Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-05-10
BEAUFORT, n. C., April 81, 1867.

having III Tow TWO DarpcS, thc 'b"p'''t 'hu
Grenade, fitted up as floating batteries, and
armed with two thirty-pound parrot guns;
and the lShrdpnel had in addition twelve
! FOUNDER steel riflcd Wizard gun. These an
chorcd about three miles below the fort
That afternoon flag of truce was sent out
with final demand from Gen. Burnside for
the surrender of the fort, which was the next
morning refused. Everything was now in
condition for the commencement of the ac-
ton, but it was finally concluded not to open
fire until the next morning. AT ten minutes
before 6 A. NJ, the bombardment opened
with the discharge of shot from Morris
battery, and from this time until twenty
minutes past four, the roar of artillery was
almost inccssant
The fire from all the batteries was very
active and vigorous The tight-inch mortars
got good range on the fort early in the day.
and planted shells in and around it almost
without cessation. The tent inch mortars at
first fired over the fort many of their shells
falling beyond it and into the water. The
Parrot guns also failed at first to get good
range, and overshot the fort. This was,
however, corrected, Lieutenants Andrews
Wait, of the Signal Corps, who were station
ed at Beaufort, signaling to the batteries the
fact that they were firing over. After all
three of the batteries had got the range, the
effect of the firing was terrific. Three and
four shells would be bursting at the same
time within the fort and upon the parapct
and the projectiles from the Parrot guns
hustling with tremendous force against the
walls and striking within, crashing through
all obstacles, and burying themselves within
the opposite walls.
The naval vessels were not idle during the
time. In the morning, Notwithstanding a
stiff breeze was blowing, the Sun-boats Day
light, Com. Lockwood, the flagship of the
squadron, the State OF Georgia, Chippewa
and the Gemsbok (barque) bore up gallantly
towards the fort, and AS they came within
range delivered Il most effective and CALLING
fire. Fifty shots were fired from the Day
light, when siXty-four pound ball from a
thirty-two FOUNDER rifei gun in the fort
struck her starboard quarter, passing through
the engine room, officers mess room, and
captains state room, and finally lodged in
the skin of the ship 4 splinter from an
iron railing i'll the engine room broke the
left arm of Engineer Eugene J. Wade. This
was the only accident on board the gun
boats, as the increasing wind soon after Cat
about eleven o'clock forced them to discon-
tinuC firing and retire out of range, and they
did not afterwards take part in the fight
was also shot away, and a ball passed
through the flag of the State of Georgia.
During the forenoon the firing from the
| fort was vigorous and well sustained. Her
/ guns were well manned and worked, and
from the energy with which our fire was re
! turned, it was expected a more protrLcted
/ resistance would be mace. During the time
the batteries and the gun-b; ats were all
| playing upon the Fort, and it was returning
the fire Of both, the roar of the cannon and
| the explosion of the shells was terrific, and
| the building in Beaufort and Moorhead City
were shaken to their foundations. From
| both these places the view of the engage
ment was magnificent, and crowds of people
were congrcgated on the streets fronting the
harbor upon the wharvcs, and III the balco-
nies, and upon the tops of the houses, watch
ing with intense interest, every shot was
fired, and speculating anXiously upon the
length of time which the fort could hold out
--no one anticipating a possibility, in the
end, of its successful resisting the attack
At one time 32.pound shell, from one of
the gun-boats, came clear over the fort and
landed upon marshy island, within less
than half mile of Beaufort, causing great
stampede of the lockers ON upon the wharvcs
they thinking the next shot might prove too
near for their comfort or safety. This was
the only one, however which came near the
town, and they soon resumed their places.
The effect of every shot from the land bat
tcrics could be plainly seen, and the dis
charges from the different batteries easily
distinguished. Sometimes the three would
fire so nearly to gcthcr as to make the dis
charges almost simultaneous. Soon after
the bombardment commenced, it was evident
that the guns of the fort were being disabled
and dismounted. Before noon the Rebels
were driven from what was called the water
battery, on the terrace outside the walls, and
could only work their barbctte guns. By
noon the fire had materially slackened, and
il was evident that the men were becoming
exhausted and their gunse unmanageablc.-
At the same time no one supposed that they
would surrender until after, at least, another
days work
At twelve o'clock their firing became
slower and slower, and at times intervals o
from ten to thirty minutes would intervene
between the discharges from the fort. On,
cight-inch mortar battery continued to fir,
rapidly, the ten-inch less rapidly, and tn,
|, Parrot battery still more slowly. The sho
and shell could be seen crashing and explod
ing within and around the Fort, dismount
; ing the guns, tearing up the earth in ant
i about II, and with the evident elect upol
the walls, which began TO show signs of hare
usage At twenty minutes past four O'Clock
, flag of truce was displayed upon the bat
Elements, the firing upon both sides ceased
the bombardmcnt was over, and Fort Macol
won.
During the day 45O shot and shell wer
fired from Morris battery, about 300 shell
l from Flagler's battery, and ass from Prou
5 ty's battery. Poutys battery was not mucl
e damaged, as, being out of the range of tn
h other batteries and effectually protected by
e sand hill, the Rebels soon found that the
;. could effect little by firing upon it, an
g devoted themselves principally to the otho
|, two.
e Within the walls of the fort all was bustl
|, and confusion. The prisoners being release
II on parole and allowed TO remove thoi
= private property were engaged in packin
up and preparing for their departure. Mo.
d of them seemd highly pleased that IL
a affair was over and that they now could r.
J. turn to their homes. Nearly all seemed pc
,r fectly satisfied with the experience of W,
d which they had, and expressed their dete
e. mination, for the future, to keep out Of sue
in scrapes. Some of the officers, howeve