Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-18
The Voyage of the Star of the West.-Capt.
mcGOWanss Report.
STEAMSHIP STAR OF THE WEST.

New YORK, JAN u, 1861
I'm. O. Roberts. Esq.-SIR After leaving the wharf
on the 9Th INST, at O'Clock 2. NJ. we proceeded
down the bay, where we hove to and took on board
four officers and two hundred soldiers, with their
arms amunitiOns, etc, and then proceeded to sea,
crossing the bar at Sandy Hook at 3 P. NJ. Nothing
unusual took place during the passage, which was
pleasant one for this season of the year.
We arrived of Charlestonibar at half past one A.
NJ, on the 9th, but could find no guiding marks
for the bar, the lights were all out We proceed
ed with caution, running very slow and sounding
until four A. NJ being then in four and a-haf faith
Oms of water, when we discovered light through
the haze which at the time covered the horizon.
Concluding that the light on Fort Sumter after
getting the bearings of it stood to the S. W. for
the main ship channel, where we hove to to await
daylight, our lights having all been put out since
twelve O'Clock, to avoid being seen. As the day
began to break we discovered a steamer lust in
shore OF US who, as soon as she saw US burned
one blue light and two red lights as signals, and
shortly afterwards steamed over the bar in1O the
ship channel.
The soldiers were now all put below and no one
allowed on the deck except our own crew. As soon
as there was light enough to see we crossed the bar
and proceeded up the channel, 1.-THE outer bar buoy
having been taken away,) the steamer ahead of US
sending off rockets and burning lights until after
broad daylight. continuing on her course up near
two miles ahead of us. When arrived at about
two miles from Fort MoultrIe, Fort Sumter e'ng
ris Island, where there was a red Palmetto nag fly
ing, opened fire upon us, the distance being about
five Fights of a mile. We had the American flag
lying at our flagstaff at the time, and soon after the
hrst shot holsted a large American ensign at the
fore. We continued on under the fire of the battery
Tor over ten minutes several Of the shot going clear
over us; one Just passed clear of the pilot house,
another passed between the smoke stack and the
walking beam OF the engine another struck the
ship absf the fore rigging and stove in the plank-
ing; another shot came within an ace of carrying
away the rudder. At the same time there was a
movement OF two steamers from near Fort Moul-
tTlC, one of them towing schooner, II presume an
armed schooner) with the intention of cutting us
of. ~
Our position now became rather critical as we
had TO approach Fort Moutrie to within threcouar-
tiers Of a mile before we could keen away for Fort
SUMTER A steamer approaching us with an
armed schooner in tow, and the battery on the island
nrlng at Us all the time, and having no cannon to
defend ourselves from the attacks of the vessels we
concluded that b avoid certain capture or destruc-
ton we would endeavOr to get TO sea. Consequent
~ we wore round aud stood down the channel the
battery firing upon until their shot fell short as
it was now strong ebb tide, and the water having
fallen some three feet, we proceeded with caution
and crossed the bar safely at fifty minutes past eight
a. NJ. and continued on our course for this port,
where we arrived this Saturday morning. after a
boisterOus passage. steamer from Charleston
followed US for about three hours watching orr
movements In Justice to the officers and crews of
each department of the ship. must add that their
behavior while under the fire Of the battery re-
Elected great credit on them.
Mr.. Brewer, the New York pilot, was of very
great assistance to Ine in helping to pilot the ship
over Charleston bar, and up and down the channel
very respectfully, your obedient servant
J. MCGOWAN, Captain.