The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-09-30

seven weeks, again take my pen. My reasons for
not writing sooner, owing to an order issued by
General Gilmore on the 9TH Of last month prohibit
ing any correspondence, the contents of which
would give the least idea Of anything concerning
the affairs of this department; but will spend
few moments in relating some things which have
transpired since my last letter.
As before the charge on Wagner, so after the
same, the industry, perseverance and excellent
Judgment Of our most worthy leader continued to
be made manifest, while his Yankee scheme of ap-
preaching Wagner aud Gregg, progressed.
Batteries were first planted as near the enemy
as was expcdient and then during the night
fatigue parties would dig trenches and throw up
brcastworks in advance of the batteries, construct
ing them in the shape of fence in order to
cure cover from his shot as we approached his guns
In this way we dug to within twenty feet of Wag-
ner, at the same time moving guns to the front
as fast as convenient
On the oath of August the land batteries made
general opening Fort Sumter and kept up a
slow but steady fire for seven days, at the cxpira-
ton of which time, the fort in utter ruins, many
of the large shot and she'll of our heavy one, two
and three hundred Founders having passed through
bombardment but was as often replaced. The fort
is supposed to be deserted but its flag still floats
But must hasten to things of more recent occur
renee. On last Saturday, September 5, all the
heavy guns were changed, so that instead of bear
ing on Wagner, Sumter was made their object of
aim, and in the morning at five o'clock they com
mcnced 4S-hour bombardmcnt, in which their iron
clads were also engaged. The firing was fierce and
rapid until Sunday evening, when the guns ceased
firing; the mortars, however, keeping up pretty
steady fire until about o'clock Monday morning
when descrtcr came from Wagner aud reported
that the fort was cvacuatci with the exception Of
four or five men. He was Immediately sent to
General Gilmore to whom he reported the same.
Whcrcupon the General told him that if any of his
story proved false his head would be the forfeit,
and Immediately dispatched to Colonel Howell,
commanding the advance brigade, to send small
party into the fort to cautiously examine it and
ascertain the true condition thereof. A Sergeant
and five men first entered and found the dcscrtcrs
statements true, only some three or four being
there.
The fort was literally guttea guns were dis
mounted, carriages broken to pieces, and truly may
it be said that here was presented the horrd
of war. Over twenty dead men were lying in the
fort, some of whom had apparently been dead three
four days. Four of these men were laid across
each other and strong cord tied around their
waists the other end Of the cord being attached to
torpedo in the magazine, One poor fellow had
his shoulder torn off. and said that that was
the fourth day since he was wounded, having
had nothing whatever done for his wound nor
T., r,l- inn
He was removed, but died before reaching our hos
pita. a fuse, about two-hundred feet long was
also found in the fort, one end of which was fire.
while the other was inserted into bag of powder
in the magazine. The fuse was immcdutely cut,
thus preventing serious accident. Enclosed |
send you few inches of the same fuse.
The guns left here by the enemy were about fit
teen in number and one large mortar, alsc one FIVE
inch British Cohorn.
No sooner had our men taken possession of Wag-
ner, than others Of them proceeded to Gregg,
which they all found deserted. This was most
wicked battery although it had but three guns.
At both places the guns were mostly spiked, but
as it was done with cut nails and Hrought-iro>
pins, they were very easily removed by our drills.
While the enemy were leaving these batteries aud
crossing in small boats to Moultrie they were met
by party of our marines, who captured about sixty
Of them.
We now have complete possession of Morris Is
land, and as the soldiers say, after several weeks
of har labor, "wc are gay."
About o'clock this morning one of our monitors
fired shot at of the batteries Sulliyan's Is
land. The shell passed into one Of the magazines,
when it immediately exploded, and such shout as
never before went up from Morris Island, asccndcd
from its clated soldiers.
Soon after the explosion, the iron feet went into
the harbor near Moultre and commenced a fierce
firing which has been going five hours, and with
out any cessation. The firing is the heaviest and
most constant that have ever heard heretofore, in
this department.
One Hour LArER.--Thc bombardmcnt increases
in fierccness, sounding like continual thunder as it
rolls over the waters and away seaward toward
English traitors. A large column of black smoke
is now rising from Moultrievlc, and judge thatit
is the marine hospital on fire, The hills of their
island are covered with men, while questions sim
iliar to the following are passing around; What
do you think ofthe monitors now ?" "Don't you
think Gilmore will show 'em tiick?" "Ant that
the incest sight you ever saw" etc.
But must leave the results of the heavy can
nenading to tell another time.
Since being on the island it has been the duty OF
brigade to go to the front every three DAYS and
there lay in the trenches for twenty-four hours.
While in these trenches we were comparatively
safe, excepting when mortar shells, which were
thrown very high from Fort Johnson, would drop
almost perpendicuarly into our hiding places. We
also had, what we term" splinter proofs" made of
shpFt posts, on which is placed pole which is
lain tier of wood, and then the whole covered with
sand to the depth of three feet. If the large shells
happened to burst while in the air (as they gener
ally did the splinter proof would efftctusy shield
frouits flying Fragments but if the she'll ohanccd
to reach the earth, and hit one of these soldiers
out-houses, it would pass through it and probably
kill or wound several of the men.
One company of the lOcth New York was one
night occupying one of the spiner-proofs, when
a tcn-nch mortar shell came through and lit in the
only vacant place in the den, which place was oc-
cupicd but moment before by one of the boys wRo
had stepped out to get a drink. The shell was
coolly picked up and thrown out.
But notwithstanding the many dangers to which
we have been exposed here, our regiment has been
very lucky, Since the charge on fort Wagner, on
the evening Of the 18th of July, Sergeant Henry
Murrow, of Co. B, was wounded, and afterwards
died; and the following have been wounded LIST
Scrgeants c. +. Minor, Co. G, and Monroe Holloway
Go. private James Peterson, Co. A, and Fred.
Richards and - Baize, of Go. /. Among those
who were wounded in that fca rf,l chnrna on tho