Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-04-26
ARTILLERY HEApeuARrFKs.

ARTILLERY HEApsUARrERs
Camp Washington, March -, lSI7-si O'clock
Sir Since my reports TO army headquarters at O'Clock
p m last night, have To state tor the information OF The
general that during last night continued firing
from batteries and with increased rapdity from
what 1t has been during the day kept up with what
damage the city known further tnan the tes,,uc
ton by tire OF building in the vicinity Of one Of the
churches. and the almost certainty that every she fell INTO
the city.
In the OF the night additional FOUNDER and
two Snch ho~l;zeIs, with supply ammunition were
transported from the ordnance depot battery No and
were placed IN battery except OF the sneh howitzcrs
which has not been placed in position as the platform for
II has not yet been finished.
The battery OF four 24pounders and one S-nch howi,-
ger opened the fire upon the city about o'clock a. NJ TO-
day. and with the three batteries have kept con
slant and rapid re until late this afternoon when the firing
temporarily ceased IN consequence OF the passage OF white
tlag 10 and from the city.
The firing to-day has evidently been very destructive Il,
the city, and several houses have been destroyed by fire
-Four additional platforms Tor mortars have been con-
sIucied to-day and will receive before the morning that
number OF mortaTs which will be out tonight and
vii be ready to be opened the city early tomorrow
Measures have also been taken send the trenches
io-nlgai luu supply OF ammunition With fourteen NOR
iaTs, iour ~ pound guns and Snch hoyyzers de-
cided and effective impression must be made the city TO-
morrow
No accident or injury to any person in the batteries and
Hehehes mas occurred to-day.
have tue honor TO be- sir respectfully, your obedent ser
yan', JAS. BANKHEAD.
Colonel Chief OF Artillery.
Lieut. H. L. ScoTr, Acting Atjasn General, Army Head
quarters.
ARTILLERY HEApouAErERs
Camp Washington, March rs lSI7.
SIE have already reported To army headquarters the
operations ~ the trenches and batteries up 10 o'clock u
Of the 24tu instant.
On the night OF the 2iIh another 2i-pounde and two
c-nen howltLers transported the ordnance de-
pot to battery No 1, and the 4pounder and one Of the
howzers placed battery the platform for the other
howzcE not being finished; aud by o'clock Ju the 25h
they ready with the other three ~ pounders 10 omen
The hre upon the The VS.
unuet, with but very little interruptions the whole Of the
day the 25ih) with signal effect aud from the opening Of
lns battery a. o'clock TO O'clock D. IA. the enc
my kept up brisk and wol-dreeted fire upon 1t OF shot
anu shells, O the shot passing through the embra-
suTes hut fortunately injury sustained from them
The mortar which had been dsmounted was repl,ced
and full supply Of shells received during the night
Al, the mortar batteries continued a moderate ire during
tue night, the hre being limited TO in every five
minutes until early next morning, the 25h,l when the
hg was increased 10 about hundred eighty dis
charges OF shells and shot per hour and contnued In
about or O'Clock IN the afternoon when the passage of
white nag caused cessation OF the firing for hour or
Two IL was again renewed. and continued all night and
10 about o'clock the GOTH when firing vas
stopped from all OF the batteries. by order from hradqunrers
IN consequence OF an offer OF the authorities the city To
capiiulaie.
during the Goth platforms for four ad liona mortars were
constructed, and that number OF was placed nm
battery which increased the number Of n battery
90 fourteen The troops remained inactive during this day
the weather being too emPcsuous to repair the da.
mage made by The high wind.
On the 9th, the employed in removing the
sand from the trenches, which had been nearly filled up
by the moving OF u by the wind.
The engineers constructed this day three more d, orms
for morar-, and the moras being moved out IN the
aefnOOn when they ordered back to the ordnance
depot a. being then unnecessary.
Tins day, the 25h, the aIersts still m position at
the batteries and everything in perfect readiness tor any
service that can be required there.
estimate the number Of shot andi shells discharged
from the batteries about thousand five hundred but
have yet received official report the chef Of ord
nance OF the number used.
Having had the honor DO entrusted with the command
aud having been almost continually in the trenches from
the 22d Instant when the batteries were opened upon the
CITY, TO late hour yesterday afternoon, when hosues
ceased and having had arduous duties perform have
10 acknowledge the able support have received from the
officers o every department Of the seryce the artl.
ery officers for their cheerful and skul management Of
the guns IN the baieros from the chief of ordnance
Capt HuPe and other officers Of ordnance Tor their mos,
efficient sid from the officers Of the quarefnasters depart
ment particularly Captain Cross and Captain Irwin for
their promptness IN forwarding ordnance and supplies
10 the batteries; and have witnessed with much adna.
ton the gh professional intelligence aud unrnz e8sr.
ton Of the engineer officers duly IN tho trenchos
should not omit ~ that two young officers Of
the corps ct Typographical engineers Lieutenans Derby
and Hafdcasc, volunteered IN the trenches and
DID serve we'll and calamity for twenty four hours
Ny sdIuiant Lieutenant Nichols, was always IN attend
ancs attn me, aud prompt and active every duty required
OF him.
have the honorto be respectfully, your obedon servant
JAS BANKHEAD,
Colonel and Chief Of ARTILLERY
Lieut. III. J.. SryTT, a. A. a. g.. Army IIeadnus,et.