A letter to the New Orleans Delta, dated Warrington Navy-Yard, Florida, the 2d inst., says :
“The works first commenced are in a highly finished state, and new batteries have been commenced within the past three days. I should think Lieut. Slemmer would begin to consider the erection of so many in such close proximity to each other as hardly tending to strengthen his tenure of office as monarch of the island of Santa Rosa. There are thirteen companies at present here from Alabama, numbering, on an average, about ninety men each, two companies from Georgia, one of them numbering 110 men, and the Zouaves, representing Louisiana. Florida, can hardly be said to be represented here, as there is not a company from that State in the field. The men and women of Alabama seem to be imbued with the true spirit of bravery : they have fully twelve hundred men here, representing all classes in the State. Doctors, editors, ex-Congressmen, state Senators, lawyers, planters, merchants, and mechanics, occupy the ranks, many of them being full privates. Working at the erection of sand-batteries, ex-Congressman Pugh can shovel sand and make excavations like a son of Erin hurrying a task. job on a Louisiana plantation.— Senator Mulloch, despite his bulky condition, works with a will, and several professional men of undoubted talent work as laboriously as a New York hod carrier. This is the secret of the Souths power. With such a noble and chivalrous spirit pervading all classes, the devil or Abe Lincoln cannot crush them!
While our population were fleeing from the apparently near approach of war, whole families having deserted their houses and sought refuge in shanties in the woods, over twenty ladies from Alabama came down here with their children and servants to join their husbands, who were soldiering away down in this part of Florida, which they all say naturally and geographically belongs to Alabama. They are about right. The actions of these gallant ladies in joining their husbands at the theatre of war needs no comments. It speaks in thunder tones of their spirit and patriotism.
In the Navy-Yard they have been casting ten and eight-inch balls for the past three weeks. I assure you they are a species of ball nowise digestible, and a New Englander would find no similarity between them and his favorite and savory codfish balls.
They received also by the steamer Kate Dale, from the Mount Vernon Arsenal, a large quantity of shell; here there is a very large supply of all sorts of shell, but I suppose if there is any need of their being used it will be in this vicinity.
The Daily Dispatch, Richmond, VA