The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-12
CAPTURE MOBILE.
II -oeto1q sd---- --TobA 8eIu3a9
Graphic Description by an
| Eyewitness.
CAPTURE OF THE SPANISH FORT

CAflUHE Vr i Nh III ANISn FVnl
The Assault on Fort Blakeley.
From Our Special Correspondent.
a4G BLAKELKY, Ala, April Is, 1865.
To The Editor Of tie Pioneer: ,0
The campaign of Mobile is finished. It
commenced on the 10th of March and occu.
pied twenty-one days. At dusk on the 9Th
instant, o Judgement was made by our forces
in Spanish Fort, and on the morning of tho
9th 1t came into our possession. On the 9th,
at r. NJ, the long line of breastworks and
redouhts at Blakeley were carried by heroic
and brilliant assault. Forts Tracy and Hugee
were eyacuated on the 11th; and on the 18th
Major General Granger crossed over from
Stark's Landing to Mobile with two divisions,
and entered the city with three regiments at
noon, unopposed. -r. a: 5000
/ On the 10th of March the main body of the
army operating against Mobile, under Major
General e. r. q. Candy In person, and consist
ing of two divisions Of the 18th army corps,
under command Of Major General Gordon
Granger, and of the 10th army corps, COM
handed by Major General A. j. Smith, moved
from the vicinity of Fort Gaines to undertake
the investment and capture of those forts
which distracted the approach to Mobile
through the Tensas River. On the Goth of
March cooperative column, under command
of Major General F. Steele, left Pensacola
The interesting march and operations Of this
column win hereafter be described. ' ID 9
In the investment and seige of Spanish Fort
the navy co-operated with the land forces The
line of Notifications which is called Spanish
Fort has principally been made since the fall of
Fort Morgan. 1t is about five miles north of
Starks Landing. on the east side of Mobile
Bay, and about opposite to Mobile, built on an
eminence about $50 feet above the water,
which commands the channel. The soil being
red the Fort on this eminence appears conspi
cuous. Astron. line of breastwOrk, serving
as covered war, extends from this, bearing
ing towards the east, running down across q
ravine, thence up along higher ground, and
round Again to the Bay, distance of . mile
and hall. 70 where 10 another strong fort.
Spanish Fort proper Is next to the Bay, and
about opposite the center of the outer line of
works 1t appeors to have been made by ex-
cavating the earth from the side of the bluff
The parspet is thirty feet thick, and the fort
pound parrots, some of the latter having re-
Gently been made At Selma. In front of the
line Of breastWorks the ditch was about Eve
feet deep, and perhaps eight feet wide. Some
twenty yards In front of that was q line of
abattis along the whole front, which was about
fifteen feet wide. Inside Of the works, % well
% out, Is . wood of open pine. A largo por.
ton Of the trees, however, had been fallen.
The investment of this fort may be said to-
have commenced on the 9th of March, when
Gen. Canby's column crossed Dolive's Creek
and drove the rebels into their intrenchments
Our forces were able to commence their rife
pits and breastworks within about seven hun
works. In reasonable time we had got our
batteries and mortars to bear and the siege
progressed with activity. Butrams brigade
of the I'd division Q3th corpsl on the extreme
left, placing battery nearly on the summit of
the high ground, referred to as the most com.
manding position of the rebels, and within fifty
yards. OF the rebel guns. but it was silenced.
bombardment commenced from the land bat
teries and from the feet, continuing for an
hour, when the roar of musketry beginning to
be heard gave evidence that great and prob.
ably decisive struggle was going on. At dusk
that evening Cars division of the 10th corps
carried q part Of the works on our right, and
effected o Judgment capturing about three hun.
dred prisoners. The same night the main pant
of the garrison evacuated, crossing on bridge
to an island. from which they embarked for
Mobile. On the following day (the 9th) a. has
already been stated we got tall possession Of
the fort. and in course of the day Smiths corps
was on the march towards Blakeley. al3rzsy
The column under Gen. Steele, which lett
Pensacola on the goth Of March. consisted OF
two hrigaGies of Andrews Brig. Gen. G. c.
Andrews of Minnesota division of tho. 13th
corps 5000 effective, Hawkins division of col
ored troops, and brigade Of cavalry under
command of Brig. Gen. Lucas 1t should be
stated also that about the same time Q cavalry
force of 300 under Lieut. Col. Squirting. "a
and from thence made An expedition northeast
erly. striking the Montgomery Railroad at
Evergreen, capturing two trains and 100 pris-
oners, ald Subsequently joining Steele on the
Escambia Steeles column moved through q
country which may be called pine wilderness
and encountered extremity difficult roads, which
had to be cocduroyed literally for miles. Heavy
rains had also swollen the numerous streams,
which had to be bridged the bridge over Pine
Barren Creek, for Instance, being 800 feet long.
The column crossed this on the afternoon and
evening Of March Gath and 1t was here report
ed that on Nitchells Creek, about six miles DO
yond, two rebel brigades having artillery were
entrenched and purposed making resistance.
The column moved on At daylight on the 18th,
the cavalry bsing three milesin advance. Skin.
mishing commenced by eight o'clock in the
advance. On Cave Creek Lucas encountered
about 500 rejects under command of Brig. Gen.
Clanton. He charged upon them, captured
1870 prisouerS including Gen. Cantou, who
was MORALLY wounded, and continued TO drive
all before him ct rapid rate to the Escambia.
Here tho fighting ended but before It had
ceased, the advance brigade Of Andrews' eisi-
sion which had arrived at Canoe Greek was OF.
dered forward as support. 1t arrived on the
Escambis at 3 p. y. with two sections Of each
hattery. and having marched seventeen miles,
proceeded the eamc evening to build bridge
over the Escamhia, upon which It crossed early
the next morning and marched into Pollard
without meeting the enemy. Inc railroad and
taleprapi, having been destroyed at Pollard,