Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1862-01-16
Safe Passage of. the Pensacola,

The steamer Pensacola. which left her anchor
age opposite Alexandria about 8 o'clock on Sa-
turlay morning, steamed to Pohick creek, where
she cast anchor and completed her preparations
for running the batteries. A boat loaded with
bales of hay-which had been soaked in water
after being tightly compressed-was securely
dashed to the starboard side of the steamer, so
as to protect those portions Of her machinery
likely to be damaged by shot from the Confede-
rate batteries. The steam tugs Pusey, Resolute
and Leslie ran alongside of her on the larboard
or Maryland side and were made fast, the Pusey
being on her quarter, the Resolute ahead ofythe
Pusey, and the Leslie alongside the Resolute.
At half-past IL o'clock on Saturday night
they started down the river, the Mount Wash
ngton accompanying them to Cockpit Point.
The Mount Washington then returned, and the
Pensacola with a full head of steam on) and
the three tugs passed on down. At quarter
before they were opened upon by the Cock
pit battery-two shells from heavy rihed guns,
both of which passed over her. 1t was quite
dark, and heavy fog had risen and hung along
the Virginia shore, while the Maryland side was
comparatively clear. This being the case, and
the Rebels firing single guns, Com. Morris de-
cided not to return the fire from the Pensacola.
as he inferred that they could not make out his
steamer distinctly, and he did not want to waste
ammunition only to show them his real charac-
ter, and give them an opportunity to take better
aim AS the Pensacola reached the lower bat
teries, however, the Rebels opened again with
shells, and fired nineteen or twenty in success
sion, none of which struck.
The leadsmen all this time were taking sound
| ings every few minutes from the Leslie, which
was the outside tug. The Pensacola made a
fine run, and her safety was owing as much to
the precautions taken to secure it as to a COM
bination Of fortunate circumstances. She was
obliged to approach the Virginia shore within
less than three-fourths of a mile, and the Rebel
gunners are certainly bad marksmen or had too
much fog in their eyes.
| She dropped anchor at Liverpool Point until
it was quite light, and then proceeded on her
downward trip. AS she passed Aqua creek
two shots were fred at her from the hills, but
both fell short at least half mile:
Attempt to Blow up the Military Hospital
at Alexandria.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-An attempt was last
night made to blow up the Mansion House in
Alexandra. This building was formerly occu-
pied as hotel, but now as an hospital. A bar
rel had been secreted in the cellar filed with
powder and proectiles, aud fuse was found
extending from there to the stable In proxim-
ity to the combustbles, lucifer matches and
Chinese crackers had been pentifully distributed
and the fuse end at the stable had actually been
ignited But this fact was fortunately discover
ed by the guard and the progress of the slow
fire extingushed. But for this watchfulness
and prompt action, not only would several hun
dred lives probably have been lost, but other
casualties resulted.
The Alexandria Local News denies that
any attempt has been made to burn the hospi-
tai as above stated. The NeDs gives a nara.
tive Of the facts in the 40 illustration O.
of the general character q the rnmors that ART
current overy day.