Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-14
The Attack on the star Of tae west.

The Attack on the star OF the west.
From tho Charleston Courier, Jan. IOtl
4 RELIABLE NaRR1T10S OF FAcrs.-From
the most reliable authority, eyewitness OF
The afair, we are enabled to lay before our
readers the faIIowing-account Of it:
About six aud a half O'Clock. or there
abuuts. the steamer Gen. Chuch, Capt.
&elyea. having discovered 5Ae approach Of
the Star Of the Vest signdlled The fact to
the occupants of the battery lately thrown
up on the breach At Morris Island. This YES
sci, 1t Is known. let her wharf sometime
during he evening before, with guard OF
eighty men from the ranks Of the Palmetto
Guards and the Irish Volunteers. The duty
assigned them was TO keep strict surveillance
over the Larb0r and to make such signals Is
had been agreed upon ia the event 81 the ap-
preach Of TeintOTcCmeuts 90 the fortress IN
possession Of tue United States troops as
wei q - report the approach Of any vessel
that may appear in the OdIg. II tie early
grey OF ths morning, the guard boat first
described the steamer headiag in from the
sca-aud with as much celebrity as possible.
performed the remaining part OF the task as
signed her.
As soon as signalled, the entire camp on
Morris Island was astir. There was no need
for the reveille beat 10 quarters. The men
were already At their posts before The orders
were given. For some minutes they remdin-
ed In anxious suspense. ready for what every
one believed sure 70 come. aud that-a voiley
from the heavy guns OF Sumter.
A soon Is the Star OF the West rounded
the point. she took TO what Is termed ship
Channel" inside the bar. and proceeded
straight forward, until nearly opposite the
work on MorTis's Island, not more than three
quarters OF a mile from the battery, and
within excellent range OF the guns. at this
position of aff3irs the command was given 10
fire. and bail was sent whizzing athwart
the bows of the steamer. This significant
hint to proceed no further was noticed IN no
other manner by the vessel than by display
ing a large flag of the Federal Union. As
soon as the Stars and Stripes were run up to
the masthead, the act OF defiance was met
with succession of heavy shots from the
fertilization. THE vessel continued on her
Jay, with increased speed. bus one or two
Shots taking effect. she concluded TO advance
no further. and this conclusion was FASTENED
by the shots from MOultrie, which, though
harmless and out of range OF the steamer,
still gave. evidence that hotter work was on
hand if further attempt was made to pro-
coed. ~
The Star Of the West was clearly made out
=
no mistake on this point. She was possessed
OF no armament. As soon as five or six shots
had been fred upon her from Morris Island.
and as many more from Moultrie, it was cyl
dent that she would lower her colors TO half
mast. She veered about so as to avoid any
further messengers Of this Kind from the for
tilications. which, with one or two more dis
charges, finally ceased.
The damage done the steamer was very tri-
fling, only TWO Of about seventeen sbots-all
that was fired-took effect upon her One
struck the vessel about the forward part OF
the bow, The others amidsbips, in the vicinity
of the wheel house. No idea of the extent
of damage dOne could be ascertained. indeed
il could not have been known whether she
bad been struck at all bad il not been for the
heavy, dull sound, and subsequent crash, al
ways accompanying the ball that makes its
mark in a naval engagement. at all events
she could not have beer badly Injured or
disabled. for even while the fling continued
she rouaded to and started Oh seaward As
soon a. this intention was shown all fring
was instantly suspended.