New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-19

vannah, and swaying against the sky the treinuous
outline Of the woods on the island shores beyond
The fort stands clearly out the sunlight falling on ito
seaward faces, which wreathed with the smoke Of
their own gnns and canopied with white clouds from
the shells exploding above them. From Stanton to
Totten the low shore of Tybee recedes and advances
and every slope of sand is lighted with incessant
flashes instantly vailed in volumes Of pale blue va.
Dor. The reports Of the heavy guns and mortars
mingled with the sharper tones Of Parrott rhes and
just overhead comes every few minutes the sudden
rush Of solid shot or the angry scream Of eonical
projectes and the quick explosion of shells, sending
their fragments into the marsh in rear.
1t is impossible to give within reasonable limits
detailed description Of the bombardment. l pass
rapidly over it's picturesque features and only
record two three incidents Of the siege. The fire
from Pulaski was tolerably regular though not very
vigorous during the first morning. Not more than
six or eight guns were steadily served II was soon
that those In the classmates would not
reach the batteries below Scott. From the barbette
occasional shots passed over Lincoln and Lyon, but
none went beyond them. On our side it was evident
that the l3.nch mortars, from which much had been
hoped, were at too great distance to be effective,
most Of their shell exploding high in the air. or falling
outside Of the fort. Capt Peouze was doing better
with his columbiads which were fired at great eleva.
ton, and were meant to breach the magazine in the
rear Of the fort From the upper batteries the effect
of the guns, which were attempting to breach the
southeast face Of the fort, began to show very
plainly The smooth surface was here and there in
dented, and the even line Of the parapet showed
numerous cups. At eleven o'clock. the Rebs flag,
which was hosted on q very tall flagstaff, was shot
away, and came swoopng down inside the fort, fol-
lowed by cheers from all the batteries. Another
was soon raised at the north angle on a low
staff. At twelve, forty-one scars were counted
on the south flank, the pancope and the southeast
face of the fort aud several Of the embrasures were
considerably enlarged. During the afternoon the
Ere slackened on both side., and after sunset not
more than seven or eight shells an hour were thrown
ill daylight the next morning. When l left the
shore where had witnessed the bombardment dur
ing the day the fort notwithstanding its dents and
scars looked nearly solid and capable Of resist
snce as when fire was opened in the morning. IL
was not considered that the day work had greatly
FASTENED the surrender, tho mortars having proved n
disappointment, and the effect of the preaching fire
being not yet sufficiently decided. No one had been
hurt in the batteries, though there was plenty Of
narrow escapes. The large party accompanying the
Generals had drawn considerable attention from the
fort and numerous shot apd shell were sent in their
direction saw one shell burst within Ghy feet OF
Cen Hunter aud Gen. Benham, and fragment Of
another struck the ground Lot twenty feet from tie
latter Most Of the shells however, exploded harrs-
lessly on the marsh.
On Friday morning at day the bomtardmen,
opened with fresh vgor on both sides. The bsrbets
guns on Pulaski were directed with oon,derabl,
precision and rapidty at the upper batteries. Or
our side tie work Of preaching wac resumed with
determination, and the effect of the fire was amos
Immediately apparent in fbs enlargement OF the two
embrasures on the len of tho soufh-east fnce- Com
rnander Rodgers In Battery sisei, Capt Tarner in
Battery Mcclellan, and Lieut.. Wilson in Battery
Scott, directed all their attention 10 the rapidly
widening breach, and their fro YVES delivered with
great accuracy and most damaging effect. About
O'Clock Thomas Campbell, private, Of Company II,
81 Rhode Island, while serving his gun in Battery
Mcclellan, was struck by solid shot entering
through the embrasure, and was 10 badly injured
that he died in less than an hour. This was the only
casualty on our part doring the bombardment-
spent most Of the morning in the upper batteries
next TO the fort and had an unusually good oppor-
tuniy TO watch the effect Of the fire on both sdes.
Pulaskis was far less accurate than In
ing the open spaces between the batteries, found
the shot from the fort sweeping a good deal Of
ground, but nearly all went over In the batteries,
also few shot struck the face parape Of the works
or exploded directly over the trenches, but either
buried themselves in the beach went entirely over.
small rfed barbetto gun, a'teryard found to be
one of the patent Bakey cannon brought over in the
Fiugal WIS much the most troublesome piece, con-
tnually improving in accuracy until 1t was senced
Remembering that the batteries which were exposed
10 the fire Of Fort Sumter much better protected
than there, and that the fire Of that fort wac ess
vigorous than Pnsskis it is easy TO believe the long
dscredited story that no one was killed during that
bombardment.
Tho bsrbette fire, however, was maintained 90
steadily from two guns the n. t. face one On the
8. T.. and ono on the extreme angle Of the south
flank, that Commander Rodgers determined to si-
lence IT, and about IL ocok directed all his guns for
that purpose, loading and firing fast "a possible
In bali an hour the barbette fire had ceased, and
was never renewed, and his guns we'e once more
turned on the breach, which had already become so
extensive that orders had been given to prepare
scaling gadders in readiness TO storm the fort II not
The whole exterior surface Of the PAN
COPE, and 20 much Of the nearest end Of the s. f.
face as covered two casema es, was gone; the two
embrasures enlarged, so that from the batteries
the inside Of the fort could be seen through them, and
one was opened so near the paraPet that 1t was pam
the whole angle would soon be in runs. Only TWO
ca,emate gum, the third and fourth Of tho s. t. lace
next the angle, were still served by the garrison ana