Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-01-15
THE STAR OF THE WEST.

WEDNEsDAY, JanuaFy9.
awOke At three o'clock this morning,
anu went Immediately TO the upper deck,
where found the captain, mate, pilot and
two military officers, learned that we
arrived In the vicinity of the Charleston
bar about midnight; that all the coast
lights had bssh extiuguished, and that thus
far IL Lad been impossible to find the main
channel. It Is evident from these indica-
tions that the hospitablc South Carolininns
do not mean that we should go in without
n salute
Z A light was seen OF the coast. but We
could not make out what it was. A little
after three o'clock We discovered the light
I on Port Sumter, and with these exceptions
everything WAS dark. 1t was, of course,
impossible to get over the bar without
lighthouse, and so vn waited the break Of
day.
I have never seen finer morning than
the one which dAWncd upon US The sky
was clear, and the moon, a faint crescent
Of silver, had just Arison, and the low
COST looked like a dense forest of ever
green. The spires Of Charleston became
visible in the approaching daylight, and
on the walls of Sumter We deserted the
American Gag floating in the breeze.
Now, about 81 o'clock, we see the light
house; and now, too, we discover that the
mysterious light just mentioned was that
of a steamer Mt our right. Now the situa-
ton OF the channel is asceTtained, and We
nre under weigh; aud now the steamer al
our right Is burning red aud blue lights;
and now she sends up rockets. There Is
no mistAking her movement; she is Civ
ing the alarm signal to Fort Mouitrie.
On We go; the soldiers are below With
loaded musketS, and the officers are ready
n fTir yTrsrd if flNRP,a 10 -,
do. Now il Is broad daylight, and we arc
making directly into the guns of Fort
NOultrie, whose black walls nre distinctly
visible. The little steamer at our right is
burning signal light aft aud is making
all possible Roadway up the harbor. Now
we discover - red Palmetto Hag at orr
left on Morris Island, at little village
called Cummings Point, and apparently
but little more than n mile from Fort Sum
ter.
as It possible that those fellows have
got n battery Oh here?" asked one.
NO." answers another, "there is no bat
fiery there" rs
But there is. Il is now quarter past
seven, and we are about two miles from
Forts Sumter and Moultrie, which are cuui-
distant from us, and, suddenly, whiz-z!
comes a riehoehst shot from Morris Island.
II plunges into the water and sEips 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 prnfEered hospitality,
ond the caP'atn pays 40 attentiOnto it, ex-
Uept to run up the stars and stripes at the
masthend--the garrison flag mentioned be-
fore. A moment OF anxious suspense, and
bangl goes heavy cannon from the same
masked battery. The shot falls short of
I me- n hnnAeaA ssoH Id Fa. III a..
clean over our vessel aft, nearly on line
with the head Of a sailor, but, luckily, a
little aboveit.
On We go, and-whiz.zl again goes the
smaller guu frst fred, and ano til er riehoehet
shot skips along the water and falls short
of US. "a
"Boohi" exclaims the captain; syou
must give Us bigger guns than that, boys,
or you cannot hurt us."
On We go, without needing the compli-
ments of our Charleston friends. Another
moment and bang again goes the heavy
gun. The ball now strikes our ship in the
fore chains, about two feet above the wa
ter. A seaman was holding the lead TO
take the souudiugs, aud the ball struck
directly under his feet. 1t is not surpris-
ing that, under the circumstances, Jack
was strongly inclined to take TO his heels,
aud he begins to scramble up with might
and main, when tho captain assures him
there is no danger, one ball having struck
so near him; on the principle, suppose,
that lightning never strikes twice in the
same place. Jack, treasured, patiently
takes his place and drops the lead again.
The ball, fortunately, was too far spent
to so through the side of our vessel, al
thought it lett an honorable scar.
The battery continues to play upon us,
and huge ball comes clean over us near
the wheel-hOuSe. We are not within
range of the guns of Fort Mouitrie, and
yOnder is II cutter In tow of n steamboat,
preparing to open FIRE upon ua. mo-
ment longer aud we shall be in range OF
these three batteries. The gnuners on
Norris Island are growing confident; II
they get the right range, they will send a
shot through our side, scattering death
and destruction. Moultrie, directly in
front, will bring her heavy guns to bear,
and will their deadly missiles into our
bow, while the cutter will open on our
right.
Why does not Major Anderson open ere
upon that battery and save us? We look
in vain for help the American flag flies
from Fort Sumter, and the American flag
at our how aud stern is fired upon; yet
there is not the slightest recognition OF
our presence from the fort to which we
look for protection. The unexpected hat
terry on Norris Island has cut OF all hone
of escape by running the vessel aground
near Sumter and taking to the boats. Is
it possible that Fort Sumter has been
taken by the South CaroliuiNns? II it
has not, why does not Major Anderson
show that he will protect us, OF at least
srecognize us in some way2 To go within
range of the guns Of Fort Moultrie is to
expose vessel, men and stores. to almost
instant destruction, or to capture by the
enemy.
''Helm cut Of port!' shouts the captaia,
aud the Star Of the West is turned about
without any great loss OF time, as you may
well Imagine. We turn without accident
and steam away, with the stars and stripes
still floating, and the battery still playing
aPou as by way OF . parting salute.