The New York herald., 1862-01-20

.sehs q foul play the part Of old Neptune wMe
-ely squallsd by his astonshmsnt at the lans9s.
abe dspratity q hin we'll picked mss:%asss, VINO .n
parent unconcsrn. Az We make u point 70 escss.
tain the character Of every vessel We meet. we
west: Most Of the vessels were fruitsr:. and We
revellsd in luscious oranges. bananas &c. nnsy
nsxorsd ;s. Asvspss were not among sns
Arrived q Key West Dec To- and after replacing our
lost anchors and csAling ship kc left for the Gulf
bile On the morning Il Ii: Sssh We took prizs viz.
the rebel schooner Venus, loaded with copper tin isad
s any css s
tee s blockading, leaving Lieut. Hart late of the Vim.
cannes the duties Of executive officer ON board
to take command of the steamer Montgomery. On our
return unable to nd the steamer De Soto at her
on Du S. IN
night before with . French steamer and was towing
her to Ship Island she was SO disabled that she could
not 60 by herself The De Soto had somewhat marred
the symmetry of her Wheels but was not materially in
jured On the 3lst expedition left Ship Island FOR
had not learned fully the result Of the expedition but II
considered failure The rebel gunbost Florida-
sesis in the habit Of attacking vessels occasion
ally, and then running away. She attacked the Wissa
o Horn on
New Years Day was celebrated by another lombard
mont at Pensacola We arrived there at hapest three
IL
steamer down to the Navy Yard, and Col Brown fired
upon her she within reach to which the
rebel batteries replied and the firing was kept up on all
sides until p M when Col Brown gave the order to
firing and Fort Pckens shut shop for the night
The other batteries did not cease however Fort Bar
rancas the Navy Yard batteries and the battery near
Fort McRae all played upon Pickens. but without doing
any damage although the shells foil fast and thick in the
fort.
The naval vessels present were the South Carolina
R. X. Cuyler and Rhode Island None OF them having
sufficient armament TO attack Fort McRae we contented
t.okon ~ N
island should il be attempted. Two shots only wore
fred at US; but they did not reach. We were within
range Of their guns but they could better employ snes
vigorous fire. The officers in Fort Pckens feel per-
fectly against any force the enemy can bring
against them, and could with the assistance OF few
vessels drive them OUT II they had force enough 70
hold the points after taking them No shots were fired
from Fort McRae, but from the battery alongside which
made good shots, throwing she'll into Piakens about
tial damage. McRae would be god fort il 1t had
good foundation but the sand washing away 1t has set
tied somewhat, and the walls said to bo cracked.
One shell fell into the culinary department
some extent Another struck the wall, and,
gancing off, struck oblquely on the back He was
considered dead for few minutes but soon himself
again. Tho firing with the exception Of Fort Pckens,
was kept up pretty steadily all night and at eleven
O'Clock the entertainment varied by the addition Of
fire. The officers quarters and several buildings in War
rngton were burned The firing was not renewed in the
morning. the rebels doubtless considering it waste Of
ammunition. The gunboat Msrcedita arrived on the
morning Of the 3D. Capt Alden, whose energy has made
the South Carolina notorious vessel in the Gulf came
on board to take passage homo with u.s.
Arrived at Key West the 6th and left again on the
9Th, speaking steamer Philadelphia, from New York.
Spoke United States steamer Bienvile, off st. Johns
January H. met United States steamer Connecticut, at
South: january IA, experienced heavy gale from the
northeast