The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-09

to the distancewhich the missile is required Il
reach. We ue here from fifteen to twenty
pounds of powler at each discharge, and th'
length of the fuses Is forty FIVE seconds. Watch
bomb from tie time it leaves the mortar unit
i, explodes, an, it seems astonishngly long or
the passage. They are thrown at u great eleva
ton, and describe the arc of circle In then
course, the extreme altitude OF which is abou
equal TO the lergth Of the base. The practice
Was pronounced to be excellent. Every bomt
plunged in and about the forts marking the
place of its tal by throwing up columns OF
gray earth, which looked like fountains of mud
dy water, or, if exploding in the air, by the
splashes which the sea tterod fragments made as
they dropped nto the river, or sank deep intc
the oozy soil Of its banks.
The war wascd in this way all day. At in
tervas the fire of the enemy was brisker than
at others. As nearly as we could judge the
rebels were unable TO stand long under our fire
at the barbette guns, but retreared TO their case
mate, where, having gained rest anda fresh sup
ply of courage, they would return only to be
driven away again after firing lew rounds
About 5 O'Clock P. NJ, We observed flames,
apparently IN the GENRE Of Fort jackson, and
utter it broke ont there was no further firing
from either fort. At nightlall a signal was
made from the Harriet Lane, for the schooners
to cease operations, and the night was passed
In quiet, without even tire-ratt appearing to
disturb our reposc
The mortar feet, worn out by uuceasing 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 labors, without receiving much en-
couragement as to the advantage which had re-
suited therefrom. 1t was really Il pitiul sight
to 60 on board the schooners and look at them.
have seen them when relieved from duty 30
exhausted that they did not attempt to 20 be-
low but, dropping upon the deck, seek sleep
amid the internal din of the firing. AT each
discharge the vessels ehvered and vlbrated as if
each plank and timber were hung upon hinges,
making everything movable dance and clatter,
the lateral conclusion of the atmosphere being
forcble enough to shatter, as it do, bulwarks
and other light woodwork, and striking upon
the tympanum with u painful ring, productive
OF headache and deafness. 1t required heroes
10 endure this long continued STRAIN upon the
physical organization, and as such shall always
look upon these mortar men. | verify believe
that IT the forts could not have been reduced
except through their agency, that every man
would nave continued at his post unmurmuring
~; but II was tantaizing to see those large YES
sels quietly at anchor, when 1t was plain to I'M
derstand 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
1t were trailing along the rlver-bank,
where the tide had swept them. When it be-
came known positively on Wednesday night that
Commodore Farragut would certainly move his
squadron at o clock the next morning, every
body 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 seren
ty OF the scene being rudely broken upon every
zen minutes by the bang OF mortar IRON each
II the vessels OF the division on watch, which |
echoes and rolled the sound in rever-
)eratlng waves far down the river. The rebels
III day bad preserved an ominous silence. Not
/ single gun had been fired from either fort, and
'he tact argued that they had either evacuated
heir position, or were reserving their ammun-
Ion IN anticipation of the grand attack. For
myself could not think OF Sleep because of my
anxiety for the success Of the momentous under.
aking which was soon to commence. passed
he slow hours in gazing at the dark outlines of
The vessels. A death-lke stiffness hung over ev-
Try ship, unreleved by the faintest glimmer of
amplight.
There were no warm coiors in the picture.
'ho itS colo, dreary aspect was suggestive of
my but pleasant thoughts. Precisely at two
clock two signal lanterns were hoistcd upon
he Harttord's mlzzen peak, and IN few mo-
nents the voices OF the boatswains rang clearly
'ver the river, "up all hammocks,' which
meant that the men were to forego their sleep
md get the ships underweigh. There was some
elay IN getting up anchors, and ranging into
position, and it was not until three and one-half
''clock that the vessels began to move, which
hey did in three divisions.
AS soon as the vessels got under Roadway,
urious fire was shrown in the direction of the
orts from the wholeline of mortar vessels, which
eemed to shake the very waters, and at times
could count nine bombs at once in their flight
s they twinkled through the air radiantlv az
alllng stars. The rebels seemed cognizant of
ur coming, for the foremost of the fleet had
carcely got abreast OF the line of fire when sig
al rockets were made from ST. Phjlip, and
hot began to fall rapidly upon them. For
lme there was no reply but soon we could
ear the noise OF the broadsides, which sound
d in comparison to the bombs like pack off
)hinese fir. crackers let off together.
| had got boats crew, and ventured alonp
he river bank as near to the forts as was pru
ent in order to get fair sight of the enga 90
1ent but could make out nothing distinctly.
broad flashes of light momentarily burst through
anks of clouds on the horizon, which resembied
beet lightning on sutry day. A fire raft cast
lurid glare near Fort st. Philip, and for half
II hour the din was the terrible. Pandemonium
Guild scarcely be more awe-inspiring. At tho
ii 70 I.