Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-21

2
invention Of the war Of 1872 that rendered Uu
J ca3non 50 effective during that struggle.
AT one O'Clock the genners Of this little fort ha
discharged their last cartridge and ceased iirine
90 soon as this was discovered By The enemy, the
move 70 and hred IN shower Of shot and shell tol
great Tor men IN defenceless condition to Will
stand, After, spiking their cannon they retreate,
70 Fort Aasteas- portion Of the feet then wen
up to the beach, and prepared to land five thoussnl
, men; which We expected had been safely accom-
pished, nor had we any means of ascertaining wha
} was actually done, as their occnpafiou at For
Ciark rendered our Communication With the Island
impossible. The Monticello endeavored to rur
through the inlet and cut OF our Portsmouth rein
foreements which were then coming up. As soou
as she entered the inlet she cane within range
Oh the short thirty-twos Of Fort HatteFas for the
nrst time, and was fired into with such rapiditY
that, besides the damage to her upper decks Killing
several, seven shots entered below water line
before she could haul of. So soon as we
mad landed, which was done under q heavy
nre, our boats left for Washington and NeWbern
1or other recruits thus rendering timely retreat
impossible. IEwss suggested that we should re-
take Fort Clark during the night and several Of te
officers were more than anxious to attempt IT, But
IS the cannon In the Fort had been Imperfectly
spiked, it was now q formidable battery fo- the
enemy g defense. A Pifed cannon battery had also
been erected on the ridge beyond the fort, and.
more than al, we have no means of ascer-
tanning whether al of the five thousand seen
landing up the beach had succeeded in doing
so or not. Our scouts, however, said they had.
Thus, frem our best information, we must storm
and retske Fort Clark, and also q battery Of two
rlfed cannon and five thousand men, and only four
or five hundred men could be sent from our fort
against them. have mentioned these particulars
in answer to the question so frequently asked why
we did not attack the three hundred men on the
shore?
Commodore Barron came in some time during
the night Of the 18th August to whom the whole
command was Immediately delivered But so soon
as he had an opportunity Of inspecting the fort and
Its prospects Of defence, said that would be un-
able to hold the fort an hour II was then tao lase
to retreat and by far too late to mount the cannon
which had been lying for months on the platforms
The morning Of the 29th came, and with it also the
preparations for heavy bombardment. The loss
Of Fort Clark then enabled their line of ships TO be
planted in good anchOFing ground. But such was
heir distance, that we could reach them with only
gun Of the three that could be brought to bear
Ipon them. After the enemy had ascertained our
elevation they opened and kept up bombardment
If thirty bombs per five minutes. After this had
continued for some hours shell entirely dislodged
he only gun that would reach, aad this, too was
'ur only hope Of defenee One gun of heavy cali
re had been sent to this point, and was lying on
he beach unmOunted. Shot and shell for il, II
ave learned, had not been sent. This gun would
ave done effective service had it been in !
osltion. For this positive neglect l am uu-
l.
on who, learn, is severely eensured, could not
least be responsible for this neglected and de-
sneeless condition Of the fort as his arrival was
One time during the previous night Our hope of
efenee now being gone, We looked only to our J
While two or three hundred were |
rOtected by the bOmbFproof the remainder of Us {
ought shelter from each broadside behind the par
pets and walls Of the fort This we succeeded in .
Oing until about 10 o'el0ck, at which time bomb
ltered the ventator of the proof and came In con
Fh>r -. l.
q FIRE. There was Immediately terrer stricken a
ush into the open fort, and no longer could our /,
len be constrained to be still or remain in securi-
: behind the walls and parapets. Now nearly six 9
1Rdred men were scattered over the fort, which e
as only two hundred feet square with scarcely A y
lell falling cut of their midst It was then that
II men began to fsu thick and fast. It was then, y
I'd not until then, amid the HnceasiDg explosions n
these messengers Of DEATH that the conviction OF
IT utter helpessness was fully realized, and the :
la communication Of Indifferent neglect on the part
officials who had been frequently spprized Of eur
ndition, and the threatenings of the enemy, was b
st closing the drama with dispute to themselves At
ID destruction to rs. Thus, when madness alone :,
Ould have attempted longer to hold restless =
IT. and nothing could be gained by dying amid its
altered walls, our eolers were struck Is
But let Ssk whether lose or gain by the sur n
nder. The first gain is that Old Rip is somewhat
Vakened from her lethaFey by the loss of the post
neither she for the loss Of her sons or not sc
IL Wnelner TINS severe CRASH upon her sons, by nC
Yankees, will prove radically beneficial or not N
mains as yet to be seen. It is my special purpose
this connection, to speak of the service OF our i
orthy Commodore, who, it may be seen from these Va
cts, is free from any blame that may be attached n
him. He could not have been responsible for the :
sssters of the previous day, because he was not
ere Nor for those of the second day, tecause Of n
r helpless condition. rendered by the neglect Al
others, and was then beyond redress. Now, if n
the time, manner or terms of espitulation, we Il,
in an advantage, we are indebted 60 him for it. ~
e surrender was made in time to save life and in II
manner to secure the proper terms of capitula- bs
n, and those terms secured to us the treatment vs
e to prisoners of war, and to the Southern Con
leracy the first and as yet the only claim to re- .,
gniton as belligerent power, upon the Federal n
Such was the loss Of diplomacy to 80
I'm and gain to u.s. thst for these assurances Com ~
'dOre Stringham was forced to resign his posi-
n, and with him also seven of the naval officers In
der his command. W
Yours, most respectfully. %
JOSEPH d. BARNES, Released Prisoner. ~