The North-Carolinian., 1856-07-12

at Issue III Congress- we would remind
citizens of the Palmetto Fort in l776 What
ever others may think. We know that no battle
of the Revolution stands the record above
that OF Fort Monltrie. We publish from orr
Documentary History (vol. s, now in press)
the following letter from Gefieral (then Colo
nel) Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. which has
never before been in print.-Sonth Caroiiniam.
The sBaAle of Fort 1zcnltsic.
FoRrs sJoHSsoS. june 20. lI76
:. ! am ts,,re my honorsd mother must be
nonade. / therefore take the earliest oppor-
-tunty Of acquainting her with the particulars
of it, AS my station was at Fort Johnson, aud
the whole Of the engagement was at Sul!;van's
Island. was only spectator, though l and
every man here declared they longcd earnestly
to have been there to have partakcn the honor
and danger with their fellow soldiers
Yesterday about l O'clock the bomb ketch
and 4 sliip-of-war came up from Fivc-fathom
Hole, and a signal was fired from the Commo
dore for the other ships-of-war TO Weigh anchor
At about III the ketch began to favor
Sullvan's Island with some bombs. / conld
distinctly see many of them burst in the air.
Five fell in the fort at Snllivan's Island, but
did no other damage than slightly wonnding
one man. The Solebay, of % guns, which
ahead of the line, received shot from the
Island and Immediately returned it with her
whole broadside The enemy then formed III
two lines to attack the fort Oh Sulvans Island
In the first line the Bristol of so guns, the
Soebay, OF %, the Active of % and ii 4O-yun
vessel which l am told is called the Roebuck
(I am not sure of her name, but certain of her
strength, for | could plainly see her guns.) In
the second line was the Syrcn of % and two
other fryates whose names | do not know;
behind them the bomb ketcl and Il heavy
hulk of vessel something like our Prosper.
\ brisk and heavy cannonade Was kept up at
first, both from the ships and the fort Some
shot from the fort put their second line into
disorder and carried away the bow-srrit Of one
of the frigates; and they were near that
bank of sand which runs out from the fort
towards Sullvans Island, and then turns
towards Cummin's Point Called the Lower
Middle.) the two ships, whose names l do not
know, aground there. The first line of the
enemy appeared to at this place to be about
six or seven hundred yards from the Island
but from them hear they were with" 800
yards. All the twenty-six Founders were
pointed at the Bristol. and about two hours
after the cannonading began, she received SO
much damage that she was obliged to draw
back but still continued to fire, though not so
hrskly as before
At about 3 O'Clock the Fort had expended all
its ammunition Git had thirty odd rounds to
each gun aud thirty two guns.) The shipping
still kept up heavy cannonade; the Fort
could not return it. In about two hours they
got a supply of 20 lbs of yunpowder from
Tufts, and 500 lbs. from Haddrels Point
They fred again, but slowly and with great
Judgment. Night came on, and the cannOnadc
still continued on both Sides and the greatest
number of our shot (if we may Judge from the
noise they made against the sides OF the shilS)
fired near fifty for \ little after 8 O'Clock
the ships thought they were sufficiently battered
and ceased firing, and half after nine began
fl,nir OIL cf.,ttn in Eiyp
Fathom Hole
One of the ships which ran aground got off
again: the other (at least twenty-gun ship
stuck fast there Upon being fired at from
the Island this morning, she returned the lire;
the Island fired again The men then that
were on board her loaded al! their guns, set
her on fire, got into her boats leaving all the
colors fyiny aboard the ships, and row ed off to
the rest of the fleet. When she burnt down
to her cannon, she gave noble discharge. A
boat from the Island went Oh beard Of her and
brought away her Jack. She is almost burnt
down to the waters edge; in u little while we
shall scarcely the remains OF her. lie
ships that warped of must have rcceived con
siderable damage, in general the shot from
the Island WAS exceedingly well placed. The
Briston's mzzen mast is this moment fallen
down, doubtless in consequence OF the shot she
got yesterday. Several parts Of the ship. and
some parts OF the cabin, have noated up to town
SO that believe they have met with Il feccp-
tion they little expected.
The officers and men at the Island, [ am in
! formed behaved with the greatest bravery
aud notwithstanding so heavy canonadc for
i ten hours, we had but ten men killed and
| TWENTY-FIVE wounded. There were only Moul-
/ tries Regiment, consisting of about $50 men,
and thirty Of Roberts Artillery, i'll the Forts
The officers behaved nobly, and pointed every
gun themselves; and what is remarkable
| though there was not man killed but What
was close to an officer, yet only Lieut.. Ora,
was slightly wounded by splinter from car
riage in his thigh, and a spent La!i on !:
breast Lieuts Hall aud Mazyck received tW'
commissions in their faces. The iirst man tla
was killed was Corporal OF Grcnadiers Th
rest of the men who belonged to his gun III
mediately threw him off the platform wit
their hand-spikcs, crying ont, Revenge! let U
/ revenge our comrade's death." and imlned;at tel
returned to their gun with the greatest eager
ness.
/ The enemy shot away the flagstaff. with ou
| colors A grc.iadier immediately ran thrOng
a shower Of grape shot and stuck the eoiors u
on a pike One Mcdonald, a sergeant i
Capt Frank Huger's company, being mortalI
wounded, as they were carrying him away crie
/ ont IL :.m killed my brethren, but don't Ie
liberty expire with mel" While this l,appene
at the en,i of Suilivan's Island, where this for
is, the enemy, whose troops arc OH long Islam,
| attempted to pass over to that end of Sullivan
| island which was nearest to them, but receive
| TLCmSou,S