Transcript (excerpt):
Condition of Bragg’s Rebel Forces
“The rebel batteries are not of a formidable character. Many of them are constructed with sandbags, and some of them are mounted with “quakers” or wooden guns-very formidable in appearance, but not of any particular service in action, Instead of one hundred and fifty or sixty guns which have been counted by our forces, the real ones are less by about one-third. The serviceable ordnance of the rebels, including those in Fort Barrancas, the only fortification which is at all formidable, number one hundred and two pieces and there is not a rifled gun among them. Lieut. Baker is positive, although it has been reported that rifled shot were fired by the enemy, that they have nothing but smooth-bore guns. But he states that there are five batteries of “Bogg’s guns” which are of ten inch caliber and carry conical shell somewhat resembling the rifled shell now in use. There are in all nine of these guns in possession of the rebels at Pensacola-one of which, and only one, is at the navy yard. This is understood to be one which damaged the federal steamer “Richmond.”…
“…Lieutenant Baker has spent considerable time in Richmond, and other parts of the confederate states, traveling twice through the whole rebel region, and conversing with all sorts of people. He is confident-and this he asserts from admissions which have been made to him-that the confidence assumed by the rebel leaders and by the journals is not shared by the people. The change, especially since the result of the Port Royal expedition has become known, and in view of the belief that other federal expeditions are to follow rapidly, has been especially marked. The people are inquiring how the war is to end; and although there is no outspoken sentiment of disaffection or dissent as to the policy of the leaders, the feeling which precedes such a state of things already exists. In threatened regions this is particularly evident. In Pensacola, it is believed that nearly if not quite half of the people are at heart for the Union. In proof of this, the fact is cited that recently many business places have been closed by order of Gen. Bragg, because of the known or suspected sympathy of the owners with the cause of the Union.”
Citation: Hartford Evening Press. Hartford, 20 December 1861. AN. H328