Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-01-16

their attack upon Governor Stevens.
Lieutenant Webb has served in Washington
territory, Texas, Florida, and went to Utah In
the winter Of 1857 He was detached from his
regiment and had charge Of a heavy battery
He also constructed the works at Fort Brid-
ger, and was subsequently on General John
ston's staff for year He left Utah In April
and has since at been Governors Island.
Lieutenant Thomas has served mostly In Tex
as, and has been, at different times, at nearly
every post In that State.
DR.. Ten Brock was graduated at the College
of Physicians and Surgeons, and entered the
service In l847, shortly after the battle of Cerro
Gordo. He served In the Castle of San Juan
and Vera Cruz, and subsequently In the city of
Mexico. After peace was declared he served
on the Texan frontiers.
LIoHTs OUT ON. THE COAST.
"WEDNESDAY. January 9.
lawoke at three o'clock this morning, and
went Immediately to the upper deck where |
found the captain, mate. pilot, and two military
officers. learned that we arrived In the vicin.
ity of Charleston bar about midnight; that all
the coast lights had been extinguisbed, and that
thus far 1t had been impossible TO hnd the main
channel II is evident from these indications
that the hosptable South Csrolinians do not
mean that we should 60 in without salute.
THE MORNING.
have never seen finer morning than the
one which dasned upon us. The sky was clear,
and the moon, faint crescent of silver, had
Just arisen, and the low coast locked like a
dense forest of evergreen. The spires at
Charleston became visible In tho approaching
daylight, and on the walls of Fort Sumter
we deserted the American flag floating In the
broeze.
THE ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE HLRBoR = ATTACK OF
! THE BATTERY.
On We 60; the soldiers are below with loaded
muskets, and the officers are ready to give the
word If there is anything todo. Now It lie broad
daylight, and we are making directly into the
guns OF Fort Moultrie, whose black walls sre
distinctly visible. The little steamer at our
right is burning signal light aft, and is ma
kiag all possible headway up the harbor. Now
: we discover red Palmetto flag at our left on
Morris Island, at little village called Cum
mings Point, and apparently but little more
than mile from Fort Sumter.
"Is it possible that these fellows have got 0
, battery off here1" asked one.
"No," answers another; "TheFe 10 no battery
, there"
} But there ia. 1t is now quarter past seven
. and we are about two miles from Fort Sumptei
and Moultrie, which are equi-distant from US
{ and, suddenly, whiz comes a Tiehochst sho
from Morris Island. 1t plunges into the water
and skip5 along, but falls short of our steamer
The line was forward Of our bow, and was, ol
course an invitation to stop. But we are not
ready to accept the profered hospitality, and the
captain pays 10 attention to II, except to run nI
the stars and stripes at the masthead-the gar.
I rison flag mentioned before. A moment of anx-
ious suspense, and bang goes heavy cannon
. from the same masked battery. The shot fall
!. short Of us hundred yards or more, and bound
g clean over our vessel aft, nearly on line will
the head Of sailor, but, luckily little abov
it.
On we 20, and-whiz again goes the smalle
gun first fred, end another Yihcochet shot skip
: along the water, aud fails short of us.
"Booh - exclaims the captain; 'you mus
give us bigger guns than that, boys, or you can
j. not hurt rs."
!, On we go, without needing the complipen
Of our Charleston friends. Another momen
: and bang again goes the heavy gun
. The ball now strikes our ship In the for
- chains, about two feet above the water. 4
seaman was holding the lead to take the sound
ings, and the ball struck directly unier his feet
Il is not surprising that, under the circumstan.
ces, Jack was strongly inclined to take TO hi
!. heels, and be begins to scramble up with nigh
n and main, when the captain assures him the
!. there is no danger, one ball having struck q
g near himi on the principle, / suppose, tina
a lightning never strikes twice in the same place
\ Jack, treasured, patiently takes bis place an,
\ drops the lead again.
The ball, fortunately, was too far spent to e,
:. through the side of opr vessel, although it lef
/ an honorable scar.
}, The battery continues to play upon US, and
{ huge ball comes clean over US near the wheel
house. We are not yet within range of th
guns Of Fort Moultrie, and yonder is cutie
in tow Of aseaDboat. preparing to open fir
, upon us. A moment longer aud we shall be Il
range of these three batteries. The gunner
on Morris Island are growing confident; II the
get the right range they will send shot thro
! our side, scattering death and destruction.-
!, Moultrie, directly In iront, will bring her heav
guns to bear and will drive their deadly missile
: into our bow, while the cutter will open on ou
! right.
Why does not Major Anderson open firo upo
that battery and save us2 We look in vain 70
help; the Am erican flag Aies from Fcrt Sumter
end the American flag at our bow and stern is fire.
: upon; yet there is not the slightest recognition
Of our presence from the fort to which we lool
|, for protection. The unexpected battery OF
Morris Island has cut off all hope of escape b,
|, running the vessel aground near Sumter an
:. . taking to- the boats. Ia 1t possible that For
y Sumter has been taken by the South Carroll
!. nians2 II it has not, why does not Major An
y deraon show that he will protect US, or 1t least
!, recognize US In some way2 To 60 within rangt
of the guns of Fort Moultrie Is to expoee yes
sci, men, and stores to almost instant destrue
tion, or to capture by the enemy.
THE RETREAT.
: "Helm out OF portl" shouts the captain, an
n the Star of the West Is turned about withou
Il any great loss of time, as you may well imagine
# We turn without accident, and steam ava,
with the stars and stripes still floating. and tn
}, battery still playing upon us by way Of par,
= ing salute. . co.
/. AS we steam away the steamer near Moultri
having the hostile cutter In tow, steams ava
,r into SWash channel evidently with the intentio
{ of cutting off our retreat; but she soon abandon
the chase, and we sail out, without man kille
or wounded with our stores unharmed, on
le proceed unmolested, probably on our homewaI
So journey.
Is AN INCIDENT ON THE SEA. lg
:; Soon after crossing the bar of the Charles
~ ~ ton harbor, on our homeward course, we met
y fine sailing vessel, the Emily ST. Pierre
= = Charleston. Captain MCGOWAN stopped al
N hailed her.
"Where do you hail from7" said he.
"From Liverpool" was the reply.
N ~ "Whither bound2"
- "To Charleston"
~ "What flag do you sail under2"
n !; 80 far under the American flag"
~ =. "Then you can't 60 into Charleston. ;" said o
y - captain. "They viii nos let the American e.
:. go into that port was just driven out of thel
10 Th nv nrad un-n me yhau waa sailing md