Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-04-05

entrance to the Gulf Of Mexico, it Is strongly foru-
fed. The principal work of defence is Fort Taylor,
built mn artificial Island within the main entrance
TO the hhrbor. II is a rst.clas fort, intended to
mount upwards Of two hundred guns Of the heaviest
calbre and Is now in excellent state Of defence
The barracks are largo and comrnodious buildings,
forming three sides of a quadranglc the opening
facing the sea Neat these barracks our regiment Is
now comfortably quartcred, and the camp presents
most romantic and picturesque appearance.
The streets Of the city are wide and olosh The
houses are generally of white frame, Of the cottage
STYLE are neat and mostly cmbosomed In shrubbcry.
The flowers and roses seen blooming around
almost every house during, the whole year. There
are Episcopal Methodist Baptist, and h9msi Sathoo no
! feet long by As feet wide, custom house, court
house, and other public buildings. largo .propor-
ton of The population Of Key West consists Of natives
of the Bahama islands These mostly sympathize
with Secession, and had ii not boon for the prompt
action Of en-. Brannan. his handful Of men and the
cooperation Of the loyal citizens at the outbreak Of
the rebellion the island and city with all the fortih-
cations would have fallen into the hands Of the
rebels. ......
The T. s Steamship Niagara is now lying nt this
port taking in coal and few necessary stores, sufi
cient for a trip North. She is the largest vessel
belonging 10 Navy. At one time she had forty
guns mounted now there eleven, but they are
Of the largest kind, being eleycn-ihch Dahlgren
| vups throwing ball of the weight of one hundred
and eighty pounds. Formerly her crew amounted
to something ten hundred now they count Six
hundred all told, sufficient to man her nicely, and
20 handle her guus with perfection that will tell
awfully the rebels when she has a chance to use
them. At the bombardment of the Navy Yard nj
Pensacola her guns made sad havoc, but, on exami
nation, she was found getting aground and had tc
reverse her engines to back out or else BECOME SC
disabled that she would be unfit for service for somt
time. There is good band of music on board ant
in the evenings great many of the volunteers from
the different camps visit the wharf to listen to th
sweet notes produced by the players
The crew have happy time shore. Ever,
evening finds as many Of the jolly tars, rs can get
boat, out on horseback and the way they ride puts
pedestrian in great danger They go at a "Gilpin'
speed, and if any one demonstrates with them, tn
answer is $50 away I'm out on shore for fun--it'
not my horse, | hired him aud III bound to have m,
money out OF him" They allowed plenty Of sel
/ room and no one but enviOus person would try 4
stop. or say anything against American sailo
having Il little sport after three years cruise.
General Butler passed here day or two ago, sbou
a mile out, on his way to join his command at Shi
Island We received New York papers from hi
vessel up TO the 9TH of this month.
, Three members of our Band gave concert, las
night, TO Il very good house. The instruments use
tons were very good, and they executed them adm
rably-one of the pieces the celebrated Anv
| Chorus The citizens here patronze Amusement
well, but the largest portion Of the audience, la
night. were officers of the Navy and their scholar
Midshpnen, whose greatest ambition, in q conce
room, is to be the owner of quizzing glass to stai
lady out OF countcnancc and make himself ridicl
lous while out of the room his delight is TO swagge
: smoke and talk boisterOusly. However, when Il
eye of their superior is ON them they try to appe,
models of perfection
$ In conversation with n Union man, who escape
from the enemy, learned that the rebels are almo
. dc 3titute Flour worry vc. pork is worth ff
: doIlars per barrel and coffee mixed with anoh
artcle) was used only by the soldiers, while citIe
i were entirely deprived Of the luxury. He said tn
g if Charleston and Richmond were taken, the vi
. would soon be ovcr-whethcr taken not tn,
" cannot hold out much longer. The Union feeling
- strong in Savannah. which will have its nHuen
il when the city is attacked Perhaps it is taken no
n we do not know. for are out Of the land
- knowledge, and you folks at home may have bonfire
illuminalions, and great demonstrations of joy ov
victories won by our noble soldiers of the grand arm
and the army Of the west. month before n
l. the wiser of it. To-day we heard that General NJ
at Clcllan was moving towards Manassas. When &
nr boys heard it they all expressed the regret that tn
. were not permitted to be With him and share in
IL victorcs-viciores they confident Of for i'll th,
c. opinion he cannot help but conquer.
to The men are kept busy ut work now, clearing
- part OF the island for place to build barracks
the use Of the 'o% o5 Sye2@ca hS S Rs dsgsssd g
~ the work in this hot weather and say they came
n do the duties Of soldiers-not to be aborers,"
- knowing the work to be necessity, they subu
ct rather than be arrested for mutny and being tried
W Il Court Martial.
Is, All the members of our company are very We
and in great hopes that continued victor
will make the rebels the error of their wayi
IA peace will be established. and they ha
the hand of welcome extended TO them by their ki
ne friends at home.
,h With respects to yourself all in the Office, a
10 friends generally, remain
~ Yours, fratcrnally, ii. ID. W