The weekly Butte record., 1862-06-28
Commander Porter's Official Report AT
fairs ST Mobile.
WAsH1seros. "Wednesday. MAY u

WAsHIseToS, Wednesday May 81, 80.
The following repor, concerning the evacu.
ton Of Pensacola. and the condition Of Affairs
at Mobile, has been received at the Navy De
Department, from Commander Porter Of the
mortar feet:
UNITED STATES STEAMER HAsRIEr- I-ANEl
PENsACoLA- Nay 10 iS62.
Sir: On the 1lh instant left Ship Island.
with the steamers belonging 10 the mortar
hotiila and the Sachem. for Mobile Bar. for
the purpose Of fixing on place for the mortar
vessels to lie. and to plant buoys for the ships
to run in by when they should arrive Great
excitement seemed 10 exist within the forts on
the appearance Of our steamers. | have reason
TO think that Fort Gaines was evacuated. and
some were Of opinion that the troops were
leaving Fort Morgsn, bat ! ihink that thev
were reinforcing 1t from Fort Gaines
One OF the steamers, the Clifton. got ashore
under the guns Of Fort Morgan. which opened
fire on her, and when they had got her range
beautifully, and were throwing the shot over
they stopped firing. Lieut.. Com. Baldwin
went to work coCily, aud got his vessel off Just
as | sent him assistance, and while had TO
cover him from Commander Randolph's gun
boats, which were contemplating an attack ou
him. Thinking better OF il. the Commodore
went up to Mobile
The weather being bad sent the steamers
back to Ship Island. and staid myself to relieve
Lieutenant Commanding Febiger while be
went to ship Island to coal. | cruised that
night IN shore TO the eastward in hopes Of
picking up some vessel trying 10 run the
blockade.
At two O'Clock 4. NJ. a brilliant light illum:-
mated the sky, and discovered that the Navy
Yard at Pensacola. Fort McRae the Naval
Hospital, Warrington and some parts Of Pen
sacola were in flames Fort Pickens. bom-
harding with she'll We stood for and when
light would permit, entered the harb0r Of Pen
saco'a. found all the above mentioned pla-
ces burning fercely, and mostly in ashes
Without communicating with the fort | PRO
ceeded TO the town OF Pensacola. where |
f und that General Arnold had already sent
Captain jackson of the army in the schooner
Wood, to call upon the town to surrender.
sent for the Mayor on board the Harriet
Lane, who promised that the citizens would
behave themselves peacefully.
| logad that the rebels evacuated the place
on hearing that cur steamers. the day before.
were going 10 run into Mobile bay aud the
squadron aud mortar fotlla would soon follow
them. A thousand rebels were eucamped five
miles outside OF Mobile They had destroyed
everything that time would permit. Fort
Barancas, the marine barracks muster office in
the yard, one new stone building the smithery.
believe and the shears are still in fair state
of preservation. The yard was so hot that
did not 90 into it.
General Arnold having DO steamer at com
mand, aud no means of transportation, placed
the Harriet Lane at his service, and at three
O'Clock had 400 men. two pieces of artillery.
and horses and some luggage carts on the
other side, when the troops took possession
hoisted once more the United States flag on
the forts and Navy Yard 50 long occupied by
the rebels.
We land 900 more men on the other side
tonight, when shall proceed to hnnt up some
steamers for General Arnold to keep open
communication between the United States
troops and to cover them if attacked. He is
without any support of this kind, so necessary
TO General in bis position.
/ DAVID d. PoRTsR, Command'g Flotilla.
Hon. Gideon Wees Sec'y. of the Navy.