The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-04-22

The iron 0llShrtls fore and ar on the gun
deck, forming TIE casematrs ~ilh the plated
sides. were next closed and ingrrss to the Cap
t4iu's cabin shut of Streams OF water we're
then again let upon the hides and sand bags
above sd below. The pilot house received an
other coating OF slush
These lasi measures Of protection being TAX
en-, Lieut. Commanding Belknsp's command.
Close port loivs,' rang through his trumpet over
tie gun deck. In second the ponderous shut
ters IN. snd the haichxAys @efe the only soar
ces Of daylight 10 those below. A Look out
tore and al shot from the trumpet next brought
the gunners down ehird their pieces.
The 6rsi four monitors had already passed
Fort Wagner aud we we're nov abreast Of it
We can locS inro the very mouths OF the guns
but they remain silent We know not hat 70
make Off.
Ahead se steam, snIieusy awaiting tae re-
por, Of ,he first gsu A. last shout three o.
clock, Two flashes of fire burst from Fort Noul
trie and two shots few across the bows Of the
Wreka~ken. ihe foremost u.u .i.or, thas seemed
70 have approached within less than halt mile
This fairly opened the action.
Everyb, dy Was now ordered below from the
spar deck aud the last hatch closed. PHO. God
FREY, the Admiral Captain Rodgers and Commo-
iore Turner took their station in the pilot house.
The order fifteen pounds up sounded over the
gun deck, and ely the whole ships battery
vas shoted.
Then followed few minutes of intense snx
iety. For ne AID few others, the pilot house
and posts Number eight, that were kept open TO
heave the lead, af,rdcd means Of observing
What was passing outside But the mass Of those
on board must have felt for moments at least,
natural diidence at the thought OF gropipg in
Oar kness, as il were into the deadly strife ~ith
the enemy.
The suspense did not last long Six bells
had just struck, when a dull sound, ike that OF
a sledge hammer upon an anvil was heard OIL
/ The bow por side. Ii vas the hoatile greeting
of Fort Sumpter now within 200 wards of Us
a second AID third more violently than the
/ first : ook the sides Of the ship. Soon came the
zzirg AID humnng OF riaed round shot aud
shell over our heads Still the successive dis
charges could D. Distinguished. The several
reports had not Yet been drowned, so to speak
in cOninuous roar
! Bat bark There i reVerberation a.
though Of numerous simultaneous thunder claps
NOV fierce, unceasag roar, vibrating the ar
with violence thst causes even the solid mass
OF our ship to tfemble. A lock through the open
port on the port side, discoses tue Cause Of the
furious outburst. The first four monitors had
reached Tie couverg'ng point Of the FIRE OF Cum
ning's Point B.ltery, Forts Sampter, Moultre
aoc Battery Bee One after the ether had stead
y steamed, without firing a shot, TO the W, e
1T the concentrating ranges. The enemy evi
IDENTIFY reserved their man FIRE for work al close
quarters, but ~hen the WeshaNken had reached
within six hundfed yards OF Fort Sumpter, a
ioLg, b. oad, b .llisut fame suddenly lesprd from
as SHE, with all but Simultaneous intense glare.
rom Cummings Point and Moultriv followed
usfantsueolsly by immense volumes Of smoke
aud rain OF pfojectes that fairly bid the tur
rets of our craft ~ith countless spOuIs Of watei
thrown up by striking shot aud shell.
"Agan and again this APPALLING scene was er.
acted IL ali its dire suOlimity. As the forts aBt
0,tteres, Ike 50 many vomiting craters of vol
canoes. sent forth one torrent OF destruction af
ter another. my heart failed and panged with
the fear Of seeing the little monitors shiverec
INTO atoms. But when, il response to sigma
from the Gag ship, they commenced replying t,
the enemy with the thunder OF their huge bat
ter'e,, and the combat Was 10 longer Que sided
my confidence revived"
TIE following correspond deuce passed betwee,
Maj Gen. Hunter ard Admiral Dupont. imedi
stey after the attack:
Headquarters, Army Of tbe South. }
{. s Traur. Ben Decford, April 5. 1868 (
admiral +. DUPONT, flag chip Neu Iroa.
sides IF Fort ,'mpter:
ADNIR>L:-Nct knoaing what have been n,
results OF your attack yesterday, so lar as For
>umpseF Concerned, canaot bur congratulst,
you Oh the magnificent manner Ia which The YES
sels under your command we're fought
A mere spectator, ! could DO nothing but ORA,
for YOU, which, believe M, did most heartily
tor you aud for al the gallant men under YOU,
command, who sailed 30 calm and iearl-ssl,
into, Huder and through a coucentric fire which
has heretofore never been psraleled in the biz
tory OF warfare.
That you are uninjured and 50 many Of the
vessels OF your command still h for service. j q
cause Of ceep gratitude to Almighty God.
confess when the Weehawken ffst ran undo,
Sumpier's guns, receiving the casemate and
oaibette hroad-ides from thst work Simultaneous
Il with similar bToad-ides from Fort Nouliri.
aud all the other WorKs within range. fairls
ted my breath until the smoke lad cleared
away, not expecting 10 see a vestge Of tie httic
vessel which had provoked such a. attack -
/ With each Of the Others the same scene xas re-
enacted, ny interest In the fate Of the Iron.,de.
being, perhaps the keeuest, from nv kuowledge
OF her comparative vuinerability, and the Dc Q
/ loss the Country would sustain II ANYTHING We're
70 happen 10 you.
( Thank Coz for the results az far as they go
Nay He have you in his keeping through What
ever chances ars vet before you No country
can ever fail that has men capable Of suFrrir
hat your iron clads had Yesterday to eudrre
60 bless YOU ana keep YOU safe, Admiral. and
believe NE, Nith the highest esteem
D. HUNTER, Maj Gen.
Fsg Ship Ne= ironsidez. Charleston. !
April s, 1893
GENERAL Il ala ct this moment In recei1,
I OF yosr most gratifying iefter 0; this date. 20
rot, however. REQ ire ihis 70 satisfy NE 81 rouf
deep sympathy 10 our operation OF yes,srdss
;rtel- ned by TIE fac, thar Ct c.asfauces beyol..
your cnntro. prevented that which u al thing.
YOU would n.o-i have desired, an immediate and
active corporation.