The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-05-02

two of the guns on Cummings Point
battery. A new English gun which
was employed by the enemy, was fired
with great accuracy. Several of its
shots entered the embrasures of Sum-
ter, one of them slightly wounding four
men. The full effect of our firing we
have been unable to ascertain, having
nothing to rely upon but the reports of
the enemy. Our men owe their safe
ty to the entirely extraordinary care
exercised by the officers in command.
A man was kept constantly on the look
out, who would cry shot" or shell" !"
at every shot the enemy made, thus af-
fording the men ample opportunity to
seek shelter. The workmen were at
first rather reluctant to assist the SOL
diers in handling the guns, but they
gradually took hold and rendered valu-
able assistance. But few shots were
fired before every one of them was des-
perately engaged in the conflict.
We had to abandon one gun on ac-
count of the close fire made upon it.
Hearing the fire renewed with it, went
to the spot. / there found party of
workmen engaged in serving it. / saw
one of the workmen STOPPING over with
his hands on his knees, convulsed with
joy, while the tears rolled down his
powder r-begrimmed cheeks. "What
are you doing here with that gun % l
asked. "Hit it right in the CENTER"
was the reply, the man meaning that
bis shot had taken affect in the center of
the Floating Battery.
The aim of the enemy was princi-
pally directed at our flagstaff, from
which proudly waved the Stars and
Stripes. After two days incessant fir
ing, the flag staff was finally shot away.
The effect of the enemy's shot, on
the officers quarters particularly, was
terrific. One tower was SO Completely
demolished that not one brick was left
standing upon the other. The barracks
caught fire on the first day several
times, and were.put out several times
, by Mr.. Hart, of New Y ork ). vol
T unteer, who particularly distinguished
!, himself for his GOODNESS and bravery,
Eassisted by others. Half million Of
dollars will hardly suffice to repair the
damage done to the Fort. On the sec
lond day it caught fire from a ten inch
, she'll, the danger TO be encountered in
the attempt to extinguish it being sc
!, great that the Major concluded not to
l attempt it. The effect of the fire was
more disastrous than we could have
supposed. The subsequent shots o.
the enemy took more effect in conse
quence; the walls were weakened, and
!. we were more exposed. The mair
gates were destroyed by the fire, thu:
u leaving us exposed to the murderou:
: fire of the enemy. Five hundred mer
: could have formed on the gorge aDG
: marched on us without our being able
to oppose them. The fire surrounded
: the Fort on all sides. Fearful that tht
: walls might crack, and the shells pierce
\ and prostitute them, we commenced
taking the powder out of the magazin,
before the fire had fully enveloped it
= = We took ninety-six barrels of powde
: out, and threw it into the sea, leaving
! 200 barrels in. Owing to the lack o
. cartridges we kept five men inside tn,
: magazine, sewing as we wanted them
thus using up our shirts, sheets
blankets, and all the available materia
J. in the fort. When we were finall,
It obliged to close the magazine, and ou
l. material for cartridges was exhausted
e we were left destitute of any means t.
l. continue the contest. We had eater
S our last biscuit thirty-six hours before
We came very near being stifed witt
the dense livid smoke from the burning
buildings. The men lay prostrated ol
4 the ground, with wet handkerchief
over their mouths and eyes, gaspin!
!. for breath. 1t was moment of i'm
minent peril. If an eddy of wind ha,
d not ensued, we all probably, shoul'
e have suffocated.
n The crushing of the shot, the burst
IS ing of the shells, the falling of tn
e walls, and the roar of the flames, mad
n a pandemonium of the fort. We ney
n ertheless kept up steady fire. Towar
e the close of the day ex-senator Wig
o fall made his appearance at the EN-
e brasure with a white handkerchief o
Vic Cuu VI oWOiNs teuu OCSSSo iOi az
d mittance. He asked to see Major Ar
d derson. While Wigfall was in the &C
d of crawling through the embrasurt
,e Lieutenant Snyder called out to hin
l. 4" Major Anderson is at the main gate.
h He passed through the embrasure int
y the casemate, paying no attention
D. what the Lieutenant had said. Her
N he was met by Capt. Foster, Lieu
" Mead, and Lieut.. Davis. He said: {"
a. wish to see Major Anderson; 1 am Ger
lie Wigfall, and come from Gen. Beaurt
Is gard"
f. He then added in an excited manne
,r "Let us stop this firing. You are o
d fire, and your flag is down. Let u
IS quit"
d. Lieut.. Davis replied, No, Sir, ou
E. flag is not down. Step out here an
t. you will see it waving over the ran
It. parts"
is "Let us quit this" said Wigfal
ID "Here's a white flag, will anybod
ut wave it out of the embrasure 2"
s. One of the officers replied, "That
a. for you to do if yel choose"
is W:Ssaaii ::SSssaii responded, eli there is n
re one ~ xx,;ll - o,1 ;unoninc, intn I'll