The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-02
IMPORTANT FROM FORT PICKENS.
THE BRITISH ADMIRAL'S OPINION OF THE
BLOCKADE-HIS REPORT TO THE BRITISH
ADNIRA LTT-HE CONSIDERS THEBLOCKADE
TOTALLY INEFFTCIENT-AFFAIRS AT THE
FORT-THE WILSON Z)UAVES.t

TOTALLY INEFFICIENT-AFFAIRS AT THE
FORT-THE WILSON Z)UAVES.t
Correspondence of the New York Times.
FORT PICKENS, July Z.
Through third party hace been en-
deavoring for some time to obtain something
like the substance of report of our block.
ade, made to the British Admiralty by AID.
miral Milne, the Commander in Chief of
Her Britannia Majesty's naval forces bere.
I had learned three things from undoubted
authority first, that Lord Paget had in.
structed the Admiral to detail vessels to
look after the cutting off of egrees to the
Southern ports; second, that the Admiral
had obtained one or two copies of CommO-
dore Mervin's official orders third, that his
Admiralship was reported in Havana to
have laughed at the idea "of the United
States being able to effectualy cut off mar,
thine communication with the harbors of
revoted States" Deaving out the Verdi
age, here is its substance:
| regret that it is my duty to discuss, in
measure, the nature of this so called block
ade. Representatives of the United States
meet me with two statements, the force OF
which it will be for your ordships to de
eide. am told by some that there is no
pretensions on the part OF the United States
of a blOck0de existing that the government
is merely closing its own ports, to do which
they claim to have perfect right. In d.
rect conflict with this are all the official no.
tfications of United States officers. Capt.
Adams, for instance, writing on board the
Sabine, on May 10, says in letter to Gen.
Bragg:
"Ihis Pensacola) port is now strictly
blockaded," &c.
Commodore Mervin announcements IL
have not seen any OF them-are said to be
similarly wOrded; and am told that the
President of the United States "publlcly
promulgated the blockade Of all the ports
south of Baltimore" (Which is in The State
of Maryland.)
Il prominent feature OF the blockade is
the complete absence of uniformity, order
| and regularity which characterized it. The
distance of several rendezvous of the naval
feet from Washington, the difficulty with
which communication is kept up, aud the
| immense extent OF the coast line 10 be
guarded are represented as the causes which
necessitated the United States government
10 leave the date OF blockade, and the com
mencement OF it, to the discretion or the
commanders OF men-of-war. No date was
laid down on which the cessation of general
commercial intercourse was to stop, and
ports situated within days sail OF each
other have been for several weeks blOckaded
aud not blockaded, at the same time.
The confusion arising from this state OF
things can be imagined by your lordships
On the 10TH Of May, as you will see by the
| iuclosed circular, the blockade of Pensacola
began; yet up to the Both OF that month,
vessels freely obtained admission, some had
leave to do so, others were not even over
hauled, and others, still, seemed to defy the
cruisers. One bark, ordered off from the
Pensacola entrance, through an unknown
instrumentality, found out that Mobile was
not guarded, and Immediately sailed for and
arrived at that place, where her cargo was
disposed of. Five or six briggs, two banks,
and some fifteen or twenty schooners, also
warned off by the fleet, moved to other har-
bors, and easily gained admission.
A grace Of fifteen days was given to YES
sells under certain circumstances, which were
so conlusedly explained, that no one have
seen thus far, could properly understand
them. Three British ships, laden with cot
ton in the harbor Of Mobile, were compelled
to pack up and 60 away, to fulfill this re-
qulrement, while, under almost similar cir
cumstances, four banks and briggs were per-
mitted to commence loading at another
point, on the twentieth day after the am
nouncement of the blockade
The frequency of vessels escaping the Wig.
lance or rather the lack OF vigilance of the
United States squadron, are too numerous
to be even named. | sent Capt. Won Don
op, of the Jason, to look after the interests
OF our shipping, and to the efficiency of the
blockading ships, in several ports. He
mentions numerous cases of ships, barks and
briggs, escaping the cruisers. | learn that
while large American frigate--fuly as
formidable as the st. George, apparently
was uuder steam OFT Charleston, complete
fotilla of ocean traders and coasters, con-
tinued to pass in to the city, and out again,
either regardless of or insensible to the pre-
sence of war ships.
The numerous facts establishing the per.
feet ineliiciency of the men of war, in regard
to the stopping of commercial intercourse
with courts before which they have appear
ed, could be elaborated to great length
But even now the Admiral, permit your
correspondent to say, is writing about the
End of June, st. Marks, an important port
is not at all cut of from maritime trade, as
one of my fleet saw all kinds of vessels enter
and depart from it without being impeded
Apalachicola was thronged with craft until
few days since, and four other ports are
stated to be open to day.
A regular steamer communication is con-
stantly kept up between Savannah, an i'm.