Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-15
THE GREAT NAVAL ENGAGE
MENT,


A correspondent of the New York
Times who was present on the occasion
of the bombardment Of Forts jackson and
st. Phillips, thus speaks of the last days
attack, when Com. Farrigut with the
larger portion Of his fleet run the gauntlet
of the Forts, and thus compe He'd their
eventual surrender;
The mortar fleet, worn out by unceas-
ing toll, had been greatly dissatisfied for
the past day or two, because the large
vessels took no part in the action, The
men were completely jaded with their la
bors, without receiving much encourage
ment as to the advantage which had re-
suited therefrom. 1t was really pitiful
sight to 90 on board the schooners and
look at them. | have seen them when
relieved from duty so exhausted that they
did not attempt to go below, but, dropping
upon the deck, seek sleep amid the infer
nal din of the firing. AT each discharge
the vessels shivered and vibrated as if
each plank and timber were hung upon
hinges, making everything movable dance
and clatter, the lateral conclusion of the
atmosphere being forcible enough to shat
ter, as it did, bulwarks and other light
woodwork, and striking upon the tympa-
mum with painful ring, productive of
headache and deafness. 1t requires he
roes to endure this long-continued strain
upon the physical organization, and as
such | shall always look upon these NOR
tar men. | verify believe taat the forts
could not have been reduced except thro'
their agency, that every man would have
| continued at his post unmurmuringly but
it was tantalizing to see those large YES
sells quietly at anchor, when it was plain
to understand that they must eventually
take part in the conflict. There seemed
to be no excuse for the delay. The chain
barrier had been cut three nights before,
and the old hulks which supported it were
trailing along the river bank, where the
tide had swept them. When it became
known positively on Wednesday night that
Commodore Farragut would certainly
move his squadron at 2 o'clock the next
morning, everybody was made happy, and
the wearied men looked eagerly for the
moment which was to bring them relief
The night was calm and starlight; the
serenity of the scene being rudely broken
upon every ten minutes by the bang of a
mortar from each of the vessels of the di-
vision on watch, which awakened echoes
and rolled the sound in reverberating
waves far down the river. The rebels all
day had preserved an ominous silence.
Not single gun had been fired from Ell
ther fort, and the fact argued that thew
had either evacuated their position. or
were reserving their ammunition in an
anticipation of the gand attack. For N.Y.
self could not sleep, because of my anx-
iety for the success of the momentous un.
| dertaking which was soon to commence.
| passed the slow hours in gazing the dark
outlines of the vessels. A death-like
stiffness hung over every ship, unrelieved
by the faintest glimmer of lamplight.
There were no warm colors in the picture,
and its cold, dreary aspect was suggestive
OF any but pleasant thoughts Precisely
at two o'clock two signal lanterns were
hossted upon the Hatttord's mzzen peak,
and in few moments the voice of the
boatswain rang clearly over the river,
sup all hammocks," which meant that
the men were to forego their sleep and
get the ships under weigh. There was
some delay in getting up anchors, and
ranging into position, and it was not until
81 o'clock that the vessels began to move,
which they did in three divisions, in order
as follows: l.
The Steamships Hartford, Brooklyn
and Richmond, and the gun boats Sciota,
Iroquois, Kennebec, Pinola, Itasca. and
Winona. These vessels were especially
under the direction of Com. Farragut. and
were to fire upon Fort jackson.
The Steamships Pensacola, Missis-
sippi, Oneida and Varuna, and the gun
boats Katahdin, Kinco, Wissahcon and
Cayuga, under Capt. Bailey, of the Colo.
RADIO, composed the Second Division, to
operate against Fort Phillip.
The Harriet Lane, Westfield, Owasco
Miami, Clifton and Jackson, comprised
the Third Division, under Capt. Porter.
These were to take position from which
they could pour an entilading fire of grape
and shrapnel into Fort jackson, and thew
were joined by the Portsmouth, sloop-ot-
war. sailing vessel, which only could
reach her position in spite of the exertions
of her officers and crew, in time to deliv-
er one broadside.
AS soon as the vessels got under head
way furious fire was thrown in the direc-
ton of the forts from the whole line of
mortar vessels, which seemed to shake the
very waters, and at every time | could
count nine bombs at once in their fight az
they twinkled through the air, radiantly
as falling stars. The rebels seemed cog