Newbern weekly progress., 1862-01-14

ana nOiSLCQ tnelr nag OVcr the ClLy ana
PREPARING FOR WAR IN cANADA-THE ERECTION
OF QUALIFICATIONS.
The Northern papers report much excite
ment in Canada, growing out Of the Mason Sli-
dell affair and England. The people were ma
king active preparations for war. The Detroit
Free Press says:
A corps of engineers under the command of
General Williams, arrived at Windsor and
proceeded at once to lay fortificatiOns COM
mandng the city of Detroit. The plans have
been completed and the work commenced and
if continued, will be ready to mount guns in a
sho. time The fort is Situated on an emi-
nence little to the left of the main village, and
nearly in the rear of the town Hall, and com
petely commands the whole river front and
principal business part of this city. The forti
ficatiOns consist of breastworks, embracing an
area of about sixteen thousand square yards,
and surrounded by ditch forty feet in width.
The same corps of engineers are now at Col
lingwood, selecting site for similar forthca
tions.
The Alb NDoNED NAVAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FROM coMMRDoRE D-PosT,s NAVAL EXPEDITION.
Especial correspondence Of the Philadelphia
Press.
UNITED STATES STEAMER PEABISA,
At Anchor in Warsaw Soundt Ca,
Dec. 81. 1861
! The projected expedition from Port Royal to
Fernandina, Florida, having been abandoned,
| Plag Officer Dupont Immediately ordered tho
different vessels composing it to the blockading
stations in the South Atlantic coast. 1t was
our fortune to be sent to the Savannah river, and
since Our arrival December 11th) have had
very exciting times At daylight the next
morning "Sail ho ~ from the masthead attrac
! ted our attention and looking seaward large
full -rigged ship was seen stcamlng IN from the
southeast, not more than seven miles distant
We first supposed she was one of these old
stone hulks that have baked SO many of our
cruisers, but her sections were so Unusual that
we determined to overhaul her. t'All hands up
anchor ~ and in ten minutes we were steaming
towa1 DIS the bar. The strange sal. seeing US
backed and stood out to sea, but the wind was
very light and soon the usual salutaton-a
shot across the bow-was extended. This
J produced the desired effect, and were soon
alongside of her. She proved to be an English
ship. the Essex, under Prussian colours, and
5 an English crew, from the Belize, bound to
f Falmouth, England, witha cargo Of mahogany,
+ Iorwood, and four hundred thousand cocoa
, nuts An efiicer and crew were sent on board
/ to- examine her, and bring off the captain and
his papers On being questioned he gave a
= very honest and plausible account OF himself
and vessel all his papers being properly issued
and signed and cargo free from suspicion, he
was allowed to pr ,ceed without further deten-
ton When asked why he was so far out of bis
, course, he replied that his vessel was 'eakne
4 b .d!y, and he was going into Savannah for re
pa:rs, supposing the war was confined to the
Potomac, and being totally ignorant OF the
e. blockade Our crew were much disappointed
. at the result of the chase, for more than one
: had been calculating the probable value OF his
:. share of The prize money.
4 On I'll ursday the steam transports Ariel anc
NFr tn " nd 4 t'CnDeC
!; ticut regiment and ordnance and quartcrnias
ter's stores from Hilton Head. This addition
s increases the force on Tybee Island to fifteen
hundred men, under command of Brlgadle1
h General Wright. With the exception OF pick
n cts, sentrles, &c, the entire force is industr'
e ou>ly employed throwing up forhncae'onS
s building barracks, mounting heavy selge guns
&C and landing army stores from the ransports
y 1t is believed that Fort Pulaski will be attacked
! from this point with the most success, tn
channel being so narrow and shallow as t.
,, prevent an important naval attack. The hgh
Il house on the northeastern point OF the lslan'
4 has been completely quilted by fire, and tn
If walls SO much cracked by heat as to be amos
ID useless On Friday raft was picked ~
N drifting down the channel near Tybee; at tn
~ time it excited but little comment. we nav
n.y. since learned that it was intended to be use
bv the rebels as a fire raft against our fleet
the roadsterd, but was prematurely cut loos
bV SCceSh sergeant. For tnis ohetlee Ille
I'd threatened him with death, and on SaturGa
to night, he deserted from Fort Pulaski and cam
e. to Tybce. bringing with him much valuabi
. information He stated that the British steam
* or Fineal laden with cotton and rice, was pre-
" naring to run the blockade on Sunday nigh
I'd at high water. Such, indeed, proved to be tn
he ,ntention< but by the timely action of the gur
a boats Pemblna and Henry Andrews, It wa
in folled Instead of endeavoring to pass do"
n the Savannah river, they had selec ted sma
channel running into Warsaw sound, had con-
n down within few miles of the outlet, an
"a, boat with pilot, two mldshipmen and wv
e sailors, to see if " the coast was clear betol
W. venturing out; everything was satlsfactor
but the presence beyond the bar of Unc
Sans steamers. Early the next morning W
steamed up the sound, and sao her retreatlr
towards Savannah. We pursued until ba
n tery. mounting seven heavy guns, interpose
when we were obliged to return a short oil
lance and anchor where we Eow are. SIN
then the steamers Flag, Alabama and SeHnlno
rk have ioinea us and from the preparation
being made, [ have no doubt the batter
will be attacked When it is slenced, Il
er wav to Savannah is opened for vessels drawn
" under sixteen feet Of water, and the Fingat ="
ess' es' be in as tight place as was "Barney's brle
fle But three of the guns (columblads) a
arl mounted on this side, the remainder are dire
m ted to prevent land attack. On Monday
Isl ternoon we had quite a sharp skirlalsh WI
shree of the "Musquito Fleet" and drove the
'u, I'M the river. From two to four OF them q
q near daify. bat do not seem inclined to ma
. smother brush. On Tuesday the Henry
lcl- 3rau,e ,icked I'D two desertefS, from whom