the church steeple the church
! and the whole village being Immediately in
rear of some of the rebel batteries, they ap-
parently having placed them purpOsely iii.
reCtiy in front OF the largest and most vaua.
bic buildings. The fire rapidly conmunca.
ted to other buildings along the street until
probably tw0-taIrds OF it was consumed aud
about the same time fire was discovered issu.
ing from tue back part OF the navy yard.
probably in Woicott, village to lie north
and Immediately adjoining the yard, as War
rington does ON the west. Finally it penetra.
ted TO the yard, and it continued TO burn
brightly all night, concluded that either in it
or in Woleott many buildings We're destroyed.
| Very heavy damage was also done to the
building Of the yard by the avalanche OF shot,
Shell, and splinters sh0wered increasingly ON
them for two days, aud being nearly lire proof,
being built OF brick and covered with slate, |
could not succeed in firing them, my hot shot
nor shells not having any power of igniting
them.
The steamer Time, which was at the wharf
at tine time, was abandoned on the first day
aud exposed to our fire, which probably en-,
trely disabled her. The fire was again con-
tnued till dark, and with lnortars occasionally
until two O'Clock the next morning when the
combat ceased
This fort, at its conclusion, though it has
received great many shot and shell, is, in
every respect save the disabling of one gun
carriage and the loss OF service Of six men, as
efficient as 1t was at the commencement of the
combat; but the ends proposed in commenc-
ing having been attained, except one, which
| find to be impracucable with my present
means, do not deem it advisable further TO
continue it unless the enemy think it proper
to do SO, when | shall meet him with alac-
rity."
In supplementary report he makes an
important statement Of facts ELECTED by this
bombardment, and by which, he thinks, the
government should profit by taking due ac-
count Of them in ali future preparations for
war in which cannons are to be employed,
either by sea or land. lie says he has
earned:-
"First-That with the most efficient guns
of the largest caliber and served in the best
manner, no serious INJURY can be done to stone
or brick walls, or to guns in sand batteries,
or to troops serving them, unless probably by
ritied guns, il properly protected, at dis
tance Of from two thousand to three thousand
yards.
Second-That shell and hot :>lot are not to
be depended on tor firing ever, wooden build
ings, unless having in them incendiary COM
position.
Third-That pieces of port fire are nearly
useless as such incendiary composition.
Fourth-Ihat brick buildings covered with
slate cannot be fired by either hot Shot or
shells at the distance named, unless by acci-
dent, unless the shells have rock fires.
Eitth--That the trouble and expense incurred
in protecting forts by sand bag traverses, SC,
is lar more than repaid by the saving OF the
lives Of the defenders.
Sixth-That no dependence is to be placed
on James rife projeetles, either as it respects
accuracy or range. ii | bad had guns TO be
depended on, l could have silenced the most
OF the enemy sand batteries and the guns in
+. Barrancas.
Seyenth-Fhat ships with their present
armament cannot for an hour successfully con
tend against rifled guns, and that if our navy
: IS not at once supplied literally with good
| rihed guns, it will be very likely TO be dis
graced,
Eghth-That on service here, and believe
the remark applies with equal force to ever,
river and harbor in the Gulf, gunboat draw
: ing six feet water and armed with good riheC
guns, can do more and better service than
forty gun ship, on than such ships as the Mag
: ara and RicEmond.
Ninth--That sail vessels are utterly useles
in enforcing blockade.
Tentll-lhat PARROTS rifed guns are eff
cient, and tliat forts should be immediatel,
: supplied with them and with full supply o
ammunition.
would strongly urge that dozen of Par
rott's 32pounders, or, if to be had, of larger
callber, be sent to this post, with a good sup
! ply OF ammunition, lis eaily as possible