, 1864-02-20
HoMRARDMENT OF FIT. SUMTER.
A4eDe1 Account OF tt--Narrow Escape
From Explosion.

ENn
gathered: from the oficia1 renort NJ III. T.,
spector-General, aud Incorporated in thn cn1,
u, Iesponocnce of the Mobile Tr;buuc. of Inn
1SI1, may be enumerated us follows:
Inc garrison Of the fort Was 500 men Of fhe
i5t a'cssa :. Z; q, Artillery, under command Of col
At the commencement Of The bomha,d.
ment 3ae @ 81 Ang II, 1865. there were In the fort
!olsgV Ids OF gunpowdcr. The magazines
containing 1t, became in a few DAYS Tnsafe
rom re destructive effect Of the 2O6-polnder
1aa1ott a.5 she.ls and shot hurled into the walls
removed b. night to the west magazine. ani
sshlpped as fast as possible to Charleston ~'@-
On SUNDAY, Aug. 233 tho Ironsides and scr.
~ monitors commenced a terrific bombard-
mtnL a log protected them from the runs
ea ~ Monltr7e. Sumter, hafing only two 1Olnch
only fire an occasional shot to show lie.
ROT seven honrs, at close range. the feet
Unr1ed shot and shell into the Work. str;E.
ing tne wall near the Tarapet, loose brick
were thfoEn up Ia columns, and fell In show.
GUe11 IT, M1enno NE gunners and about the work,
nlled With sand, and the shells passed across
NE parade, striking the interior wall Of the
west magazine, containing powder ennn~h
10 oestToy the fort and garrison. One shei1
~, sstuek me Tentiiator and exploded. It tilIed
ene megaNnc with smoke. Another morc |
1t was an anxious moment. Int fhn Tnr+ 1rns
1ad; Gradually the morning d1yyncd Tho +
1og lifted, and Fort Mou1tyie opened fir. ~
~ !. sshlps: Instead Of continuing their fire
tbs .n9s sera1 critical period the fleet withdrew and
nnIr nrS o.nger ~ ~ was remitted: The object was I
ges fad Of the powder. 1t depends On time,
ano Inc movements of The deet.. Had fhr
aeet carly renewed the attack. the hnsiuczs
19It Aave bccn done The fleet DELAYED!
baEreIs tan pneqg r,gns tne powder was moved il
hundred pounds were left; tic crisis was
The fort was now safe from R the Nv nxs
Rosion OF the powder in its magazine. c.,,.
AnoLhef grand combined attack OF land !
5aa5efocs :ha,1 and aeet was made, during which
a he ,Hln snlp passed through the wall into
lingering piles of loaded shells, and bursting !
pen the door of the maeaziIie aiioining
;oL khett ordered the shells to be roilei {
nto the water. This was done undcr a
sa'y cay 1ire directed upon that portion Of The {
The fort was now safe from explosion of i
ny sort; 1t only remained to hold tic worF
nae5 ,na the cnemy's battcripg, and to rcpulse i
The attack Of Sept 3 failed, and the first r
ombard dment of Sumter ended It had last "
taa sttlesn & M aays. t since then, no such grand
Is been made upon Fort Sumter. Dnrint- ii
e tight Of: :sept; s, three monitors were iIs, =
lied IN an effort to eavc the Wcehewkcn. s:
'ounded within range Ii
Beside the detachment at the gunJs. men b,
ID officers were inccssantIy. occnnicd. y
ssn snsy ordnance WIS mounted, shifted and Sc
smonnted. q . Bunks, temporary buildings
H. Se.a Stn onetib!e matter were cleared awaY. =
aSIe 5ia ~aa much work to be done by soldiers j;
~; st;ss.og dirt from the parade and flllinr "a
,gared ~ Msfh .n sand. Negroes wcre ais6 &c
6ospi3.itp Il ~ duty q 40 Il Protecting
= 's.s eanea. ~: aieht long. IN: p smail III