Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-08
She Is Crippled by our vessels, Take
Fire and Sinks.
A Terrific Fire and Terrible Display
The Rebel Gunboats, Fire.rafts, Rams
and Dams knocked right and left.
Us. SrEAxER HARRIET LAVE


ALREADY PISSED, the way being comparative open
before lin.
We commenced The bombardment Of Fort ack.
son on the 1-b. and continued II without inter-.
mission until the squadron made preparations to
move. The squadron was formed in three lines
to pass the forts Ccpt. Bailey's division, com
posed Fl the following vessels, leading to the
attack Of Fort 81 Philip: Gayuga, Pensacola
Mississippi, ONEIDA, verona, Katasden, Kineo,
Wisahikcn. Flag officer Fsragut leading the
following, second line,l: Hartford, BROOKLYN
Richmond; and Commander Bell leading the
third division. pos ofthe following vessels:
Sciota. lroquois, Pinola, Winona, Itasca, and
Kennebec.
The steamers belonging to the mortar fotilIa,
one of them towing the Portsmouth. were TO en-
faIade the water battery commanding the an.
proecbes. Mortar steamers Harriet Lane, West
fiji, Owasco, Clifton and Marine-the Jackson
towing the Portsmouth,.
The vessels were rather late In getting under
weigh and into line, and did not get fairly started
until , 90 =. m, and the unusual hustle apprsed
the garrison that something was going on
la an hour and ten minU'es after the vessels
had weighed anchor they had passed the forts
under a most terrific fire. which ttey returned
with interest. The martsr feet rained down
shells on Fort Jackson t, Try and keep the men
from the guns, whilst The steamers Of the mortar
fleet poured in shTapEel upon the water battery
commanding the approach, at short distance,
keering them com paratively quiet.
When the last vessel OF ours could be seen
among the fire and smoke TO pass the battery,
signal was made 10 the morta,s to cease firing
and the hctiili steamers Were directed 10 retire
from a contest that would soon become unequal
II was how daylight. and the feet having
passed alcng the forts began to pay their atten-
ton TO our little squadron OF steamers the Ports
mouth. which was being lowed up, and three of
the guubOats which failed to pass through
These latter beclne ehtangled in some wrecks
ard chains placed in tie river to Obstruct, and
which were OILY partially removed.
One OF these vessels (the WiEoni) got through
as far as Fort st. Philip, but having all the guns
be@rIrg On her she ssnsiblV retired.
The ItaFca Was fairly Tddl6d, and had a shot
through her boiler, and the Ksnnebec escaped
unburt.
am disposed TO think that our squadron re.
ceived but little damage, considering the uneo ual
cOntest-li2 guns on board shI o opposed 10 100 on
shore, placed in 4 NEST commanding DO ition
For twenty minutes afer the ships passed tie
forts fired very feehlY the vessels Ii at remained
outside. So mTch so, that the Portsmouth was
enabled 70 dTop with the current out of gun shot
though the shot fell pretty freely about he at Las.
think the tire from tie ships must have been
very destructive Of life.
The last we saw Of our vessels they were stand
Ing up the Tivef. Some explosion took place,
which made feel rather uneasy but which
may have been the rebel gunbOats. We could
see that our squadron had not destroyed all the
enemy's vessels at the fort; for three or four of
them were moving about In all directions cyi.
den " IN state of excitement.
Before the feet got out ii &! ht II was reported
to me that the celebrated ram Manassas was COM
ing out TO attach us; and sure enough there she
was, apparently steaming along shore ready to
pounce upon the apparently -defenseless mortar
vessels. Two OF our steamers and some Of the
mortar vessels opened IRE On her; but 1 soon dis
covered that the Manassas could harm no one
again, and | ordered the veSsels 20 save their
shot She was beginning 10 emit smoke from
her por;s. or holes, and was dis covered to be on
IRE, and sinking. Her pipes were all twisted
g. ali
well cut up. she had evidently been usei D by
the squadron as they passed along.
l tined 20 save her ss 4 curiosity, by getting a
hauseT around her and securing her 10 the bank
but just after do'nX So, she family exploded
Her only gun vent Of, sGd emitting flames
Through her bow port, like some huge animal,
she gave plunge "nd disappeared under the
Next came a steamer or FIRE, which appeared 10
be vessel Of war b. lCngiDg To the rebels, and
after her two others, all burning and floating
down the stream Fires seemed 10 be raging all
along the sup river" and we supposed that our
squadron Were burning and destroying the ves-
sells as :hey passed aIOGg. 1t appears, however,
that the McRae, one or two river boats and their
celebrated Heating battery drought down the
night before) were lef, unhurt and were still
fl sing tie Confederate flag.
The matter OF the floating battery becomes a
very serious etilr, they are all hard at wor
at Fort Jackson mounting heavy lied guns on IL.
which are GE -" further use to them in the fort
She mounts 10 guns, is almost as formidable A
vessel as n" Men iI:sc, perfectly shot proof and
hhs four powerful engines In her. | shall al ALI
events take such steps Is Will prevent her from
destroying anything, and We may still hold her
In check VIII TIE steamers, though they are rather
fragile Ter such service This is one OF the i'll
enscts o. leaving an enemy In the rear 4 SUD-
pose that the ships fred on her IS they passed
through, but that her mail resisted the shot She
Lad steam On this morning, and was moving
about qni,e lively. tried To put some mortar
she'll through her roof, but without effect as she
moved of
The forts are now cut of from all communica.
Ion with New Orleans as | presume that DAG
orcct Fdrrigut has cut the wires / have sent
tie Miami around witt General Butler 10 The
back OF Fort 81 Phillip, 10 try and throw In
uoors at the quarantine, live miles along the
forts, and At the same time OpCn cOmmunica alton
that way with the Flag Officer, aud supply him
win ammunition. ] an also going to send part
OF the mortar feet To the back Of Fort Jsc kson
10 cut en- he escape OF the garrison by that way
aud stop supplies. A deseT ter who can be relied
on informs Us that they have plenty If provisions
for two months, plenty of ammunition and pleu.
~ OF discCmfOrts Oar she'll set The citadel on
nte, the first afternoon we opened, 1t burned
hcIcely for seven hours, but / thought ii a d re
raft behind the fort as they oatinuslly send them
down on Us, but without any effect.
But few casualties occurred to vessels on this
SIDE OF ihe forts. The Harriet Lane lost but one
man killed, and one. fear, mCrtaIly wounded
The Winona lost three killed aud three wound .
ed, and tie ltesca, with fourteen shot through
her, had but few men hurt
and would suggest that the Monitor and Mvs
TIC, II they can be spared, be sent here without a
moments delay, TO settle The question.
4 he mortar feet have been very much exposed
and under heavy fire for six days, during which
Tune thsy kept tn shells go,n without IL termis-
sion OHe CT them, the Maria I. Carlton, was
suAk by shot passing down through her maya
L'ne and then ID rough her bottom. The fotiila
lost but one man killed and six wounded The
bearing CT the officers and men was worthy of the
highest praise They lever once tagged during
period Of sir days; never had an accident 10 one
OF the VI ssels BY firing, and when shell and shot
were L Wing thick above them showed not the least
desire TO have the vessels moved TO a place of
safety. Tie incidents OF the bombardment Will
be mentioned In my detailed report.
] merely writr this hurried letter 10 apprize the
Department OF tie state Of Affairs, and should send
II OF al once via havana.
The sight Of this night attack was awfully
grand. Tbe river was Iit up with RATS filed witt
pine knots, and The ships seemed to be fighting
literally amidst flames and smoke. Where we
were the fire OF the enemy was high, ana CON-
paratively harmless.
am In hopes that the ship s above Jared as well
as we did though amid such a terrific fire. IL
was gratifying ~ see thai not ship wavsred but
stood steady ON her course; and 1 am In hopes
land see no reaSOn to doubt ~ that thew now
have posse ssion OF New Orleans
dtil, with great res pect your obedient ser vt