, 1863-03-17

The position of the fort was such that the
amount Of damage done by the cannouadc
could not be seen, except through the eye
were unable, while the fight progressed, to
ascertain what headway had been made in the
reduction Of the fort. It was, however, all
exciting fight. It's finely rounded embrasures
soon presented an Immense irregular heap Of
sand. The tfteen-inch shells, weighing si5
pounds, when they entered the scarps and par
apets and exploded, would throw up inthe air
tons Of sand, but it would, Of course, in
great measure fall back in the same place, and
hence the work Of dissnantling the fort was
slow and tedious. THIS flying =and:mu have
been yerT severe on hcgunners, when It came
on them before they could escape to the bomb
proofs, bu; they always showed themselves 4
Inoll.ent afterwards prepared to return tho
fire. A large number ofthese shells exploded
within the fort, and there must have been con-
siderable loss Of life. Their guns, except when
rnn for"ard to fire, we're entirely out Of sight
little opportunity Of dis.nonnting them unless
The imulcnsc enrth.Works ir trout could have
been dismantled.
The s]lells and shot Of the enemy, when
tiny struck in the water near the Monitors,
auuld srEd iHlnense bodies Of water flying
over their decks aud turrets.
Be;,u,egsld is said to haye BEEN in the fort
during he whole siege, assisting IN It's dc.
frllsc. The rebels had }arEe supporting forces
near ut hand, to meet any troops that might
lend.
The scene WIS very exciting, and amid the
III 1hc result, 60 far Us the safety Of our iron
fleet was concerned, even if they should fail
in reducing the fort. Their invulnerabi1ity
to the projtctiles Of the enemy had been fully
a*certaiEed By the previous conflicts Of Capt.
Nordcn with The same works, and By his sue
III 4 ~ r4,,.:1to twks
posed to the guns OF the fort, to which lie
paid no attention.
In alluding to tue destruction Of the Nash
vile BY Captain Worden, in my last letter, I
omitted to mention that the enemy succeeded
in exploding one of his torredoes directly uD-
der the hull of the Montauk, slightly j.rring
her, but doing not the slightest damage She
continued in her position, firing on the Nash
vile until she was blown up, and then fell
back to her anchorage On Wednesday she
steamed back to Port Royal, and is ready for
the EcXt movement that may he ordered. She
did not take part in the fight, because only
three vessels could get in position, and It was
| test their powers, and gain the experience and
practice that can ony be obta lned from an ac-
tua] engagement.
Gen. Seymour was also present, aud had
| troops OIL steamboats, ready to land and take
possession of the fort, In case their assistance
! v'as required in the progress Of the fight. The
| great distance-from twelve to fourteen hun
nci,rd ~ 1;e r"ndcrcd ~ r. s rsdmctta "GsG CON
sibilily.
SUSPENSION or Hosr111r1Es.
From twelve TO one o'clock there was q
temporary suspension Of hostiitics, On nc.
| count Of the fall Of the tide, partly to rest
a new combination of movements for tic re-,
| duction Of the cnemy's work, which, from its
F.! peculiar location, and the distinctions in the
| river, prevented our Monitors from fully con.
| centruting their fire On its most ynlnerable
points. The mortar schooners kept up az oc:
Gs1on ;;c o; Ire n an,m t%o 10 CLOCK whsn me Non
1tors agaln aasaaesa ana renewed tue tight
~ n,,, 91nr .o'n "',e hap nept & up ;% u1on on:
t5 anr e,,anon5o5 ~ a;ta % .nt na WI
ast'n ". ~ easgei.uea' e LUZ a1onllors falling oaek
ou' " 4"n ,,opr, ,,,r
mo"AAA fAnlSo'
Inc direct nrlng on the tort was suspended
st ! clock, the Monitors i!llipg back out Of
fange: FROM hl.;; ocloeK until O'Clock IN the
when the mortar sehooners again opened fire,
aha eohtihaen 10 occaslonany throw theil
| sheiis darlng the ehtl5e night. Every fifteen
l1aets r 9p sne.5 @ Tas Inro~a M n INC alEeetion
ol l9c loia, anq Aavlns gol 1ne range during
tAe DAY; the hT.ng was St thought to be Titi con on
tloeIao!e rleclslons Inc PURPOSE of ms nr'
| u I
ins, N1esen1 nina ron fcp2lfing damages, 3af
hssp LII ~, no19 ,;ss anu .eiIcsti1'leht- Vul
., .aen VI ~ +aonlto5s ~ anu gunpoats, oeins
elleu uus uy LIZ Mnors ~ tne gag, slcp
suunaiy MISUNDERSTANDING ,ns o1' ol oattle D.
WITCH 'HsS ~. ~ ,,s.. utauuttuco, - ~ ~
ihE HhstA1s VI LIE oAi.
Tie cannonadtng dul.ng the day had bccl
very hcas and its results rather unsatisfacto
r.. The difficulty Of obtaining position be
fore The fort by more tllan one Monitor Mt
time, owing to the distractions in tho river
which prevented them from getting In ful
range before the fort, rendered the task
difficult one. If they could have remoyc'
the obstructions the work would lave bee'
an easy one OF accomplishment, and the
might nave moved on against Savannah, II
desired, lhese obstTuctlons, however, lay
+ proved greater barrier than tho guns
the enemy, Which against the 1ron-c...au5 fay
, done no more damage than SO =. rc..anv pop gus,
Without nisrissieRR as keRs When VI aa'
, Iiho II;rn. - move forward to renewal
y. -St assault On the works:
t .%r.hg m pfoSFess ~ thc ngnt ~ lV.l
/: 15! !so1.ef saet; loaaco WIN sana, lsll on
aeeh VI tnc fassaas. u s{rac5 On tue w
a.. 49, l'11. VI ny 1eck, anu, lnttner than u
ushfement q tue armor, did no damage
! the vessel Ihls Was test that the Nonito
: had not before undergone, and it Will be
G matter Of congFatulaion 10 know that tn
d arc invulnerable evcn to mortar projectilcs.
S CLOSE or THE COMMANDMENT.
Z w.,nes,1av ,1,rch .-Th;a IL +,a
t :sa.".yf - - ' eecol
t !;..!' I; SA'- W --.>.ugnration Of Preside
r -.-coln, and the war still progresses. G.
II grant tint It's next anniversary may tlndpea