The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-06-18
GUNBoATs.

he would dine in Richmond the day after the |
bombardment commenced we're unable TO
pass while the obstruction was not complete,
and when it was defended BY only three guns
In battery, what chance do those boats stand
now? 1t is clear that the enemy can never
reach Richmond BY the river. He has had
his gunbnat conceit taken out oil him to that
extent. Ii is said that Lincoln was at For
tress Monroe and ordered the boats to pro-
coed at once aud take Richmond IN advance
of Mcclellan. But even Lincoln could not
force his terrible boats by the small battery
at Drewry's BIuff-a barrier which he has
" heafn on befnre ihls. We invite atten-
ton to General Writings letter
Headquarters Is. DivisiOa Reserve
Near Richmond, May %, 1864.
To the Editor Of the Dispateh
SIN: The panic caused by the enemy's
gunboats is not. perhaps. unreasonable, con-
sidering the manner in which their deeds
have been trumpeted and exaggerated but
it is very absurd and needless. | will state
few facts: Horizontal. or rather direct
shell firing. as from Dahlgren or rified pie
ces, is DESTRUCTIVE. only to shipping or build
ings. 1t has very little effect upon batteries,
either with or without parapets, or upon
troops deployed. This is due. think, part
~ TO the difficulty Of causing the shell, even
IL well directed. to explode exactly at the
object. but chiefly 10 the great velocity Of
the missile, which carries tue fragments af-
ter expulsion beyond the point of bursting.
Mortar firing, or vertical FIRE, as il is called,
is. il well managed, much more destructive
and dangerous. in that the velocity is small and
the explosive force has full play. hayeneyer
known shell from the gunboats. exploding
over an open battery or group or line Of men.
10 do any harm.
Last winter portion Of my command,
under Capt. Frobsl. was exposed 10 frequent
day and night she'll firing u II and 9-inch
Dahlgren and rifed shells. The camp was
shelled repeatedly. and FIRE started in il once
by some camphene coniriyance 10 the mis-
sile. We had but one casualty.
During the same time, the enemy's gun
boats fred between one hundred and two
hundred heavy shell at single picket sta
ton on the POTOMAC. without either -hnrfins
q man or driving on the guard.
The gallant Major Walker, Of the artil.
lery, unlimbered his battery 10 The open
field, and for several hours engaged the
Pawnee, Live Yankee, sAnscostis, and tug,
at long range, Siihou. a single casualty.
compelling the boats 10 retire. They were
commanded By a brave officer of the U. ).
N.-cspt. Rowan-Sho is reported to have
lost an arm 10 the fight.
The battery at Acquia Greek was shelled
for three days last summer BY the Potomac
feet, one vessel alone exprnding several
hundred shells with no other effect than a
scratch on one man. hand and the killing q
troopers horse 10 the rear o. the battery.
Major Walker was over twelve times last
winter and fall under FIRE Of 9-inch Dahl.
green's fram gunboats sl.h his battery, with
out casualty.
Lieut.. Col. Stephen Lee, Of the Hampton
Legion Artillery, nos Commanding the ar
iillery Of this division, twice engaged them
field battery against g-inch shells--with.
out a casually.
When the Transport batteries were open
ed on the Seminole and pocahontas, even IL
the very imperfect condition Of these bat
teries at that time. the enemy's FIRE inhict
ed no damage whatever.
Al Yorktown. although the sanbaats fred
great deal into the town and al Gioueestel
Paint, both OF which we're lail OF tents. hos
pitfalls, storehogses. Wagons. and troops, bu
one man WAS killed al Yorktown, and nobod,
hurt at Gloucester Point.
The other day, II the engagement betweef
a part Of my eommsnd AID the enemy .
Elhsm's Landing. near West Point, one .
the enemy's gunbaats opened upon q p Isl.
tion from which few mYmenis before Lieut.
Col. Lee and Csptsin Reilly had in vain en
desvored with four pieces 20 reach the tran.
sports aud though the boat got the rangs
with great accuracy, and burst her she'll
directly over the heads and within fev
feet Of the 9th North Carolina regiment
commanded By Col. Fender. Bot one ma
Was hurt and alihoagh their eunbeats shell
ed The woods 10 which Hoods brigade and
ne Lrgian were drawn UP. after the enem,
were driven out, MT msn was touched b,
them.
lcsn roueh Tor most ~ the above circum.
stances lraIn personal knowledge and obssrsa
ton. Ofheers Of nv command attest all
have moi seen myself.
Az Port ROYAL md Hattsrss he result wal