The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-01-31
Last Pickens Bombardment.


A late letter from Pensacola gives
full account OF the late bombardment al
Fort P'ckens. We quote as follows -
On tie lsl, a small rebel steamer was OBJ
served from Fort Pckens making her
way towards the Navy Yard. She be-
haved in very defiant manner, some one
on board waving rebel flag, which
seemed to say. "You dare not dic at me-"
This was not to be borne with patience,
as Cot. Brown had frequently warned
Gen. Bragg that the presence OF these
steamers would MOI be put up with. As
she approached Fort Pickens opened upon
her, when she retrea,ch at double quick
time The fire hum Fort Pickens was
Immediately answered from all the rebel
batteries, and the engagement became
general. The firing was kept up through.
out the day, and al night Pckens main.
tain-d a slow Gre from the / ) inch NOR.
tars, which was holy returned bv the
| rebels. About eleven p. W., file broke
out in the Navy Yard, which continue
throu hout the night, and from the xtenr
OF the cou0agraIon it is supposed that
Navy Yard have been destroyed, and
also tie larger part, If not all, ol The town
o' Woolscy, which is adjoining the Navy
Yard on the north
The firing on both sides was remark.
able tor It's extreme accuracy. Shells il
countless numbers fell inside Of Fort Pick
ems, and i; is wonderful that no loss wa.
sustained. Our side returned the com
pmeUl in equal proportion. but / have
no doubt we will have the old story from
Gen. Bragg that he took it ali very coolly
aud their lost was nothing. The scene
during the night was magnificent in the
ex rene. Every shell could be traced in
it's course though the air from the time il
left the gun until it exploded /; and this,
in connection with the cohlltgration, rem.
dered the whole atfair sight such as
/ Pensacola, and but lew other places, had
never before witnessed. The illumination
was so great that it was distinctly seen by
the United States steamer Mercedita,
when over forty miles at sea.
All our batteries were engaged, and did
their work admirably Ft. McRae, which
had been so roughly handled by our
squadron and battery Scott at the last en-
gagrmrni, appeared to have resumed its
accustomed vigor, Tor it kept up con.
slant fire throughout the engagement
| Several Of the squadron were present. but
took no part i'll the fight, and it is as well
they did not, Tor nothing could have beer
gained, and probably much would have
hren lost, had they attempted to have op
posed their wooden sides 10 stone wall
and earth works.
The bombardment was the old story o
fort against tort, at distance too grea
Tor any decisive result. W. gain nothing
vet exprnd great amount Of powder
shot and shell, and they do the same
Apar, from the burning of Warrington
;hr Navy Yard and Woosry, doub; i
we have done them any injury wor,l
speaking oi /; and as Tor Fort Pickens, /
is as strong rs before the first lombard
nent. There were hut ttw II any acci
dents worth recording during this affair
Col. Brown, oy way of bravado, sus
pended light outside the fort, that the
rebels might better see what to fire at
Wha; his reasons we e for so doing he
alone knows. No doubt they were very
good ones. ! cannot conc i've wha! good
can accrue from these bombardments, es
pecinlly when we have no lorce to follow
up any advantage we may gain. Cot
Brown is Of the opinion that, had he s OO(
additional troops. he could take the Nav,
Yard and Forts McRea and Barrancas.-
Perhaps he might, but it remains to b,
seen ii he can.