Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-05-29
The EvauatiOn of Pensacola.
COMMANDER PoRTER's OFFICIAL REPORT.
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1862,

t#.#.. " WASHINGTON, May Il, looz.
The following report concerning
the evacuation of Pensacola, and the
condition of affairs at Mobile, has
been received at the Navy Depart
ment from Com. Porter of the mortar
feet:
U. S. STEAMER, HARRIET LANE, !
H Pensacola. May 10, 1862.
m Sir On the 9Th inst. | left Ship
Island, with the steamers belonging
to the mortar hotilla and the Sachem,
for Mobile bar, for the purpose of fix
ing 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 to 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 Macon, but think
that they were reinforcing it from
Fort Gaines.
One of our steamers, the Clifton,
got ashore under the guns of Fort
Morgan, which opened fire on her, and
when they got her range beautifully,
and we're throwing the shot over, they
stopped firing. Lieutenant Com
handing Baldwin went 70 work cooly
and got his vessel off just as | sent
him assistance, and while / had to
cover him from Commander Randolph's
gunboats, which were contemplating
an attack on him. Thinking better
of it, the Commodore went up to Mo-
bile
The weather being bad, sent the
steamers back to Ship Island, and
staid myself to relieve Lieutenant
Commanding Febiger, while he went
to Ship Island to coal. cruscd that
night ia shore eastward, in hopes of
picking up some vessel trying to run
the blockade. 4 800
il. At 2 A. NJ. a brilliant light illumi
mated the sky, and discovered that
the Navy Yard at Pensacola, Fort Me-
Rea, the Naval Hospital, Warrington,
amp some parts of Pensacola, were in
flames. Fort Pickens, bombarding
with shell, we stood for, and when
light would permit, entered the harbor
OF Pensacola. found all the above
mentioned places burning fiercely, and
mostly in ashes. Without communi-
eating with the fort, | proceeded to
the town of Pensacola, where | found
that Gen. Arnold had already sent
Capt. 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 prom
ised that the citizens would behave
themselves peacefully.
eff | found that the rebels evacuated
the place on hearing that our steam
crs, the day before, were going to run
into Mobile Bay, and the squadron
and mortar Hotilla would soon follow
them. 4 thousand rebels were en-
camped about five miles outside of
Mobile. They had destroyed every
thing that time wonld permit. Fort
Barrancas, the Marine Barracks, Mus
tar Office in the yard, one new stone
building, the smithy, | believe, and
the shears are in fair state of pres
ervation. The yard was SO hot that
did not go into it.
Gen. Arnold having no steamer at
command, and no means of transpor-
tation, | placed the Harriet Lane AT
his service, and at three O'Clock had
400 men, two pieces of artillery and
horses, and some luggage cats on
the other side, when the troops took
possession and hoistcd the United
States Flag on the forts and Navy
Yard, SO long occupied by rebels.
We land 900 more men on the other
side tonight, when shall proceed to
hunt up some steamers for Gen. Ar
mold to keep open communication be
tween the United States troops, ant
to cover the troops if attacked. Ii,
is without any support of this kind
SO necessary to General in his posi-
tion. DAVID ID. PORTER,
Commanding Flotilla {:
Hon. GIDEON WEILEs, Scc'y Of Navy