Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-04-23
TtiE ATTAcE.

At half past one P. N. the signal for
sailing was displayed from the flag ship
The Weehawken, with raft al her prov,
Immediately got under way and moved
rapdly up the main channel, followed ny
.he others, which maintained their respec-
tive positions, distant from each other
about one-third or a half mile. There are
no clouds of canvas, no beautiful models
of marine architecture, none OF the state
illness and majesty which has marked hun
dreds of great naval engagements. There
is but little to the sight calculated to excite
enthusiasm. There are eight black specks
and one oblong block gliding along the
water, like so mang bugs. There are no
human beings in sight - no propeliing
power visible.
Sumter has discovered them, and dis
charges in succession nine signal guns, to
announce to all rebeldom that the attack
is TO be made. Morrs' Island is mysterl~
ouslv silent as the Weehawken advapr 80,
although she is within range. Pas, Fort
Wagner, straight on towa1..d M.ulsrle the
Weehawken moves. The silence is pro-
longed 1t is almr st palnfal--the calm
before the storm the hushed stiffness be-
fore the burst. Of the torpedo!
There c'yrnes q single puff of smoke from
Moultr' zone reverberation. The silence
is broken; the months, the long months o.
waiting are over.
The shot flies across the water, skipping
from wave to wave, tossing up fountains,
honning over the deck Of the Weehawken
and rolling along the surface with dimln
ishing ricochet, sinking at last close upoi
the Morris Island beach. Fort Wayne
continues the story, sending a shot at tn
Weehawken. 1t also trips lightly owe
the deck, and losses up waterspont Ia
towards Moultrie The Weekawken, uu
mindful of this play, opened its ports, ant
con, a efifteen-inch solid shot toward Sumte
which like those which have been sen
toward he's. takes half-dozen steps, ma
king for a moment Its footprints on Tn
water, and crashes against the southWes
face Of the fort, followed moment late
NV its eleven-Inch companion The vesse
{ for a moment enveloped IN the smoke
tia Guns. Bravely done! There come
an answer. Moultrie. the tremendous bat
teries on either side by the hotel aud cas-
&c i and toward the inner harbor, burs
in an instant into sheets OF flame an
clonds of sulpherous smoke. There is on
long roll of Handicapped on peal; deer
heavy reverberations and sharp concus
sions. rafting the windows OF our steam
ers and striking us at the heart like han
ner strokes.
The ocean boils Columns of spray al
tossed high in air as If hundred suoms
r;ne fountains were let instantly on, or
school of whales were trying which coul
spout highest. There is screaming
the air, and buzzing and hummlng new
before so loud
At FIVE minutes before three Moultr
hogan the fire. Ten minutes have passed
The thunder has rolled necessarily frol
Sulliyan's Island. Thus far Sumter hi
been silent, but now il is crownef with
cloud. In an instant it is hid from vie
first line CT light along its parap'
and thick folds of smoke unrollng Ink
fleeces of wool. Other flashes burst frol
the easements, and the clouds creep dow
the wall to the water, then slowly fios
away to mingle with that rising from til
furnaces in the sand along the shores I
Sullivan's Island.
You almsst think the earth's crust hs
ruptured, and the volcanic fires, long pen
have suddenly found vent
1t was the first grand round. The
comes calm-a momentary CESSATION
The rebel gunners wait for the breeze
clear away the cloud that they may obtal
a view of the monitor, to see If has n
been punched into seive and is dlsa]
pearing beneath the waves. but the We
hawken is there moving straight on