The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-05-01
From our own Correspondent.

FL NAR DAVIS, NEAx w ARLINGTON, Fla, ~
Fl - April 18th, 1861.
Dear Fya.k: Assin Ne make use Of a Iittle
lsisirs siss int wriisE through you. to our
Hississippi friends.
when Se leit you b bur last eommunication,
We had just reached our destination The Light
House. near which We are encamped, is situated
immedistely b front ofsthe sntianes 10 the say
and Is about one and half miles from Warning
ton We were among the first troops arriving,
bot OR ecsrly week they sontipsed to pour IN
as fast as they could find conveyance; since
then they have not come IN 50 rapidly, but eve
~ week adds to our number The FIRST thing
after getting settled down, was to wish The ysri-
Gus forts and batteries about the bay. First
and foremost, stood Pickens, and the permission
10 issve camp was awaited Of by every one 10 70
down to the beach and take view Of its walls.
II is about mile and half Of, south, and we
can see the sentinels walking their fodnds on
the top, and, also, count the number Of cannon
on the side next us Picksns is on the lower
end OF Santa Rosa Island, on the right entrance
Of the bay coming In, and not only commands
the entrance. but the bay turning of toward the
East enables Il to bear its guns on Fort Barran-
cas-, Warrington and tho Navy Yard, which are
on the land side Of the bay. On the opposite
entrance Qwest Of Pickens) Is our Fort McRee,
which is occupied BY three Mississippi volun-
teer companies lOne of them is the Mississippi
Rifles the second, Pamela Guards, and the third
Is from Bahala. II Is not very strong, as its
walls are single. and built OF brick, but il win
scatter death and destruction among Uncle
Sans vessels In case Of an attack srsfI9i .ol
Fort Barrancas Is about one mile further up
the bay, and nearly North from Pickens- Is
much stronger than McRce, and is bomb-proof
It is alongside, and connected with the "Old
Spanish Fort Of jackson notoriety. Besides
these forts, we have sand batteries erected along
the beach from McRee up to the Navy Yard, and
they have on them some Of our largest guns
one near the Light House has two ten-inch Co
lambiads, each weighing 10000 pounds
There Is nothing very attractive in the coun-
try herc-it Is all white sand, and little else
grows besides the pine. Al on our route, IL is
almost uninhabited. Warrington is a very small
place, consisting entirely Of families connected
, -:... .ae Navy Yard But the Navy Yard makes
mp for all deficiencies; It is one Of the most
beautiful places twas ever int is almost worth
avisit here in ITSELF The old Government has
expended large amount Of money there, and
It Is not very surprising they are so 10th TO give
Il up. The ground has been made perfectly level
1.-The streets all run at right angles, and ON eli
ther side of them are rows Of fine shade trees;
there are also several large squares about the
yard covered with ornamental trees, but the
prettiest part Is the North side, where the off,
GERS residences are. They arc all Of the same
size, and built Of brick. and have beautiful flow
er-gardens in front of each. The flowers are
larger and Of richer colors than with us, and
many plants that we can keep only with the
greatest care, here are growing out in the yards
10 great luxuriance, Itwould be a rich treat to
your florists to see the beautiful exotics they
have--brought homo, I suppose, by the Navy
officers. There Is another ornament about the
yard forgot to mention, that is, the large piles
Of cannon ball, mskng perfect monuments =
there is a foundation of brick built to receive
them, and thsn sI,oy are piled up regularly, all
being painted black except the last or Gaping
ball, which is white--the posts, also, along the
streets have large, cannon balls on the top of
each. The public buildings are all commodious,
and built Of the best materials; there is one,
the walls of which were just finished when the
war began, and the sca6olding is still standing
around tit is built entirely Of the finest Eng
iish fire brick nn.''' 'f.
The next place Of interest TO us Is the beach.
The bathing is fne--and go down at any hour
you please, and you find crowds Of boys stand
ing in the breakers, or swimming out beyond
and riding the waves. This Is about the only
thing VIC have to change the monotony of our
Life, which is drill and eat and sleep To-day,
however, they have started Us on the sand banks,
and from this out we will have to take turns
with the other companies in the Regiment In
digging bitches and building batteries sal oia.
( with the beach Is also connected the search
Ing for shells; thes arc not so large nor in as
great variety rs we expected 70 find them, but
ltfcfe mt efouBn 70 make u matter OF cur7oSi- |
" tsicok for them The morning is the choice
lime, as the waves usually run higher at night
md more Of them are thrown upon the beach,
md then the rays Of the sun on the white sand
% not affect the eyes as much as at other times.
Last Saturday afternoon, ffty men were Sc.
ected from each company in the Regiment and |
we're ordered to be ready, at moments warn.
ng, for active service. We Immediately pro- |
,ccded TO our tents, and began to clean up and
prepare our ''spit-fres" the boys who were not !
" wanted to know what was up. We were un-
Ter orders to say nothing (Bor indeed did ws
xxow much to say,) and, Of course, could not
'atisfy their curiosity, Everything passed on
10 usual. until about nine O'Clock, when the
'larm was sounded, and We sprung to arms
There was much surmising as to our destination
We were soon relieved Of our doubt however.
" being marched OF towards the Navy Yard;
rriying. we were halted near the wharf, and al
most Immediately signal gems were fred of on
he beach Wew kept IN our position for
ometime, evidently waiting IN answer, but none
oming. we were marched back Of barge ware
'ouse and discharged. with instructions to sleep
n our arms and be ready 70 'fall in" at mo-