The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-12-26

The next morning again openeda.
bout Il 9 same hour. the navy unfortu.
nately, owing to reduction in the depth
Of water. caused by a change of wind, not
being able to get so near as yesterday,
consequently the distance was too great
to he effectual. My FIRE this day was
less rapid, and | think more efficient. than
that Of yesterday. Fort GtRea, SO efTec.
tually silenced yesterday, did not Gre a
gain to day. We silenced entirely one or
Two guns. and had one of offs disabled
by shot coming through the embrasure.
About three o'clock 6re was commun.
icated to one of the houses in Warning.
ton. aud shortly sfterwafd 10 the church
steepls. the church and the whole village
being 10 rear of soma of the rebel batter
les; they apparently having placed them
purposely direstly in front of the largest
and most valuable buildings: The fire
rapidly communicated TO other buildings
along the street until probably two thirds
Of it was consumed: and abo;it the same
time FIRE was discovered issuing from the
back part Of the Navy Yard, probably in
Wolcott. village to the north and imme.
diately adjoining the yard, as Warning.
fOn does OF the west. Finally, il penetra.
ted to the yard; and as it continued to
burn brightly all night, | concluded that
either in 1t or in Wolcott many buildings
wers destroyed. Very heavy damage
was also done to the buildings of the
yard by the avalanche of shot and shell
showered increasingly on them for two
days. and being nearly 6reproof. being
built OF brick and covered with slate, l
could not succeed in firing them. my hot
shot nor shells not having any power of
igniting them.
The steamer Time, which was at the
wharf at the time, wac abandoned on the
first day and exposed TO our FIRE, which
probably entirely disabled her. The fire
was again continued till dark, and with
mortars occasionally until 2 o'clock the
next morning, when the combat ceased.
This fort, at its conclusion, though it
has received great many shot and shell,
is in every respect. save The disabling Of
one gun carriage and the loss of service Of
six men, as cfficieit % II was at the com.
mencement Of the Combat, but the ends
I PROPOSED in commencing having bdeh
attained, except one; which I find to be
impracticable with my present means, l
do not de m it advisable furthe, to con-
tinue it unless the enemy think it proper
to do 80, when shall meet him with a.
lacrify. A.,
The attack on "Billy WiiIsoni's" camp
the attempted attack on my batteries, ant
the insult to our glorious flag. have beer
fully and frarfully avenged. | have nc
means of knowing the loss Of the enemy
and have no disposition to guess at it
The firing on his batteries was very hea
Wy, well directed and continuous for twt
days, and could hardly fail Of having i'm
portant results.
Our loss would have been heavy BID
for the foresight which. with great labor
caused US to erect elaborate means o
protection, and which saved many lives
l lost one private killed, one sergeant, ON
corporal, and four men (privates) woun
ded, only one severely.
My officers, non commissioned officer
and privates, were everything | coult
desire. They one and all performed thei
duty With the greatest cheerfulness, ant
in the mos. able and eff lent manner
am much indebted to Major ArEold
my executive officer, for his valuable as
sis,ance-his whole conduct was admira
BILE; and Captains Allen, Chal6n. Blunt
Robertson, Hildt, and Duryea; and Lieu
tenant. McFarland Langdon, Clossin
Shipley, Jackson, Pennington, Seely ant
Taylor. merit my warmest encomiums 70
the coolbess and dellberation with whicl
they performed, without one exception
their duty Under heavy and continuou
shower of shot, shells, aud splinters, 70
two successive days. Lieutenant Todd
ordnance officer, had full supplies Of a
required articles which were on hand a
the post and his department was conduc
ted with system and efficiency. Majo
Tower, Surgeon Campbell and Assistan
5 Surgeon Sutherland, in their respectiv
duties, sustained their high regulations
y Captains Robertson, Duryea, and Blunt
and Lieutenants Pennington, and Seel
| respectively commanded batteries Lincol
I Scott, Totten and Cameron, and sma
battery at Spanish Fort, and the otbe
officers batteries in the fort with distin
: guished ability. Captains Dobes an
Bailey's companies were with the Bate
les at Lincoln and Cameron.atid did ihei
/ duty faithfully and efficiently. The CON
panies of Captains Henberer, and Duty
i Of the Sixth Regiment New York voluu
teers, were successively on duty at th
!. fort, and rendered cheerfdlly importsr
assistance to me. The regular oompar
q les engaged at the batteries. all of whoI
4 performed their duty so efficiently as
4 ptecl6de my maEipga distinction, Coz
q A. F andL. First Artillery, q, Hand K
Second Artillery; and G end Il, Thir
q 1nsnty, and Companies G and I, Sixt
), Regiment New York Volunteers,'
b. In closing | tender to Flag Officer M
I Keah and Captain Ellison, Of the Navy
= and to their officers and crews my bel
!, thanks fot their able cooperation, whic
= would have had the kappiest results br
a for the unfortunate fact that great dra
q of water prevented their sufficient nei
E approach to the works OF the rebels.
!. / am, General, Very respectfully, yor
o obedient servant,
Q HInrrru NnnmM Nnlnnal Nnmmandini