The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1861-01-30

n
~ a special correspondent on board
the Star of the West, on her last trip to
Charleston Harbor, from whose very in.
terssting account of the entire cruise, we
copy so much as relates to the attempt to
enter the harbor:
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8.
Iawoke at three O'Clock this morning
and went immediately to the upper deck,
where I found the captain, mate, pilot
and two military officers. | learned
that we arrived in the vicinity of tho
Charleston bar about midnight: that all
the coastlights had been extinguished,
and that thus far it had been impossible
to find the main channel. II is evident
from these indications that the hospita
bic South Carolinians do not mean that
we should go in without a salute.
A light was seen off the coast, but we
could not make out what it was. A
little after three o'clock we discovered the
light on Fort Sumter, and with these
exceptions everything was dark. 1t was,
of course, impossible to get over the bar
without the lighthouse, and SO we await
ed the break of day.
l have never seen a finer morning
than the one which dawned Gupon us
The sky was clear and the moor, faint
crescent of silver, had just arisen, and
the low coast looked like dense forest
of evergreen. The spires of Charleston
became visible in the approaching day
light, and on the Ills of Fort Sumter
we described the American flag floating
in the breeze.
Now, about 81 o'clock, we see the
light houses; and now, too, we discover
that the mysterious light just me. ltioned
was that of steamer at our right. Now
the situation of the channel is ascertaine |,
and we are under way; and now the
steamer at our right isburning red and
blue lights, and now she sends up rock
cts. There IS no installing her move
ment; she is giving the alarm signal to
Fort Moultrie.
On we go; the soldiers are below with
load ID muskets, and the officers are
ready TO give tie word if there is any
thing to do. Now, it is broad day light
and we are making directly into the guns
of Fort Moultrie, whose black walls are
distinctly visible. The little steamer at
our right is burning signal light aft,
and is making all possible heahway up
the Earbor. Now we discover a red
Palmetto flag at our left on Morris Island,
at little village called Cummings Point,
end apparently but little more than a
mile from Fort Sumter.
.Is it possible that those fellows have
got battery off here T. asks one.
"No," answers another; 'there is no
battery there"
But there is. 1t is now a quarter
past seven, and we are about two miles
from Fort Sumter and Moutrie, which
are equi-distant from us, and Suddenly,
whiz-z comes richochet shot from Nor
ris Island. 1t plunges into the water
and skips along, but falls short of our
steamer. The line was forward Of our
bow, and was, of course, an invitation to
stop. But we are not ready to accept
the proffered hospitality, and the captain
pays no attention to it, except to run up
the stars and stripes at the masthead
the garrison flag mentioned before. A
moment of anxious suspense, and bang
goes heavy cannon from the same
masked battery. The shot falls short OF
US hundred yards or more, and bounds
clean over our vessel aft, nearly on a
line With the head of sailor, but luckily
little above it.
On we go, and whiz-zl again goes the
smaller gun first fired, and another rich
ochet shot skips along the water and
falls short of US.
"Booh!" exclaims the captain; you
must give us bigger guns than that, boys,
or you cannot hurt us"
On we go without needing the COM
pliments of our Charleston friends, An
other momen and bang! again goes the
heavy gun. The bail now strikes our
ship in the forechains, about two feet
above the water. A seaman was hold
ing the lead to take soundings; and the
ball struck directly under his feet. 1t il
not surprising that, under the circum.
stances, Jack was strongly inclined to
take to his heels, and he begins to scram-
bic up with might and main; when the
captain assures him that there is no dan
ger, one ball having struck SO near him
on the principle, ] suppose. that lighting
never strikes twice in the same place.
Jack treasured, patiently takes his pl;c
and drops the lead again.
The ball. fortunately, WIS too FAR spent
to 90 through the side of our vessel, al
though it left an honorable scar.
The battery continues to play upon us,
and huge ball comes clean over ms near
the wheel-house. We are not yet with
in range of the guns of Fort Moultrie, and
yonder is cutter, in tow of q steam
boat, preparing to open fire upon u.s.
A moment longer and we shall be in
range of these three batteries. The gun.
ners on Morris Island are growing con.
fident: if they got the right range they
will send shot through our side, scat.
sering dealt AMI destruction. Eou,trio