, 1862-05-24

Commander Porterss Official Report
Affairs at Mobile.

WASHINGTON, May Il, 1867
The following report concerning the eyacu~
alton Of Pensacola, and The condition of affairs
at Mobile, has been received at the Navy De-
partment from Com Porter of the mortar
ucet:
T. S. SrEA4ER HARRIET L4SK,l
PENSACOLA May 10, 1862.
SIR: On the eth inst I left sbip Island,
with the steamers belonging to the mortar
fiotilla and the Sachem, for Mobile bar, for
tar vessels TO lie, and to plant huoys for the
ships to run in by when they should arrive
Great excitement seemed to exist within the
fnEfs on 1be appearance OF our steamers I
have reason to think that Fort Gaines Was
evacnated, and some were of opinion that the
think that they were reinforcing it from Fort
Gaines.
One Of our steamers, the Clifton. got ashore
under the guns Of Fort Morgan, which opeued
fire Gu her, and when they got her range
beautifully, and were throwing the shot over,
Baldwin went to work coolly, and got his YES
sci oil just Is I sent him assistance; and whils
had to cover him from Commander Ran
dolph's gunboats, which were contemplating
an attack on him Thinking better of it, the
Commodore went up to Mobile.
The weather being bad, I seat the steamers
back to Ship Island, and staid myself to re-
lieye Lieutenant Commanding Febiger, while
be went to Ship Island to coal crnised that
.ng gut in shore to the eastward, In hopes Of
picking up some vessel trying to run the
blockade.
sky. and discovered that the Navy Yard at
! Pensacola, Fort HcRea, the Naval Hospital,
Warrington, and some parts of Pensacola,
| were in flames. Fort Plckens. bombarding
| with shell, ~e stood for, snd when light would
| permit, entered the hafbor Of Pensacola. I
fk1. AZ 1.-1.
ficrcely, and mostly In ashes. Without con-
munica1iDg with the fozt, proceeded to the
| town Of Pensacola, where / found that Gen.
Arnold had already sent Cspt. jackson Of the
army. in the schooner Wood, to call upon the
town to surrender. sent for the Mayor on
the citizens would behave themselves peace
fully.
| 1found that the rebels evacuated the place
| on hearing that our steamers, the daY before
| were going to run inio Mobile Bay, and ths
| squadron and mortar t1otiila would soon fol
low them. 4 Thousand rebels we're encamp
| ed i've miles outside OF Mobile. They hat
! destroyed everything that time would permit
Fort Barraucas, the Marine BarTacks, Mustel
Office In the yard, one Now stone building
the snithery, I believe, and the shears, arr
still in fair state Of preservation. The yart
Gen. Arnold having no steamer at command
and no means Of transportation, placed tn
Hafriet Lame at his service, and at thre
o'clock bad four hundred men, two pieces Q
artillery, aud horses, and some luggage cart
On the Other eide, when the troops took pos
session, and hoisted once more the Unite
States aag on the forts and Navy Yard, 60 lon
occnpfed by the rebels.
We land 500 msre men on the other side t9
! night, when shall proceed to hunt up son
| steamers for Gen. Arnold to keep open cor
munica1ion between the United States troop
| nnS fr rnyrr tht.n If attacked He ia 1r1rhoT
sny support Of this kind, SO necessary to
General in his position
DAVID b. PORTER, Comd'g Flottlla,
Hon. GIDEON NRL1Es, Sec'y Of tho Navy.