The Daily Dispatch: November 28, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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War Matters.
Gleaned from Southern Sources.

We make up the following summary of Southern news gathered from the latest papers received at this office:

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The fight at Pensacola — opening of the ball.

From the Pensacola Observer, of the 22d and 23d November we extract the following relative to the engagements at that place, which commenced on Friday. The Observer, of the 22d inst., thus announces the beginning of the fight:

‘ At five minutes past ten this morning a heavy and continuous fire commenced at the Forts below. What it is, or on which side it commenced, we are yet unable to say. Up to this writing (1 o'clock) the fire still continues, and we can only opine and hope that the bombardment has opened in good earnest. We shall give the news as fast as we get it.

Later.--We learn from a passenger just from the Yard that the fire was opened by Pickens upon the C. S. steamer Time, and was returned by our batteries and forts.

The U. S. steam frigate Niagara is trying to cross the bar for the purpose of entering the harbor.

The excitement in town is immense. The business houses are closed and the housetops are covered with the excited populace.

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The firing of Friday--Commencement of the second day's fight.

The Observer, of the 23d inst., has the following:

‘ The firing, as we stated yesterday, began from Fort Pickens. The whole of their fire during the morning was directed at the steamer Time, out with very little effect. The Time came up last night, and with the exception of two or three little holes made with rifle shot, she is unhurt. This snows that their guns are of a very inferior quality, or that Brown and his Yahoos were all drunk — very probably the latter. The steamer Nelms was also in the basin with the Time at the beginning of the fire, but her daring captain ran her out during the hottest of it. Only one shot struck her, and that did no damage. The Nelms went over to the main land and found the Florida regiment all right, and learned while there that the rumor of the firing over there the night previous was false. The Nelms in passing Billy's Wilson's batteries gave them a couple of shots, which were harmlessly returned.

The United States frigate Niagara tried hard to come in, but the reception was too warm, and she had to back out.

The only loss of life that we can hear of was a private of the Louisiana regulars killed, and the w of a Sergeant of the marine corps — both killed by a shell in the yard. A great many shot and shell fell in the yard, but done very little damage to the buildings.

Our guns worked well all day, and must have told with terrible effect upon the other side. We think the greatest damage done was to one of their ships, which ventured too near one of our batteries.

But the meanest and most contemptible act of theirs was the execution of the threat made some time ago by that prince of hardened scoundrels, Harvey Brown, that he would not respect hospitals. One shot was so well aimed at that building that it went through it, but did no damage. The baseness of this act places this blackguard below the lowest cut throat and vagabond pickpocket of New York. The worst incendiary, the meanest highway robber, or the lowest pirate, could scarcely hold a heart callous enough to commit that act. But Harvey Brown, an officer of the United States Government, can, and has descended so low into the depths of fifth and infamy as to perpetrate this most disgraceful and cowardly act. No one, except he be a brute with the blackest heart could do such thing, and no man with a manly feeling can find one spark of liberality to excuse him for committing such a dish and damnable act. Future historians will damn him for his infamy, and a great and just God will consign him and his whole Government to their proper place for this worse than niggardly act. We would not be surprised to hear that when he awoke this morning he saw written on his wall the interpretation of mene, mene, tekel, upharsin. How the very soul of a gentleman, would shrink at the idea of such a thing being committed in a civilized world. Indeed, are we contending against the fifth, the degraded vagabonds and the scum of the world!

At fifteen minutes to eleven, this morning, the fire re-opened and still continues at a very brisk rate. The people are not so much excited as yesterday, and we can see every appearance among our people of a determination to resist to the fast extremity, if need be but every one seems to place an unlimited confidence in our success. We hope now that it will continue until it is settled. Hurrah for the Southern Confederacy, and hurrah for ‘"a little more grape."’

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A Desperate Struggle expected — Pensacola Strongly Fortified.

The Montgomery Advertiser, of the 24th, says:

‘ For more than six months past the garrisons at Fort Pickens and at Pensacola have faced each other, making preparations for the desperate struggle, which, for aught either knew, might be commenced at any moment; but the suspense is now over. The day so long wished for by our gallant volunteers who have been compelled to pass the summer in comparative inactivity in camp, has arrived, and the strength of the fortifications on each side will very likely be fully tested before either party will acknowledge a defeat. The works which have been erected by the Confederate forces have doubtless been constructed with great skill and care, and we should judge by this time they are in a condition to withstand the combined assaults of the fort and the Yankee fleet. This will be no child's play on either side. It will be no Hatteras or even a Port Royal affair. The Confederate forces are too strongly entrenched to entertain the idea of succumbing to any thing like an equal force. How long the contest will last no one can tell; but when it is announced that there is a cessation of hostilities, we hope to be able to announce that the flag of the Confederate States floats in triumph from the walls of Fort Pickens.

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East Tennessee.

The following order has been promulgated by one of our Generals in East Tennessee:

Headq'rs R brigade,

Special Orders, No. 2.

Martial law having been proclaimed at this post on the 14th day of November, by order of Col. S. A. M. Wood, the officer then in command, many disaffected persons were arrested and placed in custody of the proper military authorities for trial. The larger portion of these have voluntarily taken the prescribed oath of allegiance to the Confederate Government and were released, and returned to their homes. Those who were organized for active hostilities, have, for the most part, been dispersed, and driven beyond the limits of the State thus effectually breaking up the conspiracy recently existing in this portion of the State to resist the authority of the Confederate States Government, and thereby restoring peace and quiet throughout the country adjacent to this post. The Commanding General, being satisfied from the evidences of loyalty (upon the part of the people) now before him, that the necessity for the enforcement of martial law does not now exist, orders that the same be no longer in force. It is not the purpose of the Commanding General at this post, to impose any restrictions, or enforce any law not required by stern necessity. Those persons who remain at home, submitting to the established laws of the country, will not be molested, whatever their previous political opinions may have been — but those found in arms against the Government, aiding or abetting its enemies, or in any way inciting rebellion, will be visited with all the rigors of military law.

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Rumors at Fort Smith, Ark., about the movements of M'Culloch, &C.

The Fort Smith (Ark.) Times, of the 16th instant, says:

‘ Yesterday our town was thrown into a feverish excitement by rumors set afloat by the express rider from our army. It is said that he reports Gen. McCulloch says in case he is forced to fall back, he will lay waste the whole country as he passes over it. That Col. McIntosh did so in Missouri for thirty miles--that Gen. McCulloch's army is small, too much so to meet the enemy, &c.

Last week the same rumor reached here from Fayetteville, and we heard there that the people of that place were making preparations to leave. It was officially made known that all the roads leading over and through the country, except on Frog Bayon, were to be blocked up with timber so as to be impassable. We should like to know the truth of these rumors, as they are having a very bad effect upon the minds of the people. One day we hear one thing, and the next another. It is distracting to the people, and they do not know how to act to meet matters, as all is uncertain and in the dark.

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Dangerous practice — a cannon ball shot through a house.

From the Knoxville Register, of the 24th, we take the following paragraph:

‘ A cannon ball yesterday went whizzing or whistling through the upper story of Horace Bradley's house, in this city, shattering things generally, and causing great consternation in the family, who were fortunately in the lower story at the time. The explanation of the affair is this: A Mr. Mallone, who invented a cast iron gun which he wished to have introduced into the service, brought it to this city to be completed at the foundry of A. L. Maxwell. After finishing it, he concluded to try it on the plat between the foundry and the railroad depots, firing into the bank opposite the railroad. The recoil of the gun upon its discharge elevated the muzzle, and the ball, instead of going into the earth bank, went over the hill into the city, and through the house of Mr. Bradley, as above stated.

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A Furious Fighting Parson.

A Columbus correspondent of the Montgomery Advertiser, describing the battle of Belmont, ‘"gets rather heavily on"’ Parson Brady. Pity the good man should have got so very angry:

‘ It would be futile to particularize instances of bravery and desperate courage evinced by our gallant troops on the field. Let a few suffice. Parson Brady, of Tappan's regiment, after shooting two of the enemy, seized another by the shoulder, and with one stroke of his bowie cut his throat from ear to ear, and then rushing on the now retreating foe, he exclaimed, ‘"Go to hell, you d — d sons of bitches."’ The boys tease the Parson very much for this rather unusual manner of dismissing an audience.

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Prompt action of the Mississippi Legislature.

The Legislature of Mississippi on Thursday last, upon hearing that more troops were needed at Columbus in view of an apprehended attack from the enemy, immediately passed a bill authorizing the Governor to call out an optional number of volunteers for such time as their services may be needed as an auxiliary force to our army up the river.--A half million dollars were also voted to maintain these troops at the expense of the State while in the field.