Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-09-11


flag amidst fight of shells.
= When the firing ceased the fort wo.
occupied ~ force and held afterwards.
Inc Monticello had proceeded a,
read OF the land force TO protect them
aud had reached the Inlet when a large
fort OF an oetagon shape, to the rear ano
right Of a small battery, mounting ten
thirty twos and four eight inch guns,
which ad I'LL then been silent, opened
on her with eight guns at short range
AT the satne instant she got aground, anc
stuck fast, the enemy pouring in fire
not and heavy, which .he Monticello ro,
piled to with shell sharply. For fifty
minutes she held her own, and finally get.
ting off the ground she came out, having
been shot through and through oy seven
eight inch shells, one going below the
water line. She fired fiftyfive shell in fif-
ty minutes, and partially silenced the
battery. She withdrew at dusk for re,
pairs, with one or two men slightly bruis.
ed, but none killed or wounded.
The escape Of the vessel crew was mi
raculous. Until this time we supposed
the day was ours but the unexpected
opening o: the large battery rather chan
ged the aspect Of affairs. Things did not
look cheerful at dark. We had men
ashore Who were probably in need Of pro-
visions, and in case of n night attack no
assistance could be SEM them from the
Harriet Lane.
As We lay close in shore we saw the
bright bivouac fires on the beach, with
groups of men about them. The night
passed without an alarm, tho enemy, as
Te have since learned, laying on their
arms all night, expecting an attack.
AT early daybreak on Thursday the
men went TO quarters in the fleet, and at
quarter past eight, the vessels having
borne down nearer than the previous days
position, the action began, the Susque--
hanna opening the days work by n shell
from one Of the eleven-iuch guns. The
Minnesota and Wabash joined in imme-
diately, and again the kum of shell and
their explosion were heard They fired
nearly half an hour before the battery
responded, when it answered briskly. -
Our fire was more correct than on the
previous day. The range had been OBJ
tanned, and nearly every shot went into
the battery, throwing up clouds Of sand
and exploding with terrific effect.
AT twenty-five minutes past ten the
Harriet Lane opened fire. and soon after
Cumberland came in from the ofiirg and
joined in the attack. The Harriet | ane,
with her ritled guns, did good execution,
several projectiles from the elgLt.inch
shell going into the battery, and, and one
going directly through the ramparts -
The fire was so hot that all the enemy
that could do so got into 5omb-proof in
the middle OF the battery.
Fi1ally, at five minutes past eleven A.
NJ, an II inch shell having pierced the
bOmb-proof through a vontiator and ex-
p!oded inside near the magizine, the en-
emy gave UP the fight and raised over the
ramparts white flag
We Immediately ceased fire. Gen.
Butler went into the Inlet and landed at
the fort and demanded an Unconditional
surrender.
Commodore Barron, Assistant Secretary
of the Confederate Navy, asked that the
officers be allowed to march out with side
arms, and the men be permitted to return
their homes sitter su.Tcnde:mg their arms.
These terms were pronounced inadmissa-
bic by General Butler and fnally the
Articles OF capituation were signed on
the flagship by Commodore StrlnCham
and General Butler on the part of the u
nited States, and by Commodore Barren,
Colonel Martin and Major Andrews on
the rel el side, and the latiers' swords de.
livered up.
BY the surrender we came in possession
of one thousand stard of arms, thirty-tive
heavy guns, ammunition for the same,
q large amount OF hospital and other
stores. two schooners-one loaded with
tobacco and the other with provisions;
one brig loaded with cotton, two light
boats, two surf boats &c.
The enemy's loss they allow 10 be eight
killed and thrty.fv wounded. Eleven
of the latter were left at the hospital at
Annapolis.
We took forty-fve officers prisoners,
many of high rank.
The prisoners are on board the Mime
sofa, and will be carried TO New York,
where you may expect them in a few
days.
Our victory was complete ard brill
liant one. We lost not life. nor had
we more than one, if any, wounded. Our
men retain possession of both forts.
| forgo, to mention that Lieut.. w. ii.
Murdaugh late OF the United States Ma
w, had his arm shot of, but escaped, with
Others, in steamers that waited in the
Sound, out of range OF our cannon, until
the forts surrendered, when they escaped,
with three privateer schooners, down the
sound. Lieut.. Murdaugh was formerly
an officer of the United States Navy. He
is a native and citizen Of and receive lis
appointment from the State of Virginia.
he entered the service on the 5th of Sep.
tember, 1871, and received his commis>
sion OH the 18th September, 1854. ltI
will thus be seen that he has had nearly
20 years experience. lie was attached
TO the frigate Sabine previous to joining
the rebels.
regret to add that ihe Harriet Lane,
ON Thursday, while attempting TO enter
the Inlet, went shore, and though guns,
&C.. we're heaved overheard, she had not
been got off when we left She is some-
what strained, but makes no water. and
.tropo homes were pntertairad of peilin