January 6, 1861. |
January 7. |
 |
| A casemate in Fort Pickens.2 |
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Washington, and they were accepted before the Government was aware of their treachery.
At the same time, the insolent leaders of the insurrection in Florida sent word to the President, through Senators Yulee and Mallory, that the seizure of the public property within the limits of the State of Florida was in consequence of the transfer of troops to Fort Pickens, and proposed a restoration when that strong fortress should be evacuated!
Already, even before the Ordinance of Secession was passed, Florida troops had seized the Chattahoochee Arsenal,
with five hundred thousand rounds of musket cartridges, three hundred thousand rifle cartridges, and fifty thousand pounds of gunpowder.1 They had also taken possession of Fort Marion,
at St. Augustine, formerly the Castle of St. Mark, which was built by the Spaniards more than a hundred years before.
It contained an arsenal, the contents of which fell into the hands of the insurgents.
On the 15th they seized the Coast-survey schooner F. W. Dana, and appropriated it to their use.
Slemmer heard of the movement at tile Navy Yard through Commander Walke, who had received instructions from Armstrong to put to sea immediately with the Supply, if the post should be attacked.
Slemmer sent a note at once to the Commodore, saying:--“I am informed that the Navy Yard is besieged.
In case you determine to capitulate, please send the marines to strengthen my command.”
To this he received no reply.
A few hours afterward, he saw the old flag go down at the Navy Yard, and heard, with mingled surprise and indignation, that the Commodore had ordered the Wyandot to cooperate with Fort Pickens under
strange restrictions.
Captain Berryman was ordered not to fire a shot unless his vessel should be attacked.
In case Pickens should be assailed,
1 The Arsenal was in the keeping of Sergeant Powell and three men. Powell had been in the employment of the Government for twenty years. He made the following speech on this occasion:--
“ officers and soldiers :--Five minutes ago I was the commander of this Arsenal; but, in consequence of the weakness of my command, I am obliged to surrender — an act which I have hitherto never had to do during my whole military career. If I had a force equal to, or half the strength of yours, I'll be d — d if you would ave ever entered that gate until you walked over my (lead body. You see that I have but three men. These are laborers, and cannot contend against you. I now consider myself a prisoner of war. Take my sword, Captain Jones.” Jones returned it, saying, “Take your sword; you are too brave a man to disarm.” The troops then gave three cheers for Powell.--Correspondence of the Jacksonville Southern Confederacy.2 to those not familiar with military names, it may be proper to observe, that a casemate is a vaulted chamber in a Fort, with an opening outward for the use of cannon, and spacious enough, in large regular works, to be used as quarters and hospital to a garrison during war. They are made bomb-proof, so that these terrible missiles cannot enter them. Our little picture is a good delineation of a casemate, seen from the interior of the Fort. Sometimes they are made only large enough for a gun and the gunners.
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