Mobile Register

June 30, 1861

Page 2

 

Letter from Pensacola

[From Our Own Correspondent]

Pensacola, Friday night, June 28

            We had another good, old fashioned rain and blow this morning.  The weather is delightful and there are plenty here to enjoy it.

            The excitement of the last two or three days has in a measure subsided.  Whether there was any cause for it or not, it has had one good effect—to arouse the people to preparation and vigilance.

            The State Artillery were out again this evening, exercising with their battery shot and blank cartridge firing.  Their horses are in fine condition and behave handsomely on the field.  Lieutenant Howard has for several days past been experimenting at anchored target, with his 42 pounder battery, with the most decided success.  They throw with great accuracy nearly to the opposite shore, a distance of four miles.

            For a week past, the vessels of our neighbors have displayed nightly signals, which we have been unable to interpret.  They are probably of the newly adopted code, intended to take the place of the lighthouse, long ago abolished at this point.  There is seldom, however, an arrival among them by night.  Either the Vanderbilt or Illinois sailed last night.  So look out for news in about three weeks.  Should you get more Heralds and Tribunes than you need, remember you have friends in Pensacola.

            Several Mobilians have arrived since my last.  I find registered at the Bedell House the names of Mr. Riley, of the house of Riley & Anderson; Mr. Phillip LaValle, of the Tribune office; Mr. Thompson, Capt. Jo. Lee and Louis Vernenville, and Mr. Thompson, of Company B, of the Continentals.  Mr. Chas. LeBaron, of your city, returns home to-night, having spent a week with his kinsmen and old friends, in Pensacola, Bagdad, etc.

Lober, the man that swam from Fort Pickens, goes to Richmond to play a star engagement.  He left on this evening’s train.

The mule that followed the example of Lober, in swimming from Fort Pickens to the white settlements, turns out to be an old resident of Warrington and the Navy Yard.  He was pressed into service by Slemmer when he left that place and deserted the first opportunity.  He bears evidence of bad treatment, but is rapidly improving under the kindness of Capt. Lovell’s company, the Quitman Artillery, whose prisoner he is.

Capt. Wood, Capt. O’Bannon and several other officers are in the city this evening.