New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-08-12

rHE fspr nlth3sEssEEs EE8aES OFF
On Saturday, Sd inst, the blockading schooner
Dart exchanged five or ak shots with the batteries
on Galveston Island, without damage to either I
side, the distance being about two miles. This |
was intended as a feeler, for on the following Mon
day the steamer South Carolina tried her hand at
it. and actually threw shells into the city. The
Galveston News gives the following account of the
affair:
The South Carolina, with one of her armed
prizes in tow, and followed by the Dart, left her
usual station off Bolivar Peninsula east Of the city
between 3 and 4 O'Clock, and came down the
island, some four five miles off shore, to point
opposite the extreme east end of the city There
size turned, dropping the vessel in tow, which re-5
mained there; and The propeller ran up towards
the bar, to nearly opposite the two Beach bat!
teres in charge OF capt ochneldefs Iurher HINES
from Houston.
Id the meantime, onr steamer, the ten. Rusk,s
Capt Leon Smith, being armed and manned, got
up steam and moved towards the bar--Iefhaps to
run ont and catch one or two OF the y mosquito y
fleet, should the steamer give her chance, or per'
haps simply to keep sharp lookout.
This move attracted the propeler's notice, and
for while she seemed disposed e wat tor tne
Rusk but presently she wheeled to the west,
moved down a short distance, turned her PROV
eastward and coming in to about two rulles from
the shore, moved slowly and steadily towards our
batteries.
y
second story OF a residence abont mile from the
beach, and half a mile west OF fremont street;
Her sides CLEANED in the evening sun she seemed
to be almost within rifle shot, so distinctly was she
visible; and she stole along SO quietly and noise
lessly as almost to seem not to move Of ALL Look-
ing out we could see-the housetops and galleries
in every direction occupied by absorbed lockers
on and glancing towards the city there, too, the
look-outs and tall roofs presented groups OF OBJ
servers.
Col. Moore had speedily repaired to the batteries.
He was accompanied by several volunteers, Capt.
Andrew Neill of Galveston Guards Company b !;
Lieutenant Mason Of the Galveston Rifles, Mr..
Hamilton, and MI. Cave, OF the siVliian, VINO
promptly offered his services as aid-de-camp, and
they were at once accepted.
Col Moore, while experimenting both batteries
took personal charge Of gun No. in the fremont
street battery, and Messrs Neill, Mason and Ham
iton assisted in working It. The second piece IA
| this battery was in charge Of Ordnance Sergeant
\ g. Fl. Schroeder, Lieut.. Wrichin command OF the
| men. In the second battery, which is abont 400
| yards to the east Of the other Lieut.. Rottenstein
and Sergeant Brunow had charge of the two big
| black 32-pounders. Capt. Schneider who was an
officer in the Pruasan service and ls strict estscl-
| plinarian MS well as cool and active commander,
assisted Col. Moore in his general duties. His men
| were even more ready and anxious for the light
than in the morning skirInsht and the courage
skill, activity and ardor they displayed working
4 their guns and executing all orders given them
4 are deserving of especial notice !.
i The Dart came sailing down fn front Of the bat
L
no avail. The steamer had now come almost to
standstill. She was within range, and seemed tt
dare attack. She had not long to wait. Gel
Moore sighted No. at her, aud in . moment affe
the white smoke rose above the breastTorks, ant
4 the laundering report that shook the earth ant
filed the air, announced that the contest had be
gun.
ute a puff of white smoke issued from her PROV
as She still continued slowly on: the heavy
report rang out, and then the sharp hum OF shel
was distinctly heard.
II Again. again and again TINS SLOW interchange
shots took place. the intervals pretty regular be
, tween each. Our first shots were delivered stead
lily, and evidently with care; they were in line an
went nearer the propeller each time, and on
struck 50 near her, amdshPs mat a from ar Harloo
", s. iaariea the remark was sinatant
, Gus: sAThat hit her!
Capt. Allen now began, however-much to OF
MINGLED astonshment and indignaton-to fire shell
! over the city. He had enaeavored to endlade th
guns in the batteries, but his gunners failed to h
J either the sand-bags or the men around and nea
them. He doubtless then bethonght him that, :
he had succeeded so well in opening ladies' letter.
he would be as triumphant in frightening or iniu
,, ing some of our women and children. May b
! name be Infamous Tor the dastardly deed.
Several large shells exploded high in the air Il
pieces flying in all directions, far and near. Or
~ piece trayersed the roof OF Mr.. Tankersley
: house, one square in the rear of Mr.. Browns ar
: Gen. Nichols residence, on Broadway. 1t wei
through
e through the outer plank wall into the yard.
heard of piece falling at the south side of tt
a Public Square, penetrating the roof and foor
= = Mr.. j. Dykeman's portco: and an entire bomb
n | Mr.. Closets foundry, O piece going to the Fir
i Ward Market. and one she'll burying itself nei
y Smyth's Garden, but none, fortunately, hitting at
). one, though some narrow escapes we're had. W
i were shown 32lb ball that was said to hay
II been picked up in the street, near Broadway an
~ fremont. We have been informed, also, that SON
! of the shells were found unexploded; butwe3 ca
> not hear that any of the gallant Alden's missil
: came nearer than the further part OF Mr.i4eague
.. new hotel lot, on fremont street. south Of Il
., Bayou or about half mile from the Gull. Th
is considered by many as the range Of the prope
ler's guns. from her nearest approach to the shor
81 opposite the beach batteries
). =, The British Consul's residence is near N
~ ~ Leagues, and his flag was flying, as it has be-
as for a month,.at an elevation that 1t can easily
y, 20 seen at a great distance. Another consular H
~ m was up further in the city, northeast of
10 10 Leagues but the hostile shell paid no attenti
- - to them. OF course, o man who would fire
aI women and children would care but little for 9th
Nv Nv observances of civilized warfare. ID
" large number Of people having collected
and near the sand hills, little to the eastward
~ the batteries to crafty their curiosity, shell
II among them apparently directed for that purpo
r re cutting one man in two, and carrying away m
- of his body between the shoulders and hips, q
exploding about the same time. Some two
es three others were slightly wounded with the piec
he one of whom was a son of Mr.. Menard, our wort
Deputy COlleCtOT.I Inc name OF lue HAL XII
was Frank sylvia, an Italian or Portuguese, VIII
occupation, we understand, was selling fruits, G
!, The remainder Of his body was buried the sa
l. evening.
w. This we believe, was all the harm that was dc
H., | by this first attempt to bombard our city.
al firing continued about half an hour. Some OF
@ a shells measured ten inches in diameter, and m
,t have been thrown by 6Spounder, said to be
n, steamer s pivot gun.
70 During this cannon dueo the houses OF our G
,ar were crowded with people looking at the spec
~ ~, Gle, which was in full view from most OF our iar
;Ie iIe buildings and from many of the upper balcon
''e Many who could not there get y view went to
beach or near there, their curiosity overpoWeT
, | their sense of the danger.
'ks During the firing the city rang with the shout
the people from the roofs and balconies at ev
ia discharge from the batteries, and even the lat
1at participated in the enthusiasm of the e&citems
MT uianifesting the utmost anxiety to see our s
Ia strike the steamer and sink her. The general
dignation at the outrageous attempt 10 bomb
the city without giving notice, and without
of proyocation, equally enaangefing the lives
women, children and servants, was so great tht
nm, seemed to overpower the sense OF danger g
rt r among our females. 5,
a., as Some twelve or fourteen shots were eXeban
ss srt between the shore and the steamer, She d
II; moved out to sea- firing last shell. and our
Iha replied. A number of careful lookers-on reE
wv that, with their glasses, they distinctly saw ot
y a or something like it, lowered over her side, as
~ turned away, and this, it is Thought. TO Plug
II,.1kt t1,NJy tth void