Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-04-10
FROM THE SOUTH.
The Port Hudson Affair.---Confede
rate Account of the Naval Attack.
Thrilling Midnight Scenes.

The Jackson Miss. } Appeal has lei
ter dated Port Hudson, March 10th, Civ
ing Southern account of the late mid
night naval attack on that place. The
writer states that the Federal feet con
sisted of six vessels, carrying one hun
dred guns, and after describing the line
Of battle, he proceeds with his account
as follows:
Although there had been no indication
of such determined night attack by
Farragut, the usual vigiant precautions
were in force at our batteries. Every
gun was ready for action, and around
each piece slept detachment of gunners.
SO dark was the night, however, and SO
eighty had the armed craft nosed their
way up, that the flagship bad passed some
Of our guns aud all the feet were within
easy range before their approach was
Known. Almost a. the same time rock
ct from our signal corps, aud the dis
charge Of muskets by an infantry picket
aroused our line. Quick as a fash, while
the falling fire of our alarm rockets was
yet unextinguished, there shot up into
the sky, from the IIartford's deck, an
other. Then came one grand, long,
deafening roar, that rent the atmosphere
with its mighty thunder, shaking both
land and water. and causing the high
battery crowned cliffs to tremble as if
with fear and wonder Every gun on
The fleet, and every mortar at Che point,
joined in one simultaneous discharge
One instant, and what change in the
aspect of affairs Many thousand SOL
diers, springing to their feet at a bound,
exchange glances with comrades, their
eyes glistening with the light of a grim
satisfaction, lnstnctively muskets arc
grasped with firm hand, and each SOL
dierly heart, relieved of the weight of a
long -protrocted expectation, throbs glad
echo to the startling peal Of cannon --
The batteries on the long limo Of bluff,
but a moment before silent as the church
yard, now resound to the burrying tread
of men, while the quick, stern tones of
command are heard above the awful din,
and the furtivcly glancing rays Of light
from the battle lanterns reveal the huge
instruments of death ard destruction,
and show the half-coycred way to maya
zines.
Relying greatly upon the suddenness
and ylgor Of their attack to disconcert
aud confuse the defenders of our cliffs,
the roar Of their first discharge had not
died away upon the ear before it recon-
menced, and the quick and irregular but
unceasing volleys and broadsides showed
that the crew Of each Yankee gun were
yieing with each other 10 CELEBRITY. The
sheets Of fame that poured from the sides
Of tho sloops at each discharge lit up
nearly the whole stretch of river, placing
each craft in strong relief against the
black sky. The noise was stunning to
the ear, but they knew not yet tho posi-
ton Of our batteries, and the shot and
she'll, fred at random, had no material
effect
The sbelling from the mortar boats
presented the finest scene Of the two
First the distant fash and puff Of white
smoke, then the star Of light rising by
spasmodic effort--so its revolutions make
it appear-up to the very armament,
while the more slowly travelling sound
brings the hoarse roar Of the mortar;
then the now Frightening star descending
by the same spasmodic motion; next the
ominous whirring, growing louder and
still moro clear, until bang right in
your face it seems, fash like that Of
sheet lightniDg--a sharp, terrible explo-
sion--and then, tbud thpd thud the
rent iron strikes in every direction, bury
ing its jagged fragments deep in the solid
earth.
Minute after minute passed sway. each