The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-15
VOL. KIN l3

| rs we team away the steamer near Moul-
eIe haSing The hostile cutter in tow. steams
| away into Swash chan mel evidently with the
| .n1ntoh OF cutting off our retreat bnt she
| soon abandons the chase, and we sail ont, with :
| oat man killed or wounded, with our stores
| hhharmed, and proceed unmoIes ted, robabiy
| on our homerard Journey
| Atter the brief but exciting experience OF
| tne morning, am prepared without hesita-
| uon, to concur with the captain in the cpin-
| ION that ii Is very unpleasant to be fired at
| with hard cannon balls, without any chance
| 10 fire back. wish TO say, however. that no
| one on board displayed any symptoms OF fear.
| Capt. Mctsowan. and the pilot, Mr. Brewer
were probably especial marks for the Morris
| Island battery, since good shot through the
| wheel-house would have been most disas-
| trous. The soldiers, although wo-thirds of
| them are recruits, appeared to be quite indif-
| fe<ent to the music, while the officers agreed
| that 1t was scandalous that they could not
| fight back.
| Soon after crossing the bar of the Charles
| ton har Dor, on our homeward coast, we met
| fine sailing vessel, the Emily ST. Pierre, of
Charleston. Captain McGowan stopped and
hailed her.
"W here do You hail from Z" said he.
Prom Liverpool" was the reply.
"Wnither bound ;"
"ro Charleston"
"What flag do you sail under p
$50 far, under the American flag"
"rhsn you can't go into Charleston" said
our captain. "They will not let the American
flag go into that port. was just driven out
i
sailing under the American flag''
"Then suppose l must 90 In under the
Palmetto Aag,' sand he OF the Emily st. Pierre.
"Then i ought TO take YOU" shouted our
| captain, with energy. wv ar has bean declared
| they have fired upon me and you are u lawful
| prize"
| "You can do what you like" replied the
other with a voice which seemed to be trent :
| lous from some cause or another, you are
| the stronger party
Captain MCGOWAN concluded that, inas-
| much AS he had not at present commission
! from Government, he would let the Emily St
Pierre go her way, but declared that il he had
his commission it would be delightful to bring
her off after the treatment he had received this
morning from Charleston.
The military men on board highly compli-
10 en- ted the South Carolinians on their shoot
ing in this first attempt. They say 1t was
well done; that all which was needed was a
little better range, which they probably could
have obtained in n few minutes. Their line
was perfect and the opinion Is expressed that
some one had charge of the guns who under
stood his business.
"It was very good sport for them, remarked
one of our officers, "to shoot at us, and there
was nothing to trouble them. They had 1t all
their own way. But when Uncle Sam gets
man of war in the channel throwing shells
into that sandhill. they will learn the differ
ence."
Two guns were employed the smaller, it is
believed, a twelve-pounder, and the larger u
thirty-two FOUNDER This, however, is only
well manned. They were fired rapidly and
with a will.
One OF the officers hazarded a joke soon after
we left the Charleston harbor. The people
of Charleston" he remarked, "prde them
selves upon their hospitality, but it exceeds
my expec tation. They gave MS several 6affs
before we landed
1t is believed that if the South Carolinians
had not made Il mis- take we should have par
taken OF their hospitality, whatever IL may be,
as prisoners. If the battery on Morris island
had waited ten minutes longer before firing,
we should have been completely at their mer
cy. 1t only necessary for them 10 wait
until We We're within range OF the guns OF
Fort Moultria, and escape would have been
impossible. So that, had it not been for this
new and uneXpecte ted battery on Morris Island,
and its premature firing, we should inevitably
have fallen into the hands of the enemy, if We
had escaped shooting and drowning
Although we had surgeon on board, he had
no iiiS truments medical stores.
1t Is believed that the cutter which was in
tow of the steamboat was the William Aiken,
which was treacheronsly surrendered to the
South Carolinians by its commander
Fort Sumter.
Amy one who is familiar with the Charles
ton harbor cannot fail to appreciate the i'm
portance of Fort Sumter. From the deck OF
our vessel il had the appearance of new red
brick building. 1t completely commands the
channel Fort Moultrie and nj Morrs' Island
Our officers. however, are iii doubt whether it
commands the masked battery on that Island
ly, simply an earthWoIk cons trnc ted among
sand hills. The port holes of Fort Sumter
overlooking Morris Island We're closed, and it
is possible that the guns on that side OF the
fortress have not been mounted.
The Retnrn Voyage.
We crossed the Chaflesto ton bar, outward
bound, about O'Clock. There was then con-
sultatlon as to our future movements. The
impossibility of entering the harbor and land
ing at Fort Sumter was sufficiently apparent.
We had no instructions except to go TO Fort
Sumter, ard it was decided that the ouiy thing
to be done was to put back TO New York as
soon possible.
The weather was delightful. For three
days-Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
we had ne fires and felt no need OF oyeTcoats.
On Thursday afternoon, however, we began
to feel the Northern climate. During the night
we had very heavy head sea. On Friday we
had II smooth sea again, and this Saturday
morning we made Sandy Hook at day break.
We arrived off Warren street little after 5
O'Clock, and anchored in the stream, until Lieu
tenant W oods could report aud receive orders
relative TO the disposition OF the troops. Thus,
we concluded q sea voyage OF nearly weeks
duration and although the Star OF the West
failed to fulfill the mission on which she was
dispatched, every one who was on Loard feels
that every thing was done that could have been
done.
Distance of the Vessel from the Forts.
The Star of the West was about five eighth
OF a mile from the battery on Morris Island
When she turned we were about mile and
half from Fort Sumter and the same distance
from Fort Mouitrie. The Morris Island bat
terry is apparently about mile and quarter
from Fort Sumter. Had We not turned about
We should have soon been within less than
three-fourths of mile of Moultrie.
Since our return ii has been ascertained that
two shots took effect on the steamer; one as al
ready stated, on her port bow ana second. as
she was turning, on her starboard quarter
One shot passed between the smokestack and
the engine beam.
Ii is not true, as l learn has been stated in
some of the morning papers, that the Star OF
the West struck her coIors. We came out of
Charleston with the Stars and Stripes still
flying. A. q. II.
THE ACTION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LKGIs-
LATURR.
The Pennsylvania Senate on Friday adopted
the following preamble and resolutions;
Resolved, By the Senate and House of Repre-
santatiyes OF the Commonwealth of PennsJlva-
ma. ~ General Assembly met and 1t is hereby re-
l. That the Constitution of the United States of
America was ordained and established, rs set
sorth In It's preamble. by the people of the United
ntatss IN order TO form more perfect union, estab
iish Justice insure domestic tranquility, provide
,f LOT lns common defence, promote the; general
wellaIe, ss, ana secure the blessings Of liberty to
themselves and their posterit.; and if the peoyle
nv, any STATE IN tae Union are not in tAefuli en-
to them by the said Constitution. If their rights
under II are d,sregarded. their tranqulty disturb
imperied by the people Of another State, full and
adequate redress oSn and oug t to be provided for
such grievances through the action Of Congress
and other proper departments of the National
Government.
:. Rssoired, That the people of Pennsylvanla
entertain, and desire to cherish, the most frater-
nal for their brethren OF other States,
and are ready now, as they have ever been To co,
operate all measures needful for their welfare
security and happiness under the Consultation,
which makes US one people. That, while they
cannot surrender their love of liberty Inherited
from the founders OF their State. sealed with the
blood OF the Revolution, aud witnessed in tho his
tory OF their legislation, they nevertheless main