Year: 1861

The following account Of the destruction of
the dry dock at Pensacola is given by the N
Y. Herald. 1t will be remembered that the
rebels undertook to sink the dry dock in the
channel, in order to obstruct navigation, but
being interrupted in this by Col. Brown at
Fort Pickens, they began to make arrange
ments for pumping it cut, and removing it to
position near Fort McRea. On the night of
the 3lst Of August, Col. Brown got an inkling
of the design on foot, from the unusual stir at
the Navy Yard, the frequent passage of boats
to and from the shore, conveying, what after
wards proved to be fuel for the furnaces, to the
dock, DO. His plans to defeat the accomplishs
ment Of the purpose which the enemy had in
view were quickly formed. Selecting one of
his most trusty Cffcers. Lieut.. Shipley, be gave
him orders to bold himself in readiness with q
crew Of picked men to man boat the follow
ing night, cautiously to approach the dry dOck
land upon and set FIRE to it, then retreat as
speedily as possible for the fort.


Col. Brown, in the meantime, made every
preparation for general engagement. He
could not believe that the enemy would allow
handful of men to approach so near his bat
teries, burn the dock, and find their way un-
1nolested back to the fort, and he had fully de-
termined, if the retreating boat was fred upon
at ence to open with all his guns upon the
Navy Yard and the adjoining batteries, which
We all trusted, would lead to general engage
ment.


All the next day Sunday was employed in
making preparations. At the fort bombshells
were flied and placed convenient to the NOR
tars, the furnaces were filed with fuel, ready
20 be ignited at Q moments warning, for the
purpose Of heating cannon balls, and the off,
GERS and men were all detailed TO their respec-
tive positions at the guns.


A few minutes after f'tstto'' 70 o'clock Ii cut.
Shipley left the beach in front Of the fort in
boat With eleven picked men, rowing noiselsss-
ly for the dry dock.


The boat reached the dock without being
challenged, was made fast, when the men
sprang up prepared to encounter and over
come the sentriesy who had often been seen
stationed upon it at night; none were found.
however, and they proceeded to accomplish
their work. Combustible material of various
kinds had been prepared and brought along,
together with three large columbiad shells.
These were placed in the boilers. The com
bastibles properly arranged, word was given
for the men to go aboard the boat, Lieutenant
Shipley remaining to apply the match, which
done, he quickly followed In their wake
Scarcely had distance Of twenty yards from
the doomed structure been gained By the gal
LIANT little band when the flames burst forth,
followed almost Immediately by the explosion
Of the shells, which filed the air with frag-
pents that fell in perfect shower around the
retreating boat, but fortunately injuring none
Of It's crew.


As the first streak Of fame mounted upwards
the long rolf sounded at the navy-yard, the
soldiers stationed there turned out in haste,
the engineers ran to their guns, and every
thing was wild confusion; but not shot was
fired, the boat reached the shsre in safety, the
crew disembarked and proceeded to the fort to
receive the congratulations Of their comrades.
Meanwhile the whole sky was illuminated by
the tall spires Of fame which shot upward from
the burning dock.





WORK Of destruction, and when morning dawn
cd shapeless mass Of ruins floating upon the
water was all that remsined Of the dry dock
which cost the Government upwards of mil
lion and half Of dollars, but which the "msd
demon Of rebellion" had wrested from its
grasp.


The enemy made no demonstrations Every
thing seemed quiet upon the opposite shore.
The columbiad planted upon the dock Of the
nayy-yard frowhed upon the camp, plainly
visible, now that the dock yard no longer in
tercepted the vision.