Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1861-09-10

number OF troops IN the forts and camp
was nearly seven hundred
Commodore Barron was he senior
officer In command. Col. Martin. bro
,her of the Adjuiaut-G @ eneral of North
Carolina. commanded the post before
his arrival. Capt. l.. L. Clements had
charge of Camp Gwinn.
The Susqu ehannah has now arrived
and prepared TO join the action. Ii is
near 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning.
The fleet continues to advance in baule
array. The most perfect silence pre-
walls. Everything is done by signals
from the flag ship. The entire squad
ron Is In the field. Each ship is in her
place-slowly, steadily, calmly advanc-
ing. The morning continues beautiful,
and the usually rough sea of Cape Hat
teras is in perfec, calm. 1t is wonder
ful TO see such ather here at such an
hour. II looks as if the finger of the
Almighty was laid directly on the bill
lows, and had bound th EN- into quiet.
The flag, embankment, barracks and
tents of the fort are now merging into
view each moment, and the silence Is
perfectly awful.
Ten o'clock, A. M-The following
signal appears on the flag ship: +" Pre-
pare to disc 1bark the troops
Ten and a quarter.-The first gun
has just doomed from the Susquehan-
nah. 1t passes directly over the fort,
but elicils no reply. A gun follows
from the Wabash. The sand flies over
the beach in all directions where the
SHOT strikes. The firing now commen-
ces from all the ships in regular order.
The Harriet Lane has led the way
ahead of all the rest, her drums beat
ing 10 quarters. the Adelaide, with the
troops, following closely at hand. The
firing has now become rapid, aud con-
uuues for some moments, the thunder
and boom of cannon, and the bursting
Of The shells IN the air over the forts
presenting startling scene to The thou
sands who are looking on.
Ten and Il half.-Gen. Butler now
appears on the whecl-house of the
Harriet Lane, close 10y the Adelaide,
aud pointing - The selected spot, shouts
the command, Land the troops, ;"
The preparations are now going tor
tafd with great rapldny. The men
and arms are made ready, and the
lows swing for the shore. There are
no signs of movement in the fort, though
1t has replied with a few guns, all The
Shots from which fall far short Mt a
vessel is hit. The sounds Of the guns
alarms the cattle IN the woods, who
rush down to and along the beach IN
large droves-a kind of powder-horn
aruIlery;" thai will meet hearty well
come.
Eleven O'Clock. The firing of the
feet has been Increased with terrible
rapidly, and the forts reply with great
spirit. Their guunery Is remarkably
good. The troops are now landing with
artillery, IN the order p; opposed.
Eleven twenty-five Susquehannah
now changes her place in the line of
battle, aid fires a gun that makes
terrific echo. Her aim is direct, and
the result Is al once seen at The para
pets.
Twelve o'clock. = The Minnesota
opens her ports from The centre. Her
firing is most powerful aud effective.
The wind has now Increased IN a SIN
guar manner, so as TO keep us clear
from smoke, and show the forufcatonS
TO advantage, while the men Oh the
parapetS are enveloped IN clouds. The
men III the feet are thus unobslructed.
Twelve fiftecn.-The Pawnee com.
mences firing into the weeds, where ii
Is supposed the secessIouists may be ly-
ing IN ambush 10 Interfere with the
landing of our forces. The Harriet
Lane and all the remainder of the fleet
are now firing on The forts. The sound
o. the guns and appearance of the
so,,,I-e az at times sublime. A num-
h.r of clam, baiIicons, formed in wreaths
by the explosion OF smells ar seen IA
me alr al the same moment, footing IN
The sky over the trembiu : land.
Two o'clock.-The troops are now
on The shore forming into line, bearing
the beautiful hammer of our glorious
Union. 1t IS a pleasant sight in the old
North State.
Three TO five o'clock The bonn
bardment continues al intervals. Mo-
one of the vessels has yet been hIt,
though the forts have fired with the Ut
most animation.
SIX O'Clock The sky for The first
llme grows lowering towards the sea.
Ii IS evident that the SecessIonIsts are
disappointed as 10 their fire. and their
only hope now is that gale may speed
Ily arse aud scatter The fleet, bat there
is mutual disappolntment--wiih Us IN
the ship very agreeable one; WilA
those IN the forts a very dlsagreeable
one.
Nine o'clock at Night.--The sky Is
all clearing off. The sea continues
wonderfully calm, to the as!onishmrut
OF all old sailors III the feet. The
moon again appears in all her sllvery
beauty. and smiles down on the scene
Thursday Morning, 20lh.-Anothe-
splendid dly Is before US. It's the day
lhal decides the battle and gives Us the
victory. Precisely at The time appoint
ed. the firing commenced. Secession
troops had been landed al the forls du-
ring The night, brought down the Sound,
nd the guns were worked with new
,rdor and skill The firing on the