Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-05-13
PoaITIoN OF THE ATTACKING rLRET.

~ AhE AAAAShANd
Inc vessels are arranged In parallel lines
on the outside are the frigstes and gunboals
and inside, literally moored tosthe stumps and
margin Oh the stream, arc the mortar schoon
ers.
AS the bombardment is to be made from a
point not more than half mile above our pre-
sent position, will attempt to describe the pat.
ural features Of the place. The river here Ia
about its average width of fVe.eighths Of a
mile, and the velocity of the current is from
tnree to i've miles an hour. Commencing near
the iorts, and extending eight miles below Them,
on the west or left bank of the stream as we as
cend, is dense strip OF forest, about fifty
yaras wide, excepting for space of q quarter
OF mile In length, where tho river bends in
It's course, at which the enemy has cleared
away the trees for the purpose OF getting q
better range upon our vessels Beyond this
belt OF woods the land disappear & in an impene-
trable swamp. On the right hand or eastern
bank there are no trees, but dead level of
marsh, probably half mile wide, and there IL
sufficient water on either shore for vessels of
the lOrgest draft. From the mast-heads of all
the vessels the forts may be seen plainly, away
across the marshes, over the tops of the willows,
mangroVes and trees Of larger growth.
cONcEALMENT OF THE MORTAR BOATS.
The mortar schooners at best afford q small
target fer the enemy to fire at, but the chances
OF striking them are still further decreased by
the screen Of woods which hides the hulls COM
pletely from the forts. Still further to conceal
:hem from observation, their masts have been
dressed with evergreens. All yesterday after
noon, the sailors were busy 10 the tangled chap
paral, cutting the branches and the limbs of the
trees for this purpose. 1t was great fun for the
tara, who felt no fear, In the glow Of their ex-
cltement, at disturbing the rattle-snakes and al
llgators which infest the morsss. Imagine the
pleasantly peculiar appearance OF the schoon.
ers in their leafy dresses. Eighteen of them
converted into shady bowers! A tree lashed to
each masthead, INTERVIEWING its branches and
boughs beneath, laced to the rigging on either
side, juttiDg refreshing shade. They look
prepared for O festival instead of war. Il ia
May day, Palm Sunday and Christmas time ex.
aggerated; Burnam woods come to Duusnane;
q "torest of masts," with adjuucts of branches
and leaves.
DESTRUCTION OF THE FIRE RAFrs.
An hour after the review, the men had en-
opportunity to test in practical manner their
means for destroying FIRE RATS, and they proved
to be an admirable success. A turgid column
OF black smoke, arising from resinous wood,
was seen approaching US from the vicinity Of
the forts. Signal lights we're made, the varied
coloTs of which produced beautiful effect up-
on the foliage OF the river bank, and rendering
the darkness intenser by contrast when they
disappeared; instantly hundred boats shot out
toward the raft, which now was blazing fiercely
and casting a vide zone of light upon the wa
ter. Two or three of the Eunboats then got
under weigh and steamed boldly toward the 1n.
known thing of terror. One of them, the
West6eld, Capt. Renshsw, CALAMITY opens her
steam valves, and dashes furiOusly upon it, max
ing the sparks fly and timbers crash With the
force Of her blow. Then a stream of water
from her hose plays upon the blazing mass
Now the small boats lay alongside, coming up
helter-skelter, and actively employing their
men. We see everything distinctly in the
broad glare-men, oars, boats, buckets and
ropes. The scene looks phantom.like, SUPER
natural; intensely interesting, extremely excit-
ing, inextricably confused. But finally the OBJ
ject is nobly accomplished. The raft, yet fierce
ly burning, Is taken out of range of the anchor
ed vessels end towed ashore, where 1t is slowly
consumed. AS the boats return they are cheer
ed by the feet, and the scene changes to one Of
darkness and repose, broken occasionally by the
gruf hail of seaman, when boat, sent on
business from one vessel to another; passes
through the feet. We have q contempt for
fire RATS. They have proved, like many other
things, to be "Weak inventions Of the enemy"
Fire upon tho. fort was opened on Friday,
April 18th.