Year: 1861

work is fully mounted, and its magazines are in
good order. In the rear of the fort is redoubt
which is auxiliary to Fort Barrancas. Some ex-
tensive repairs have recently been completed on
this redoubt and the tanking howitzers of scarp
and cOunterscarp can be mounted with very little
labor.


The Mobile Mercury of the 14th inst. furnishes
the following additional particulars:


There are now about ], 900 men quartered at the
barracks, navy yard, hospital Forts Barrancas and
McIae, all ofwhom are in fine spirits and sanguine
of success in ultimately taking Fort Pickens when
they shall receive orders to do They have
plenty of provisions, arms and ammunition, but
are needing army engineers and artlllerYmen. For
the lack of these latter, many important advan-
tages are being lost, which, il early improved, will
greatly aid in the taking and holding the fort, and
especially in cutting off all reinforcemens for it.


Fort Pickens is situated on Santa Rosa Island on
the point nearest the channel, and commands the
whole of the fortiications. Santa Rosa Island is
separated from the main land and quarter
miles, there being two channels for the passage of
vessels, one on the side of the main land and the
other on the island side. Fort McRae is on point
of the main land one half mile from Fort Pickens.
Fort Barrancas is just opposite Fort Pickens, the
main land, and the Barracks, Hospital and Navy
Yard are also on the main land, within range of
the guns from Fort Pickens There are now at the
latter fort about so men, under the command of
Lieut.. Simmer. There are already forty guns
mounted, and the whole force of the fort is actively
engaged in mounting others. They have provi-
siOns for six months, and ammunition to resist a
siege of equal length. The officer in command de-
Cares bis intention to hold out to the last, unless he
is instructed by the authorities at Washington to
give up the fOit. Our informant thinks it would be
an ug y job to attempt to take the fort with the
means now at the command of our forces, but says
they declare they will take it if ordered, at the
cost of one thousand men.


Our forces of the forts are under command of
Colonel Tennant Lomax, of Montgomery. and those
at the Navy Yard are under command of Captain
Randolph, late captain in the United States
Navy.


The workmen who were engaged at the Navy
Yard at the time it was taken possession of by
troops, have been organized into military com
pany under the command of Capt. Morrell.
Lieutenant Simmer, when he evacuated Fort
McRae, destroyed about one hundred and fifty kegs
of powder by knocking out the heads and throw
ing them into the bay. His object appeared to be
only to keep the guns from the fort being opened
upon him while he retreated, as he left large
quantity of powder in the magazine. He not only
spiked the guns, but rammed down the muzze the
wooden pieces used for stopping them, which had
to be bored out by pump borers, by our forces, be-
fore they could be used. They have all been un-
spiked, with the exception of two, and are now
ready for use.


When the Oregon left yesterday, Com. Arm
strong up the lone star flag of Alabama,
which saluted from the navy yard and was
then struck.


The U. S. storeship Supply left yesterday for
New York with the Forward officers and about
forty of the sailors and thirty of the marines who
were at the yard when taken.


There sufficient number of boats at the
navy yard to land on the island five hundred
troops in half an hour. A large number of sand
bags are being made every day to more strongly
protect our Notifications.