Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-09-14

maze ner ola position TOO not LOT
her, and it is reported she has been
on fire three times. hear that five
of our mortars were disabled yes
terday, not by the enemy but by
large holes (some of them big e.
Tnough to pu, hens egg in form
ing in their chambers. Whether
this is from the firing, or defective
casting or metal, is difficult TO say.
They were partially repaired by
Mr.. Ward, inspector Of machinery,
who poured an alloy of zinc and
tin in the hole, and some were fred
seventy rounds before the piece fell
ont. At us a. m. another explo-
sion took place on Vargo. our fire
continued without intermission, and
at 1890 p. m. we succeeded in set
ting fire TO a part of the dockyard
on Swarto, and at 100 to a great
number of sheds reported to contain
100 row gnnboats not in use if so,
we are quite certain they are useless
now, for not a vestigc of them re-
mains. This fire spread itself to
the town adjoining, aud at one time
We could see three long streets in
blaze at once. AT 2.l0 p. M, some
Frenrh gunboats, wishing to take
up better position, sent couple
of gigs TO sound a little to the west
ward, when the town of Hels:ng-
fors opened fire upon them from
some batteries close under their
beautiful church. 1t would be an
easy task indeed for lis to burn Hell
sinforS to the ground, but we have
spared it, and only attacked their
fortress, from a wish not to destroy
private property bat when our
mercy is treated with such base re-
turn, it almost provokes lis to put
the heads of our little gunboats in
that direction. Yet IT is evident
they expect us to respect certain
places, and avoid firing on certain
spots, for on one huge building TO
the westward of Helslugfors is
piece of canvass stretching from
chimney to chimney, with the
words Lunatic Asylum painted
III large black letters upon it; yet,
within 300 yards of il, they have
three immense batteries-one i'm
mediately under it, and the others
on either side and about half
mile to the east of it, several hun
dred men were engaged building a
mortar battery aud magazine, aud
covering the latter with sand. This
little Transaction caused Admiral
Penaud to observe that there was
much more honor in burning Swea-
borg, but there would be more salts
faction IN destroying Helsingfors.'
( Our fire continued without slack
enIng until eight p. M, when that
from the gunboats crased, most of
them having expended all their am
munilion. That, however, from
tho 'nnrfars which were not disabled
continued during the ulgnt. am
sorry to say that three out of 10
have burst during the day, and five
others have become useless from the
cause | before mentioned aud the
remainder will not bear more than
50 or 60 rounds being fired from
them.
The Hastings, CORVALLIS, and
Amphion had a sharp encounter
with the batteries dong the eastern
shore, on the morning of the 9th ;
the CORVALLIS was struck, with 10
shot in her hull, and had eight men
wounded, but not severely. On the
same morning, the Arrogant, Cruis-
err, aud Cossack, observed some
troops at work among the trees on
the island of Drumsio, they opened
fire upon them with shot, shell, and
rockets, and soon drove them into
the interior.
Aug. ll.-Our rocket-boats went
in again last night and fired for a
bout three hours the enemy sent
: few lazy shot and shell at them,
which just showed they were alive,
but did no damage. A boat belong
ing to the Vulture had two men
severely aud several others very
slightly burnt by one of their own
rockets. 1t seems the staff was tot
properly screwed into the rocket,
so that when it was fired, instead OF
lis going right ahead, it must hive
fallen from the staff, and, turning
back wards, passed across the boat
and burned them, most of the men
> jumped overheard in time to ave
, themselves.
, Aug. l2.--The bombardnPnt
ceased this morning at four a. u. at
which time the whole space sem
ed to be on fire. A few rocket oals
) were sent in last night to draw "a
} way attention from the French nor
ter battery, from which two gins
and the remains OF their moHars
(tour of which had BURST were te-
ing removed. The firing from this
battery was superb, but | think that
from our own mortar vessels WAS
better, principally because our fu7es
seem TO be of superior manufacture.
As for the guuboais, they have es-
tablshed a firm foundation or a
new era in warfare their PERFORM
ances, and the ease with which they
were made, were the admiration of
all who saw Them, and if the war
continues until next year, hope TO
see at least 100 Of them in The Bal
tic. A little after noon Admiral