The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1862-05-10
The ran - KoFs Pslas1kl.

The Fall ~ EOFe Pulaek1s
Qrom the Savanna RspublIean. April ss-)
4 Corporal Law arrived in the Fort, 'n company
with the signal man, whom be went to pilot, st
i've o'clock Friday morning-the day Of The sur.
render. He remained inside the works during
the whole time Of the bomtardment on that
day, and left as the flag was lowered, making
his way TO the South wharf as the enemy's stea.
mer was approaching the North landing.
When the b0mbardment commenced ON
Thursday none Of the enemy's batteries on Ty-
bee we're visible, except from the smoke, which
pointed outthe different localities to our garri-
son. The shot and shell from the fort soon re.
moved ell obstacles Of trees and sand, when all
we're discerlible. There were four in number
two mortar, one rifle, and one Parrott gun,th
last mentioned being short distance above the
chimneys, opposite to Kings Landing They
ali bore chiefly on the Southeast angle of the
Fort.
The firing Of the enemy on Thursday was not
50 effective as TO create any apprehension that
the work would fall. The enemy were obtaining
the range of their guns for the operations OF
the night and the day following. Most of their
shells fell outside the fort, tearing up the earth
| in every direction. The yard Of the V, or de-.
| miloon, on the west side, was plowed up as If
dug into pits, by the shell which went over the
fort Still q large breach was made in the wall
1 I'LL tuC TIuSu Suuo pOutSu btOb duu SUCH tnSV
il, utterly demolishing the bomb-proof timbers
and damaging the officers quarters. The north
east easements were all in which the garrison
could bunk with any security whatever, through
Thursday night, though but little sleep was en-.
joyed, as the enemy threw twelve shells every
hour into the fort until daylight. These facts
/ were obtained from the officers of the garrison.
| Corporal Law witnessed the whole of Fri
days fight for himself, mingling freely with the
garrison throughout the terrible scene. 1t is
| impossible to give his account on paper. The
firing on both sides was equally rapid and de-
structive as far as could be ascertained. On the
part OF the enemy, one mortar battery was com
pletely silenced portion of the rife battery,
4 and seven out Gf the ten guns Of the Parrot,
battery dismounted. One mortar had been
planted on the northwest corner Of Cockspur on
the night Of Wednesday, but this was silenced
carly in the fight and seven kegs of powder cap
tured.
At the close of the fight all the parapet guns
were dismounted except three--two l0inch
eolumbiads known as "Beauregard" and "Jef
Davis, but one Of which ore on the island, and
rife cannon. Every casemate gun in the
southeast section of the fort, from No. to Is,
including all that could be brought to bear on
the enemy's batteries except one, were dismoun.
ted, and the casemate walls preached in almos.
every instance to the top of the arch, say be.
tween five aud six feet in width. The ,noat out.
| side was so filled with brick and mortar that
one could have passed over dry shod. The Of.
fcers' quarters were torn to pieces, the bomb
proof timbers scattered in every direction over
the yard and the gates to the entrance knocked
OF. The parapet walls on the Tybee side were
all gone, in many places down to the level Of
the earth on the casemates. The protection to
the magazine in the northwest angle of the
/ fnrt had all hnan not ho
of the magazine next the passage way was eho,
of, and the powder exposed, while three shots
had actually penetrated the chamber of this
Corporal Law is positive, for he examined it
for himself before leaving.
Such was the condition of affairs when Col
Olmstead called council of officers in a case
mate, and without dissenting voice, they all
acquiesced in the necessity of cap;tulation, in
order to save the garrison from utter destruc
ton by an explosion, which was mometariy
threatened. Accordingly, at 2 O'Clock P. n
the men were called from the guns and the flag
| lowered. fa
Early in the day Col. Ulmstead had no doubt
of his ability to silence every battery on the Is
land, and to this end he determined, when night
came, and the enemy's fire was slackened, o
change the position of all his heavy guns, go as
bring them to bear on the enemy. As the day
progressed, however, his situation became des-
perate, and he was forced to yield under the
| circumstances stated.
| Corporal Law witnessed the whole fight of
Friday, and says braver and more determined
garrison not to be found in the annals of
| history, Every man did bis duty with alacrty,
and there being few guns that bore on the en-
emy, there was continued contest as to who
| should man them. When volunteers were called
| for to perform any laborious duty there was q
| rush OF the men from every company in the
| fort. All did their duty and did it iearlessly,
| throughout the engagement, and to the very mo-
| ment of the caEitulaton. Among the last
gans fred were those of the parapet, and the
men stood there exposed to storm of iron hail
to the last. All this, our informant says, Col
| Olmstead and his officers will verify when they
have an opportunity of being heard.
Corporal Law saw the wounded A member
| of the Wise Guards had one leg shot of, and
the other badly crushed. One Oglethorpe lost
| an arm, and had the other badly shattered, and
| shoulder badly damaged-thinks he could not
| have survived. Another Oglethorpe lost
| hand. A member Of another company not re.
collected, lost foot. He intended getting
list OF names and particulars to bring up at
night, not anticipating so early surrender
SergeantMajor Lewis told him none of the Sa.
vannah boys were seriourly hurt. Col Ohm
| stead also told him he would send up report of
the days operations, but the enemy's move
ments toward the fort were so rapid after the
tsg was lowered. he being under no obligations
to remain, not being member of the garrison,
he had no time to wait for it, and then made his
escape.
1t may be considered strange that, under the
circumstances, no more damage was sustained
| by the garrison. 1t is a mystery, but not in
credible, after the experience of Moultrie and
-O-