New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-14

and then suddenly fall TO the depth Of craven
beartedness; but the calm resolution and prompt
obedience Of orders that is the vital condition of sue
cess in battle. There were five hundred men on the
two decks; but remarkable stiffness prevailed.
Their countenances, however, reflected the light oil
firm determination, although the mouths did not
speak oft.
The iron bulkheads fore and aft on the gun-deck,
forming the classmates with the plated sides, were
next closed and ngress TO the Captains cabin shut
Off Streams of water were then again let upon the
hides and sand-bags above and below The pilot
house received another liberal dressing Of slush.
These last measures Of protection being taken
Lieut. Commanding Belknap's command. "Close
portfolios" rang through his trumpet over the gun
deck In a second the ponderous shutters fell, and
the hatchways were the only sources OF daylight to
those below. A "Look out for foro-and-aft shot"
from the trumpet next brought the gunners down
behind their pieces.
The grating over the hatchways was fastened oy
this time with the exception Of a smaA opening ai''
through which the few permitted to remain upon
the spar-deck were passing up and down. we weio
going at the rate of about four knots On hour Inc
little craft before and behind us were vigorously
blowing the water with their blunt bows, keeping
well in line. Nearer and nearer did We approach
cearer and clearer became the lines of the Rebel de-
fenses. Already we can count the guns on Fort
Wagner (the work next TO Morris Lighthouse
and Cummings Point, and the windows OF the
houses of St. Vincent and Moultrievills. Az 2;2o
the first signs of the afterward fatal difficulty OF
steering the ship in tideway became manifest. The
bow swung on the port side, and it was necessary to
stop her engine TO steady her course. In few
minutes we were again in motion.
The first four monitors had already passed Fort
Wagner and we wero now abreast of it. We can
look into the very mouths Of the guns bat they re-
main silent. We know not what TO make OF it.
Ahead we steam, anxiously awaiting tho reports
of the first gun. At last, about o'clock two flashes
of fire burst from Fort Moultrie and two shots few
across the bow Of the Weehawken, the foremost
monitor that seemed to have approached within less
than half mile. This fairly opened the action.
Everybody was now ordered below from the
spar deck and the last hatch closed. Pilot Godfrey,
the Admiral, Capt Rodgers and Commodore Turner
took their station in the pilot-bouse. The order
Fifteen pounds up" sounded over the gun deck and
directly the whole ships battery was shOt,ed
Then followed few minutes Of intense anxiety.
For me and few others, the pilot-house and ports
number eight, that were kept open to
beave the lead, afforded means enough
Of observing what was passing outside. But
the mass Of those aboard must have felt,
for moments at least, natural dfidence q. the
thought of cropping in darkness, as it were, into the
deadly strife with the enemy.
The suspense did not last long. Six bells had just
struck. when dull sound, like that Of sledge
hammer upon an anvil, was heard on the bow-port
aide. 1t was the hostile greeting of Fort Sumter,
now within 200 yards of U.s. A second and third,
moro violently than the first. shook the sides Of
the ship. Soon came whizzing and hummng Of
rHed and round shot and shell over head. Still the
successive discharges could be distinguished. The
10 several reports had not yet been drowned, u
10 speak, in a continuous roar.
1T But, harkl There ia reverberation as though o
G. numerous, simultaneous thunder clapc. Now
4 fierce, unceaEng roar vibrating the air with VIC
ence that causes even the solid mass Of our ship
~ trembe. A look through the open port on the por
side discIoses the cause Of the furious outburst
The first four Monitors bad reached the convergine
point Of the fire of Cumming Point battery. Forts
. Sumter and Moultrie and Battery Bee. One after
a the other had steadily steamed, without firing g
shot, to the verge Of the concentrating ranges. The
enemy evidently reserved their main FIRE for work
: at close quarters; but when the Weekawken had
reached within six hundred yards Of Fort Sumter,
a long, broad, brilliant flame suddenly leaped from
its side, with all but simultaneous intense glare,
from Cummings Point and Moultre, followed in
a simultaneously by immense volumes Of smoke and
rain Of proectes that fairly hid the turrets of
Is craft with countless spouts Of water thrown up by
' striking shot and she'll
Again and again this appalling scene was en-
acted in all its dire subimy AS the forts and bat
teries, like 80 many vomiting Craters Of volcanoes
sent forth one torrent Of destruction after another
my heart failed and panged with the fear of seeing
I the little Monitors shvered into atoms But when
in response 10 signal from the flagship, they com
menced replying to the enemy with the thunder o.
their huge batteries, and the combat was longer
one-sided, my confidence revived.
Meantime the Ironsides had vainly tried Il
keep up with the Monitors ahead. At 1851
, we were startled by the command "stand by
the STAFFORD auchor;" followed soon by "le
90 the starboard anchor" The ship had again been
disobeyng the rudder and threatening to swing on
the shoals on our port side. The enemy at once no
tced our embarrassed position and improving the
fixed mark afforded by the stoppage, diverted their
long range guns for while from the Monitors upon
u.s. Bang bang their shot went against the sides
almost faster than we could count Happily the
anchor Strengthened the of the ship, and in a
few minutes we were again under weigh
We had hardly gained hundred or 30 yards upon
Fort Sumter, when the ship became once more un-
manageable, and the anchor again let 60. The
1 A At NJ. = II