Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-15

IL ptSou w Sio" hShee's 50"
the Harriet Lane, with Capt, Porter, and
all the vessels in his division coming rapid
ly down the river.
Behind them were the gunboats Ken
nebec, Winona and ltasca, which had
been unable to pass the forts, The ltas-
ca at the time was under shower OF
shell from Fort St. Phillip. l afterwards
ascertained that when she was directly
under the guns of the fort shot passed
through her boiler, and this rendered her
unable to proceed. On her way down
she was exposed to raking fire, and re-
ceived thirteen shots below her water
line, Singularly enough, only two men
were injured on board of her, Their
names are Richard Kane, captain of the
hold, who was struck by splinter, and
Raney, fireman, who was scalded upon
his arm and face by the escape of steam.
On the Winona, Alexander Taylor, a
boatswain's mate, was cut in two by shot,
and five others OF the crew were badly
wounded. The Kennebec was struck
several times, but none on board were
hurt.
1t was now about o'clock, and the
mortars, which had kept up their firing
necessarily, were signalized to cease. Then
report was spread that the larger part
OF the squadron had passed beyond the
forts, and cheer upon cheer of exultation
made the welkin ring.
visited the Harriet Lane, and learned
that, although she had been exposed 10 a
furious fire, no damage OF consequence
had resulted to the vessel. One shot had
cut her rigging, and another had struck
the brass hand railing on the bridge be-
tween her paddle-boxes. A piece OF the
rail about six inches long was broken OIL
and forced through the body of Michael
Fitzgerald, the second captain of the af.
ter pivot gun, producing a wound which
he did not long survive. The same frag,
ment OF metal also struck Geo. w. Hues.
ton, one of the guns crew, breaking his
thigh, and making the amputation of his
leg necessary.
Between 6 and o'clock, went on board
the Owasco, with Capt. Guest, who haC
been commissioned by Capt. Porter to &C
with flag of truce up to the forts and de-
mand their unconditional surrender. We
approached Fort St. Phillip within mile
when we were fired upon rapidly five
times. confess that had anticipated
something of this sort, and was not, there
fore, unprepared. We immediately hauled
down our flag of truce, returned, but il
halt an hour afterwards gig came Gowr
from the rebel fort, flying the rebel flas
astern, and white flag in the bow, ant
containing pale young man, with bush,
hair, in the uniform of First Lieutenant
of artillery, with somewhat seedy car
and pantaloons of coarse corduroy. Capt
uuest went to meet our visitor, and thei
conference lasted few minutes. The
crew OF the rebel boat was of more mot
icy appearance than can describe. Thei
clothes were soiied and ragged. ON
wore red shirt, one a white and the 9th
er two gray shirts. One had a black
Slouched hat, ard the others violet colorec
military caps. We waited after the rebel,
went back to the fort until they came
back with an answer to our demand fol
surrender. On returning, the rebel wa
invited on board the Owasco, a I'd delivered
his message there. He brought word tina
Col. Higginson, the commander of For
Phillip, considered our terms wholly in
admissible, and that the fort would never
surrender. He also offered an apology
in behalf of his superior officer, for firing
upon the flag of truce, assuring US that i
was done by mistake-the color of the
flag having been indistinguishable When
the young Lieutenant, whose name / be.
lieve is Kennedy, of the First Louisiana
Artillery, left the vessel, he allowed his
boat to drop down considerable distance
into our lines, pretending that his mer
were unable to row against the current
Undoubtedly his objec: was to make re-
cOnnoissance of our forces, aud as soon a,
! his shrewdness was observed, we rar
towards him. Capt. Guest remarked,
must give you tow" and passing a rope
to the boat, we soon took him nearly up
to the fort. In this way we observed as
much as he, the river being strewed with
wrecks of steamers and half consumed
fire-rafts. 1t was not long after the rebel
answer had been returned to Capt. Por-
| ter, before the bombs were again bowling
in the direction of the forts, and the firing
continued until the mortar feet was or.
dered down the river.
The CASUALTIES in the mortar feet dur
ing this siege have been remarkably few
one killed and six wounded covers all. One
of the schooners, the Mario J. Carlton.
was sunk by a round shot the second day
the bombardment, but nobody was hurt.
Her commander, Capt. Jack, is plucky
man, but apparently somewhat unfortunate
during his connection with the navy. His
vessel was dismasted of Hatteras on her
voyage out from New York at Pilot.
Town his boat capsized and he was nearly