Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-26
From She Oinelnnati Commercial.
Threatening News from Ponaaeola.


The news from Pensacola BY telegraph last
night isthreatening. The troops of Alabama,
Mississippi and Georgia are concentrated
there in force, and aVowedly preparing TO
assault Fort Picktus. The War Department
has sent orders, by telegraph and express, to
the Gommandant at the fort, 10 set strictly
on the defensive. The most conspicuous
Cotton Stale politicians are said to have
advised against an attack, bat they have not
the control OF their military forces, who
consider the flag OF the United States flying
from the ramparts Of the fort menace and
provocation. The latest news by mail from
Pensacola was that nearly two thousand State
troops had been collected there, and that
they were anxious to 6ght. The Montgomery
.(Alabama) Mail. of the 18th, says;
An attacks hourly expected 10 be made
on Fort Pickens. All parties are confident
Of success.
The fort is one Of immense strength, de-
signed to mount over two hundred guns, and
commands the harbor, the navy yard, and
ali other forts in the vicinity. 1t is situated
on low sandy island, and its walls are
forty-fve feet high. The Pensacola Observer
says:
Lieut.. Simmer, in command at Fort Pick
ems. is a native Of one of the New England
States, and has the reputation Of being a
brave officer. In reply to the commissioner
who waited on him to know if he would
surrender the fort, he said be had instructions
from Washington to keep it, and he should
not violate them. he will, doubtless, resist
as long as he can. He must ultimately yield,
however, to the superiority Of numbers.
Lieut.. Bergman, commanding the Wyan-
dotte. kept his war steamer incessantly NOV
ing at various points, opposite the yard, and
signalling to the commander at Fort Pick
ems the movements Of the troops
The ''troops" here referred to, are the
troops Of the States of Florida, Alabama and
Mississippi. The same paper, speaking of
taking possession Of the o. 5. Navy Yard,
says:
Capt. Randolph was placed in command
Of the yard, and Col. Lomax took possession
Of Fort Barancas and quarters, where he re-
mains stationed Immediately opposite, and in
full view Of Pickens, occupied by United
States troops with the old flag OF the Union
fying in the breeze upon its frOwing walls.
The spiked guns, fifteen in number,at Baran-
cas-, have been replaced, by drilling, for effect
i've use.
The Mobile Advertiser, discussing the
chances of affairs at Pensacola, says:
Possibly, with the batteries they hold,
which are inefficient for the purpose, they
(the State authorities) will FIRE on men-of-
war to prevent their coming thus as rein
forcement to Fort Pickens, as the Carolinians
fred on the Star of the West II they do,
they will be shelled out of the Navy yard in
half an hour should the commanders Of the
ships have a mind to retaliate; and the lar-
rison of Fort Barancas will have things so
knocked about their ears by the rattling Of
shot and bursting Of shell from hundred or
so guns, that the place viii be warmer than
a sensible maH will care to stay in longer
than be can help.
The leader ofthe Southern troops at Pen
sacola is Major VIM. a. Chase, formerly Of
the United States Corps of Engineers. BE
graduated at West Point in 1915, and re-
signed his position in the Federal army in
1856. He is sixty-four years of age, aud is a
man Of large private fortune. The garrison
Of Fort Pickens is variously reported as from
one to two hundred strong. The rigare
Macedonian is said TO be on the way to rein
force the fort, and it is rumored that orders
have been received to dispatch one or two
vessels of war, now at Vera Cruz, to that
point.