Report of Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg, C. S. Army, commanding Army of Pensacola.
Headquarters Army of Pensacola,
Near Pensacola, Fla., January 3, 1862.
Sir: On my way to this point from Mobile on the first instant I was privately advised by telegraph that firing was going on between our batteries and Fort Pickens. I hastened as rapidly as possible, and reached here at 4 a. m. the 2d. It appears a small private steamer had been imprudently allowed to run to the navy-yard, and was fired on by the enemy at Fort Pickens. This fire was returned by order of Brigadier-General Anderson, in temporary command, and a brisk canonnade was kept up on both sides until dark, when the enemy ceased. Ours was continued irregularly and apparently without effect or an object until stopped by my order. No casualty is reported on our side, and we can see no damage to the enemy. A large and valuable store-house, with considerable property, in the navy-yard, was burned by the enemy�s shells.
I regret exceedingly to add that the concurrent testimony of many officers of rank represent Brigadier-General Anderson as so much intoxicated as to be entirely unfit for duty, and that his conduct was very reprehensible. It is being investigated, and I fear that an arrest and prosecution will be necessary. Holding juniors to a rigid accountability, I shall not overlook a similar offense in a commanding general under such aggravating circumstances.
Not the least cause of regret was the large and criminal waste of means so necessary for our defense, and which we cannot replace. I must again urge on the Department my request for a second in command here who could be intrusted with this army in my necessary absence. Mobile demands much of my time; indeed, the state of affairs there is alarming, but I am almost powerless for want of the proper officers for command. The material is here, but it cannot be used.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Braxton Bragg,
Major-General, Commanding.
Adjutant-General, C. S. Army, Richmond.
Report of Colonel Harvey Brown, Fifth U. S. Artillery, commanding Department of Florida.
Headquarters Department of Florida
Fort Pickens, January 2, 1862.
General: Yesterday afternoon, about 3 o'clock, a steamer came to the wharf at the navy-yard within range of our guns. The enemy having, under similar circumstances, fired into a small yawl-boat (which, desirous of avoiding continuous desultory warfare, leading to no results, did not notice, although four shots were fired), and this being the first instance of a boat of any kind coming to the navy-yard or within the range of my guns since the last bombardment, I could only view it as bravado, or as done with an intention of drawing my fire. I therefore ordered her to be fired into, which was done three times while she lay at the wharf and was leaving it. A gun was fired from a neighboring battery at ours, which was returned, it being directly in range of the departing steamer, and here, as I supposed, the affair would rest; but in about three-quarters of an hour the enemy opened on me from most of his batteries, which was promptly returned, and a regular bombardment ensued, and which continued in our front until too dark to see, when I ceased, except an occasional fire from two or three mortars, the enemy continuing until about 9 o�clock, at which hour a bright light became visible from the yard, and in an hour the whole firmament was illuminated, several of the largest buildings being on fire. The fire continued to burn until towards morning, and the mortar firing continued on our part until 2 and on that of the enemy until 4 o�clock this morning.
I used only my heaviest guns, and not all of them, with an occasional fire from an 8-inch columbiad and a 42-pounder rifled gun. Our firing was much slower than before, and was excellent. I have rarely or never seen better the officers and men being cool and collected, and doing their duty manfully, such as Yankee soldiers should do. The enlisted men seemed to consider it a New Year�s amusement.
Convinced by former experience of the great difficulty of harming or burning his buildings at so great a distance I took the affair very coolly and deliberately, firing seldom, but with great care, and using freely rock-fire and carcasses, with both of which I have been supplied since the last bombardment, and to which I attribute our present success in firing the navy-yard, and the failure of my doing so before to the want of them. The firing of the rebels was not so good as before, very few shot or shell having struck our walls or entered the fort, although the latter burst continuously all around us. He probably expended very considerably more ammunition than on either of the previous days, and with less effect.
I am impressed with the belief that General Bragg was not present, and that a less experienced and more hot-headed officer commanded. If he was, he certainly did not in this affair display his usual prudence and caution.
I had two men slightly injured�one a zouave, by a splinter hitting the calf of his leg, and the other a regular, by a contusion�both trifling; and the injury to the fort is of the most unimportant kind�a few shot on the scarp-wall and some few holes, made principally by the explosion of shells inside, neither of any consequence; and not a gun was disabled or injured, with the exception of one carriage, and, except the 2 named, not a man hurt.
I am more than satisfied with the result, as it has again clearly demonstrated that the immense batteries with which we are nearly surrounded (and to the number of which four have been added since the last bombardment) are unable to do us any serious injury.
We have burned several large buildings in the navy-yard, and must have seriously injured those which are fireproof, giving the best possible evidence of the superiority of our fire.
I respectfully and earnestly recommend to the executive justice the brave men who have now three times so faithfully defended their country's flag, and who for their reward have in several instances had the mortification of seeing their juniors placed over their heads, and who have never heard the first cheering word of approval for their former gallant deeds. The conduct of all was so uniformly gallant and meritorious that I will make no discrimination in naming them, except to express my thanks to Major Arnold, my executive officer, for his able assistance. They are Surgeon Campbell; Major Tower, Engineers; Lieutenant Todd, Ordnance Department; Assistant Surgeon Sutherland; Lieutenant McFarland, Engineers; Captains Allen, Second Artillery; Chalfin, Fifth Artillery; Robertson, Second Artillery; Blunt, Twelfth Infantry; Hildt, Third Infantry; Duryea, Closson, and Langdon, First Artillery; First Lieutenants Shipley, Third Infantry; Jackson, First Artillery; Pennington, Second Artillery; Seeley, Fourth Artillery; and Taylor, First Artillery; and Second Lieutenants Heaton and Bradley, Second Artillery, and Duer, First Artillery, the three last named who now for the first time fleshed their maiden swords.
I also desire to express my decided approbation of the conduct of the non-commissioned officers and privates of my command. Every one did his duty manfully. I commend the former to the notice of the commanding general.
At the commencement of the bombardment the Sixth Regiment New York Volunteers took post at Camp Brown, and I ordered Colonel Dodge to march his regiment (the Seventy-fifth New York) beyond the range of fire. He moved 2 miles up, and guarded us from any attack the enemy might make during the night. This is a fine regiment, and will, I doubt not, do good service when they have the chance.
As I only fired on the steamer to drive her off, as the enemy had done with our boats, and as he opened his batteries on me, I have not deemed it advisable further to pursue the contest, and as he has not renewed it, I presume it for the present to be ended.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Harvey Brown,
Colonel, Commanding
Brig. Gen. Lorenzo Thomas,
Adjutant-General.