The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-05-23

the commencement Of the action, but IL
was finally concluded not 20 open until
the next morning. At ten minutes before
6 A. NJ, the bombarlmcnt opened with
the discharge of a shot from Morris bat.
minutes past fou-, the roar Of artillery
was almost inccssant.
The fire from all the batteries was very
active and vigorous. The cight-inch NOR
tars got good range on the fort early in
the day, aud planted shells in aud around
| it almost without cessation. The ten
| inch morturs at first fired over the the
fort, many of their shells falling beyond
I it and into the water.
The Parrot guns also failed at first to
get good range, and oyeishot the fort.
! This was, however, corrected, Lieutenant
Andrews and Wait, ofthe Signal Corps,
who were stationed at Beaufort, signaling
TO the batteries the fact that they were
firing over. all three batteries had pot
the range, the effect of the firing was ter
rife. Three and four shells would be
bursting at the same time within the fort
and upon the rarapct, and projectiles
from the Parrot guns hustling with trc-
mcndous force against the walls, and
striking within, crashing through all
obstacles, aad burying themselves within
the opposite walls.
] The naval vessels were not all idle lu.
ring this time. In the morning, nutwith-
standings a stiff breeze was blowing. the
gunboat Daylight, Commodore Lockwood
the flag ship of the squadron, the State ol
Georgia, Chippewa and Gcmsbok (bOruue)
bore up gallantly towards the fort, aud as
they came within range delivered most
effective and calling fine.
Fifty shots were fred from the Day.
light, when a siXty.iour pound ball from
n thirty-two.pounder rifle gun in the fort
struck her starboard quarter, paesina
through the engine room, officers mess
room, aud captains state room, and final.
ly lodged in the skin of the ship. A splin.
ter from an iron railing in the crginc
room broke the left arm of Engineer 4. !
Wade.
This was the Only accident on boart
, the gunboats, as the increasing wind soof
: oitcr (at about II o'clocl) forced them tt
discontinue firing aud retire out of range
and they did not forwards take part il
the fight.
During the afternoon the firing from
The Tort was vigorous and well sustained
Her guns were well manned and worke,
, and from the energy with which our fir,
was returned, it is expected more pro
t'a't oroslstance would be made. Dur
ing the time the batteries and the Gun.
boats were all playing upon the fort, an,
, II was returning the fire OF both. the roal
| otthe cannon and the explosion of On,
shells were terrific, and the buildings il
Beaufort and Morchead City were shl kcr
, to their foundations.
From both these places the view of III,
engagement was magnificent, and crowds
otpcoplc were congregatcd on the stree L
fronting the harbor, upon the Warves, am
~ the balconies, and upon the the tops q
, the houses, watching with intense interes
= every shot that was fired, and speculatin.
nnXiously upon the length of time Yhicl
tho fnrt could hold ,ut---nu unu unticipa
ting the possibility, in the end, its sue
: cosslully resisting the attack. At ON,
time n 32-pcund shell, from one of In,
eunboats, came clear over the fort an,
landed upon Il marshy island, within los,
than half a mile of Beaufort cnusino ,
stampede of the lockers on upon Ia,
whmves, they thinking the next sho
might prove too near for their comfort o.
safety.
This was the only one, however, wlicl
came near The town, and they soon re
f sumod their places.
| The effect of every shot from the lane
batteries could be plainly seen, and the
discharges from the different battcric.
easily distinguish, Sometimes the
: three would fire so nearly together as tc
make the discharges almost simultaneous
Soon after the bombardment commenced
it was evident that the guns of the for
were dismouHtcd. Before noon the reb,
els We're driven from what was called th,
water battery, on the terrace outside III.
walls, and could only work their barbet
t. guns.
by noon the fire was materially slack
joned, and twas evident that the men were
becoming exhausted ard their guns un
Manageable. At the same time no one
supposed that they would surrender urt
after, at the least calculations, another
dOy's work.
After twelve o'clock their firing became
slower and slower, and at times intervals
OF from ten to thirty minutes would in-
torvenc between the discharges from the
fort. One eight.inch mortar battery cou.
tinued to fire rapidly, the ten-inch less
rapidly, aud the Parrott battery still mo
slowly.
The shot and shell could be seen crash
ing within and around the fort, dismount-
ing their guns, tearing up the earth about
1t, and with evident effect upon the walls
which began to show signs of hard
usage.
At twenty minutes past four O'Clock, a
flag OF truce was displayed upon the bat
Elements, the firing on both sides ceased,
the bombardment was over, and Fort
Macon won.