Year: 1861




To TIE EDIToRs OF THE PROVIDENCE
PRESS: By this time the news of the
bombardment of Pensacola has tray
eled all over the Southern States, and
for all 1 know, has reached you; but
as the Southern telegraph has not its
equal in the manufacture of lies, pro-
pose to give you such an account as a
tired body and but little time will ad-
NIT. First, of


THE PREPARATION.


The object was to destroy the Navy
Yard, so as to put stop to their use Of
Government property and tools in
building any more extensive means of
defense, and to batter down some Of
their fortifcations. Orders were given
to our engineers to place bags filed
with coal around such portions Of the
machinery as were exposed to shot,
and nearly all the work was done which
is necessary to "prepare ship for ac-
tion."


Early yesterday morning the flag Of
fcer went on shore to confer with Col.
Brown in regard to preliminaries. At
19 O'Clock he returned, and then we re-
ceived orders to complete arrangements.
Orders were dispatched to the Rich
mond and Montgomery, then in port,
giving them directions how to act, and
the word was passed that we should
move in at daylight, so as to engage
Fort McRae, the water battery and the
sand battery. just in front of McRae,
all three of which could bring their
guns to bear upon either Fort Pickens
or the shipping.


We could form no idea of the strength
of these places, but it was highly i'm
portant that we should draw their fire,
as they enfladed the parapet guns of
Pickens. 1t had been arranged that,
as soon as the steamers came down from
Pensacola to the navy yard, the fort
was to open fire upon them, SO as TO
sink them, if possible, and cut off all
means of bringing down REINFORCE
ments from the town, and the first gun
from the fort was to be the signal for
us to move in and open Ere. Orders
were passed to have sufficient food for
the day cooked before 8 O'Clock in the
morning, sud at q late heuf last right
we turned in, to dream OF terrible bot
ties and chair breadth escapes"


OPENING OF THE ENGAGENEET.


By sunrise this morning NE were all
ready. Our boats he'd been holsted
out and moored sIongside, shot and
shell got up apd steam all ready to move
IL at sbors notice. The usual morning
prayer was offered up, the chaplain i'm
ploring a blessing upon the events of
the day, after which the Flag Officer
addressed few words to the men in
his usual clear, quick, come-to-the-
point manner. He urged upon them
"strict obedience to all orders, GOODNESS,
Judgment, and precision in firing. -
The answer was three hearty cheers.


About half past nine we could see
the steamers coming down to the Navy
Yard, little suspecting that their doom
was sealed. In very short time they
were fast to the dock, and at Just twelve
minutes of 10 we saw smoke issue
from Fort Pickens, and heard the boom
ing of the gun. A cheer burst forth
from our men, and if ever ships
anchor came up lively, it was ours
then.


In order to bring our guns within
range, it was necessary for us to run
into very shoal water, and consequently
it required the utmost caution in work.
ing the ship. Even with a perfectly
smooth sea there would be only twenty
inches of water under our keel, and if
it should begin to blow, or a heavy
swell set in, it was necessary for us to
have the ship in such a position that
we could easily run into deep water.


While working our way in, the Rich
mond came up under our stern, and as
she draws less water than we do, the
Commodore ordered her to go in and
open fire as soon as she was within
range. She passed by us, took posi-
ton nearer to the land and opened fire.
Meantime. the water battery and Fort
McRae were doing their best to frighten
us, by throwing shot that fell about a
mile short. We kept on steadily until
we thought that we were within range
and then came to anchor.


THE ACTION.


Our first shot was from the 84-pound
rife, and it told with very good effect.
The next was from 11-inch gun, but
it fell short. A few more were fred,
but with much the same result. Find
ing that we were too far of, boat was
sent out in charge of the master, in or
der to sound, and having found that
we could get in somewhat closer with
out the water shoaling much more, we
hoYe up anchor and ran in about one
fourth of mile further.


During the time that our boat was
out sounding, several of their shots
came very near it, but fortunately none
hit. We now again opened fire from
our broadside guns, and this time to
some purpose. Almost every shot told
The rebels were constantly throwing
shot at US, and seemed to be either in.
creasing the charge of powder, or else
. getting more elevation, for their sho
gradually came nearer, though it wa