The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-10-02
An Attempt to Take Fort Sumter.
From the \. Y. Express.

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From the \. X. Express.
We have at length full history of the
recent unfortunate attempt to capture
Fort Sumter, some of the particulars of
which our readers are already familiar
with. The expedition lef, the flagship at
half-past 8 clock on the evening OF the
oth, under tow of the steam tug Daffodil,
stopping alongside The monitors Lehigh
and Montsuk with orders for them to
move up and cover in case fire was open
ed upon the boats from Moultrie or any
Of the forts in the harbor. At II o'clock
the expedition cast off from the tug, about
500 yards from Sumter, and headed for
the fort, IN line abreast; the division un-
der Gen. Higginson starting to 60 round
With the object of making fent on the
north face, the battalion OF marines being
ordered to remain at distance of $50
yards and fire at the enemy, should any
m:.ke their appearance on The parpet.-
The night was very dark, in many re-
spects favoring the expedition, which was
not discovered till the dip of the oars in
the water alarmed the sentinel on the
walls, who Immediately challenged. The
usual answer. "A FRIEND" was given,
when he demanded the Countersign, and
receiving no reply, called to the corporal
of the guard that the fort was attacked at
the same time discharging his musket to
arouse the sleeping garrison. 1t soon be.
came evident 10 those in the boats, from
the stir which followed, that they would
meet with determined resistance, but
they were not prepared for the sudden
voiley of muskstry which hailed them
from the fort, when within only fifteen
yards, enveloping as it did for the mo
ment the whole parapet, in a sheet Of
flame. At this moment signal rocket
was sent up, and Mouitrie, Bee and Beau
regard opened Simultaneously with des>
tructive fire Of shrapnel and shell, by
which two of the boats were swamped all
most Immediately, and the men Chose
WHO were not too severel y wounded to ex-
ert themselves left struggling in the wat
er. ms aptly, with the momentary ces
sation of this fire, two small steamers con-
cealed behind the fort, emerged from thei
hiding place and poured grape and CAMS
ter among them, then retreated. The
boats pushed on, however, and abou; 200
of our men, still undaunted, succeeded in
landing amid terrific explosion of hand
grenades and shower of missiles, such as
bricks, rocks and the like Lieut. Pres
tons division was among tue first 10 land.
Bidding his men follow him he charged
up among the debris surrounding the Drge
wall, but the ascen. was so steep and the
mass of rubbish so loose tina. many were
obliged TO lay aside their armes and climb
with hands and feet to the top From the
breach here the enemy rolled out their ten
inch she'll with fuses lighted, falling among
our men and prostrating them like so me
nv ten>rids, or exploding ain, ost instantly,
dealing death and destruction around
Not content with throwing single hand
grenades they filled buckets and emptied
them on tue heads of those below, With
The retreat Of the Two steamers, Moutrie,
Bee and Beauregard again opened fire, the
shrapnel striking against the fort and fall
ing into the water like so much hail. A
| second and third charge was ordered with,
like results to the first. when the word was
liven to retreat Many of the boats were
gwamped during the action, those that
scould be were brought off, but the remain
deI had to be left behind
Our whole loss is estimated at one huns
dred and fifty. The enemy say they have
one hundred and thirty prisoners.
A flag of trnce went up to the fort on
Wednesday carrying clothes and some pro-
visions, 1t returned bringing a number OF
messages from the prisoners to their friends
in the fleet Also, the impertinen. state
ment thai should we fire on Sumter they
would place our men OF the parapet. |
am tod that Admiral Dahlgreen has ex-
pressed his intention, should this iuhu
manit!v be exercised, to lash the prisoners
we have belonging to them 20 the turre,s
OF our monitore and Give battle. These
would prove imagine, more effective
s-.tgnard than either bales Of hay or cot,
| ion