The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-04-29
THE CAPTURE OF FORT PULASKI.


Particulars OF the BombardmeRt and Surrender
The preparations for the bombardment wer,
in progress on Tybee and Goat Islands 70
more than three months before the attack be
gan. Heavy cannon were shipped from New
York for the reduction Of the fort, and among
them were several formidable 100. pounde
Parrott ri1ed guns. There wero also Parrot
80 Founders, James cannon, aud considora.
ble number Of l3 inch moitars, cast at Pitts
burgh.
The batteries were mostly constructed un
der cover Of tho woods, and were fifteen il
number, mounting, we are Informed, Sut thir
ty-six guns; but these were nearly all of i'm.
mense size and weight. The heaviest batter.
les were situated on Goat Island, at an aver
age distance of less than two thousand yards
from Fort Pulaski.
Our batteries were manned partly by the
crew Of the frgate Wabash and other wal
steamers, and partly by the Rhode Island ar
tileris 6, and few soldiers from other com.
panies. An immense amount Of ammunition
had been provided for the siege, and on the
pete, aud a sufficient number Of troops for
the occupation Of the fort had been landed at
Tybce Island in expectation Of the capture.
"A flag Of truce was then sent TO Col. Olm
stead, the rebel commander, with demand
| for unconditional surrender.
Colonel Olmstead replied 10 this message
iu courteous note, stating that he was placed
there "to defend, no. TO surrender the fort"
On the receipt Of this note, at 7 .59 A. NJ.
Of the 10th, General Gilmore Immediately
opened fire upon the fort from the batteries on
Tybee Island.
The rebels at once replied, and the firing
slowly opened from the different batteries on
our side. The orders Of our men were to fire
only four shots per hour, and to continue at
this rate without iutermission. The rebels
fred rapidly and iercely, endeavoring to ST.
lence our guns, or compel the evacuation Of
our batteries. But as the fire opened along
the line, revealing new batteries, the enemy
apparently sarprised at the extent Of our
works, redoubled their fire, and in an hour
the fight was conducted with the utmost des.
peration on tbei' part, but without effect
their shot either falling short or passing over
our batteries. AS proof that the rebels were
not acquainted with the localities in which our
batteries were built it is stated that their fire
followed the opening Of ours from the differ
ent points in regular order, until all our bat.
teries had opened, and then distributed their
Efforts keeping up their rapid and desperate
firing for two hours aud half. Meanwhile,
our fro was continued from Tybee and Goat
Islands, as it had begun; and the rebels fail.
ing To do any execution. relaxed their efforts.
Much enthusiasm was manifested By the
Federal forces, and AS the effect Of their best
shots were noted-the bricks ard mortar OF
the fort occasionally flying in all directions
the men jumped on the batteries and gave
loud cheers. These demonstrations Of course
sub,ded, especially as there were no cores
ponding ones from the fort, and towards the
middle Of the day the firing on both aides be-
came rcgulsr--the rebels, however, sometimes
retiring from one part Of the fort TO another,
as the range of our guns grew better and rem
derel their positions dangerous.
Towards night General Gilmore ordered a
slackening Of the fire, having become conviu.
ced, from the effects Of his Parrott guns, Of
the practcability Of preaching the walls. Ar
rangements were Immediately made for plant.
ing more guns in the batteries on Goat Island,
the point nearest tie fort, the distance being
but sixteen hundred and eighty five YARDS
From sunset to midnight there was no firing +,
after midnight an occasional shot was fired
until daylight appeared.
On the morning Of the lllb two small
breaches were visible 10 the southeast face Of
tue fort; and Ivy noon, under the heavy aud
well directed fire Of the Goat Point batteries,
these breaches assumed wonderful proportions.
1t has been stated that the projecties fired
] r. th ,h Ia
but such was not the case. Second and third
shots, which were aimed at the same place
with extreme accuracy, die the work which
the rebels attributed to single shots.
The spectacle Of the bombardment was
grand. Our guns discharging rife shots and
shells, the effect was a continuous explosion
inside the fort; fragments of shot and shell
and Of the works of the fort, sometimes filling
almost the entire area Of the enclosure, and
compelling the rebels TO remain in their case
mates, but for which the loss Of life among
them would have been fearful.
About noon on the llth the rebels fire
suddenly increased, and they worked at all
their available guns with persistency quite
equal to, if not surprising, that with which
they began on the first day. But the i'm.
| "S"oo o''"N" 'H Nue lu M tA'Se
with the magazine threatened to be the cause
Of their total destruction through an explo
sion, and at eighteen minutes past two o'clock
iu the afternoon they hauled down their flag.
During the continuance Of the bombaid-
ment, over one thousand shells fell within the
fort, and seven breaches were made in the
walls.
General Gilmore sent boat to the fort,
and received the unconditional surrender Of
the garrison. Colonel Olmstead declared that
it was impossible to hold out any longer, as
our rfed shots were fast working their way
into thor magazines, and number of their
guns had been disabled; no was therefore
compelled to comply with General Gilmore's s
demand. Accordingly, or the same night,
the Seventh Connecticut regiment, Col. Ter
ry, was thrown into the Fort, and the muni.
tions Of war, provisions, &C.. were turned over
to the credit Of the Union.
The Union loss was one killed anil three
slightly wounded.
The rebel loss was FIVE wounded. Ampu.
tation wss necessary in all the cases, and was
performed Immediately.
The bombardment was most effective from