Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-06-19

strongly fortified posts by landing por-
ton of the artillery and infantry, but
slight examination showed this would be
about as feasible as to march ON Norfolk
via Dismal Swamp. The expedition tor
this purpose left Ship Island on the even
inc of the 10th of April, but owing 'c
some difficulty in getting over the BAR
into the river, did dot arrive at the head
of the Passes till IL A. NJ, April 18th
| was fortunate enough to be on board
Gen. Buffers flag ship, the steam trans
port Mississippi. This should not be
COMPOUNDED with the steam frigate OF the
same name Zone of Commodore Farra-
CUTS feet especially as we have State,
river and city close by of the same name
also. All the fleet anchored here as fast
as they arrived but the Great Republic
never arrived, having got aground on the
bar. The p. G. Wallis also never has
nor will appear again. She broke in two
in the gale of the goth, off Isle au Breton,
and sunk in 20 fathoms. The men were
all saved by the Saxon, that was by
chance in sight. ..
The Passes are about Is miles below
the forts, and Major Strong went aboard
the Saxon to communicate with the flag
officer of the bombarding fleet. | was
lucky enough to be one of the number
that was allowed to take passage, and
very shortly we came up near enough to
the shower of shot and shell to have
some of the big drops fall about us. We
were not quite in time to witness the be-
ginning Of the conflict, for it commenced
at nine o'clock A. M. 1t is a strange
fact that we could not hear gun until
within five miles of the forts, and not till
after we had smelled powder for some
time. We had seen the smoke of the
firing while down. in the Passes, and /
have since learned that they heard the
cannonading distictly at this place though
fifty miles distant in a straight line, the
direction of the wind favoring them here
and opposing us.
The convex shore from Fort jackson
down is fringed with trees fifteen or twen-
ty feet high, and behind these and below
the bend the mortar fleet was anchored
close to the shore in single line, the near
est at distance of a mile and half and
the farthest two miles and quarter from
Fort jackson, by a straight line. The
masts were all trimmed with "twigs of
the Wilderness" so that Sesesh must have
been at loss to know where their enemy
was. | should have said that this was
the final disposition of them, for the ex-
pertinent was made of placing one divi-
sion (seven mortar boats) on the oppo-
site shore the first day, but it was found
that this was too good mark, though at a
distance of two and miles. Most Of
this division was hit by their shot, but
none of them disabled, and they rejoined
their companions during the night. The
flag ship of the mortar fleet was at the
foot of the line, and the flag ship of the
whole feet near the centre of the stream,
a little below the centre of the line of
mortar boats. The six mep-ofw war lay
between the flag ship and the mortars
and the gun-boats all about the flagship.
| The mortars were expected to do the
heavy business of the bombardment, as I
intimated in previous letter. Five or
six gunboats were detailed each day to
attract the fire of the forts from our NOR
tar boats. These gunboats would sally up
to within three quarters of mile of the
enemy, deliver and receive broadside
after broadside; and wonderful PROV
| idence, or the luck that always attends
bravery, rendered them invulnerable.
For the first day and half not shot
struck one of them. Among those that
attracted admiration in these maneuvers
was the Oneida. At one time | counted
fifteen shells that struck all about her
within the space of a minute, and all
striking the water within twenty rods of
her. A few minu es afterwards, having
fallen back behind the trees of the shore
to within fifty rods of our vessel, a ten
inch round shot struck her in the port
quarter, smashing the gun rail, and up
setting enc of her eleven inch guns, and
wounding seven men. II htadered her
only thirty minutes, and she was again
among the foremost, inviting the enemy's
particular attentions. Her smoke stack
was afterwards hit, killing the boatswain
and three men.
The Owasco has the honor Of opening the
bombardment. The firing lasted the FIRST
day till shutdown, and just as the last shots
were fred, heavy explosion was heard at
Fort jackson, and shortly after column OF
flame shot up so as to be seen from the decks
of the vessels, 1t was thought to be the mag
azine within the fort, and it was greeted with
volley of cheers from the fleet, 1t had been
arranged that the mortars should cease firing
at shutdown the first day and after resting thai
night, should fire night and day during the
bombardment. Commodore Porter was urged
to continue the fire, and not give the enemy
time to recover from their evident confusion
but he being systematic man would moi
break his established plan, any more than
some tailors will depart from the universal
style of cutting garment to fit particular
m \