Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-18
GNortester 4ailp SPY,
From Bancroft's History of the United States.
THE BATTLE OF FORT MoULTRIE
2sth of June, 177O.

Seth of June, 177O.
rConcuded.l
The slow intermtted fire which was skilful.
ly directed against the commodore and the
brave seamen on board the Bristol" shatter.
ed that ship, and carried wounds and death.
Never had the British squadron experienced
so rude an encounter. Neither the tide
the wind suffered them to retire. Once the
springs on the cables of the Bristol were
swept away as she swung round with her
stern toward the fort, she drew upon herself
the fire of all the guns that could be brought
to bear upon her. The slaughter was dread
full. OF all who in the beginning of the action
were stationed on her quarterback, not one
escaped being killed or wounded. AT one
moment, it is said, the commodore stood there
alone, an example OF unsurpassed intrepidity
and firmness Morris, his captain, having his
forearm shattered by chain shot, and also
receiving a wound in his neck, was taken into
the cockpit but after submitting to amputa-
ton he insisted on being carried on the quar-
ter-deck once more, where he resumed the
command, and continued it, till he was shot
through the body, when, feeling dissolution
near, he commended his family to the provi-
dence of God and the generosity OF his coun.
try. Meantime the eyes of the commodore
and of all on board his fleet were "frequently
and impatiently," and vainlyt turned toward
the enemy. If the troops would but cooperate
lie was sure of gaining the island; for at about
one O'Clock lie believed he had siienced the
guns of the rebels, and that the tort was OH the
point of being evacuated. If this were So Gin
ton atterward asked him, "why did you not take
possession OF the fort, with the seamen and
marines whom you practiced for that pur-
pose g. And Parker's reioinder was thai he
had no prospect of speedy support from Gin
ton. But the pause was owing TO the scar
city of POWDER of which the little that remain.
ed to MOultrie, was reserved for the musketry
as defence against an expected attack from
our land forces. Lee should have replenish~
ed his stock; but in the heat of the action
Moultrie received from hi::. this le tier "If
you should unfortunately expend your ammu.
milton without beating off the enemy, or drv.
ing them on ground, spike your guns and
retreat"
A little later better gift and better mes
sage came from Rutledge, now at Charleston
81 send you five hundred pounds of powder
You know our collection is not very great.
Honor and victory to you and our worthy
countrymen with you. Do not make too free
with your cannon. Be cool and do mischief!'
These five hundred pounds of powder, with
two hundred pounds from schooner lying at
the back of the fort, were all the supplies that
Moultrie received. All three in the afternoon,
Lee, on report from his aide de. camp Byr
sent Muhlenburgs Virginia Rifemen to rein
force Thompson. A little before five, Moul.
trie was able TO renew his fire. AT about five
the marines in the deep tops, seeing lieuten-
ant with eight or ten men remove the heavy
barricade from the gateway to the fort, thought
that Moutrie and his party were about to re-
treat but the gateway was unbarred to re-
ceive a visit from Lee The officers halt
naked, and begrimed with the hot days work,
respectfully laid down their pipes as he drew
Dba
three guns, aft which he said to Moultrie,
Colonel, see you are doing very well here,
you have no occasion for me, l will go up to
town again; and thus he left the fort.
When, at lew minutes past seven, the sun
went as.s4s IN a blaze OF ljght -hattls-sFds
still raging, though the British showed signs
of WEAKNESS The inhabitants of Charleston,
whom the evening sea-breeze collected on the
battery, could behold the flag OF crescent lib
erty still proudly waving; and they continued
gazing anxiously, till the short twilight was
suddenly merged in the deep darkness of
southern night, when nothing was seen but
continual flashes, followed by peals as it were
OF thunder coming out from a heavy cloud.
Many thousand shot were fired from the ship
ping, and hardly hut or tree on the island
escaped unhurt; but the works were very lit
tie damaged, and only one gun was silenced
The firing from the fort continued slowly
heard to strike against the ships tmbers.
just after nine O'Clock, great part of Ills am
munition being expended in cannonade of
about ten hours, his people tatigued, the
Bristol" and the Experiment" made nearly
wrecks, the tide of ebb almost done, with no
prospect of help from the army at the east
ward, and no possibility of his being of any
further service Sir Peter Parker resolved to
withdraw. AT balfpast nine his ships slipped
At,-1.. II. i a.
to their previous moorings.
Of the four hundred and thirty-five Ameri
cans in the fort, who took part in this action,
all but eleven remained alive, and OF these but
26 were wounded. At so small cost of
life had Charleston been defended and prov
ince saved. When, after cannonade of about
ten hours, the firing ceased, the inhabitants Of
Charleston remained in suspense, till boat
from Moultrie announced his victory. AT
mornings dawn the "Acteon" frigate was seen
fast aground about four hundred yards from
the fort. The "Syren" had got off; and SO
too had the "Sphinx," yet with the loss of her
bowsprit Some shots were exchanged, but
the company of the "Acteon" soon set fire TO
her and deserted her. Men from the fort
boarded her while she was on fire, pointed and
discharged two or three of her guns at the
commodore, and loaded their three boats from
her stores In one halt of an hour after they
abandoned her, she blew up and TO the eyes
of the Carolinians, the pillar of smoke, as it
rose over the vessel, took the form of the pal
metto.
The "Bristol" had forty men killed and sew
enty one men wounded. Lord William Camp
bell received confusion in his left side and
after suffering two years died from its effects
Sir Pt ter Parker was slightly injured. About
seventy balls went through his ship; her miz-
zen mast was so much hurt that it fell early
the next morning. The mainmast was cut
away about fifteen feet below the hounds and
the broad pendant now streamed from the jury
mast, lower than the foremost. She had suf-
fered so much in hull, mast and rigging that
but for the stiffness of the sea she must have
gone down. On board the "Experiment"
twenty-three were killed and fifty-six wound
ed; Scott, her captain, lost his left arm, and
was otherwise so severely wounded, that his
life was long despaired of the ship was so
much damaged, her mizzen gaff was shot
away. The whole loss OF the British fleet in
killed and wounded, was two hundred and
five. The royal governors of North and
South Carolina, as well as Clinton and Corn.
wallis and seven regiments were witnesses of
the defeat. Tie commodore and the general
tory INDUCED in reciprocal elimination No.
thing remained for the army but to quit the
sands of Long Island, yet three weeks more
passed away before they embarked in trans.
ports for New York under the single convoy
OF the "Solebay' frigate the rest of the
fleet being under the necessity OF remaining
longer to refit.
On the morning of the 9th, Charleston liar-
Dor was studded with sails, and alive with the
voice OF men, Fastening to congratulate the
victors. They crowded round the deliverers
with transports of gratitude; they gazed adj
miringly on the unipjured walls of the fortress;
the ruinous marks of the enemy's shot on