The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1862-01-25
The Lntc Fight at PensncOia.

The Late Fight at Pensacola.
A Key West correspondent of the Herall
gives the following description of the late
fight at Pensacola:
The Rhole 13'an1 has arrived, bringing
news OF another loin ardmont at Fort Pick
ms on the 1st irst. which lasted for twenty
tour hours. am gratified to say that no
one was killed, and but one slightly wounded,
on our side. Col. Brown seem; determined
not to allow them to remain quiet, or else he
nay have opened tho ball merely as a New
Years gift.
On the morning Of the 1st inst, small reb-
i steamer was observed from Fort Pickens
making her way towards the navy yard
She behaved in a very defiant manner, some
IN board waving a rebel flag, which seemed
% say, "You dare not fire at me-" This
vas not to be borne with patience, as Colonel
Brown had frequently warned Gen. Bragg
hat the presence of these steamers would
no. b, put up with. AS she approached,
For. Pickens opened upon her, when she
retrestel at double-quick time. The FIRE from
Fort Pickens was Immediately answered from
all the rebel batteries, and the engagement
became general. The firing was kept up
throughout the day, and a; night Pickens
maintaincda slow fire from the 13 inch NOR
sars which was holly returned by the rebels
About eleven p. M. a fire broke out in the
navy va which continued. throughout the
night, and from the extent Of the conAasrA-
ION it is supposed that the greater part of
he buildings in the navy yard have been
destroyed and also the larger part, if not ALL
the town of Woolsey, which is adjoining the
navy yard on the north.
The firing on both sides was remarkable
or its extreme accuracy. Shells in countless
numbers fell inside Of Fort Pickcns, and it
wonderful that 10 loss was sustained. Our
ide rcturnod the compliment in equal pro-
Tor.i ion, bus | have TO doubt we will have
h, old story from General Bragg, that he
took it very coolly, and their loss was nothing.
The scene during the night was magnif-
cent in the extreme. Every she'll could be
raced in its course through the air from tn.
ime it left the gun until it exploded; and
his, In connection with the conhagration, rem
Jared the whole affair q sight such as Pensa-
ola, and but few other places, had never be-
fore witnessed. The illumination was so
,reat that it was distinctly seen by the United
Safes steamer Merce2ttQ when over forty
miles at sea. .
All our batteries were engaged, and did
their Work admirably. Fort McRae, which
had been so roughly handled BY our squadron
md Battery Scott a. the last engagement,
appeared to have assum3l its accustomed
vigor, for it kept up a continual fire throu gh.
out the engagement.
Several Of the s7uadrons were present, but
took no part in the fgh+, and it is as we'll
hey did not, for nothing could have boen
gained, and probably much would have been
lost had they attempted to have opposed
their wooden sides to stone walls and earth.
works.
The bombardmcnt was the old story Of
fort against fort, at a distance too great for any
decisive result We gain nothing, yet ex-
pend great amount Of powder, shot, and
she'll and they the same. Apart from the
burning of Warrington, the navy yard, and
Woolscy, l doubt if we have done them any
injury worth speaking of; and as for Fort
Pckens, /; is as strong us before the first .bom-
bardment. There were but few, if any, incl
lents worth recording during this affair. Col.
Brown, by way of bravado, suspended light
outside of the fort, that the rebels might bat
ter see where to fire at. What his reasons
were for so doing be alone knows No doubt
they are good ones
| cannots,4 what benefit can b. accrue from
hcse bombarlments, especially whom We
have 10 force to follow up any advantage we
may gain. Col Brown is of opinion that,
had he Eve thousand additional troops, he
could take the navy yard and Forts McRao
md Barrancas. Perhaps he might, but it re-
mains to BE- seen if he can. / should think
that be would wait until the required force
arrived baforc commencing active operations
of any kind One thing IS certain, the forts
and batteries now in possession of the rebels
m ust be eilectually s;lenced before any attack
can be made with ten thousand men, with
any reasonable prospect permanent success.