New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-22
THE EVACUATION OF PENSACOLA.
Commander Porter's Omcinl Repsrt-Af-
fairs ut Mobile.
Special Dispatch to The n. Y. Tribune.

Special Dispatch TO The N. Y Tribune.
wAsHIsG1os, "Wednesday, May 81, leea
The following report concerning the evacuation OF
Pensacola, and the condition Of affairs at Mobile, has
been received at tie Navy Department from Com
Porter of the mortar fieet
L. s STEAMER HARRIET LAM,
PgysAcOIA. May 10, 1902. 5
SIR: On the 9TH inst. LEFT ship leland, win the
steamers belonging to the mortar Hoilla and the 3D.
chem for Mobile Bar, for the purPo,e OF hAing on
PLACE for the mortar yesrels 10 Tic, ana 10 P"i',
bpoys for the slius 10 run ia by when they should
arrive. Great excitement seemed to exist WITHIN
the forts on the appearance OF our steamers. nave
reason TO think that Fort Gaines was evacuated ana
come were Of opinion that The troops were leaving
Fort Morgan, but think that they were re-eiiioic-
iug il FROM Fort Games.
One OF our steauers. the Clifton, got ashore under
The guns Of Fort Morgan, which opened nre on her,
and when they had got her range beautifully, ana
were throwing the shot over, they stopped hfibB'
Lieutenant Commanding Baldwin went to work
cooy and got bis vessel off Just as i rent him as
,isi,,nee and while had to cover him from Com
nander Randolpbs gunboats, winch were con
templatiug an attack bim. Ihinking better OF IL,
the Commodore went up 10 Mobile.
The weather being bad | sent the steamers back
10 Ship Island, and staid myself to reheve
Lleutenant- { COMMANDING Febiger, while he went TO
Ship leland to coal. | cruissd that night in shore
to the eastward in hopes OF picking up some 'essel
trying 10 run the blockade.
At2a. III. brilliant fight Illuminated the sky,
and discovered that the Maryland at Pensacoli,
Fort McRea tie Naval HorIita Warrington and
some uaits Of Pensacola, were in tames. Fort
PickeIs, bombarding with shell, we stood for, and
when light wond permit, ell cred the Harbor oil
Pensacola. | found all the Aforementioned places
burning ferccly, and mostly IN ashes. Withou'
communicating with the fort, l proceeded to Tie
town Of Pensacola, where | found that Gen. Arnold
had already sent Capt. Jackson Of the army 10 the
schooner Wood. to call upon the sown 10 surrender
cent for the Mayor board the Harriet Lane,
WHO proni,ed that the cizens would lehaye them.
selves peacefully.
| found that The Rebels evacuated the place on
hearing that our steainers, the day before, Were
going 10 run into Mobile Bay, aud the squadron and
mortar fotilla would soon follow them. thousand
Rebels were encarnped FIVE miles outside a Mobile
They had destroyed everything that time would
permit. Fort BtTrancas, the Marine Barracks, Mus
teJ-Ohice III the yard one new stone building, the
snithery, believe aud the sheare, are still III fair
state Of preoei walton. Tie yard was 70 hot thai
DID not 20 INTO IL.
Gen. Arnold having no steamer at command, and
no means o. transportation, | placed TIE Harriet
Lane at Liz service, and AT 3 o'clock lad 400 men,
two pieces % artillery, and horses and some luggage
carts Oh the other side, when the troops took POSSES
siol ana OIL ted once tie United States Nag
the forts and Nayyiard 10 long occupied by the
Rebels.
We land 900 more men on the other side to night,
when ] shall proceed to hunt up some steamers for
Gen Arnold 10 keep open communication be .Ween the
United States troOs aud 10 cover them if attacked.
lie is without any support Of this kidd, 80 necessary
10 Il General in bis Position.
DAVID u. PORrER, Commanding fiotils
Hon. CIDgOS NELIEs, Secretary Of the Navy.