The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-09

commence and Checr1ulneSS. AS the
morning dawned the fleet could be dis
ccrned in the distance getting ready to
renew the attack; but it was not ex-
pected that operations would commence
before high tide, which would be about
half-past twelve o'clock. However,
every man was at his post, ready, al any
moment, to again engage the fleet. About
10 O'Clock Ahe fleet commenced moving
ln-thcir extreme right resting near Cat
Inns battery, about six miles up the
beach, and their left extending down to
tac fort. The ironsdcsl led the attack,
tho frigates resting Oh her right and left
and the monitors TO therisht OF the fri
gates. counted fifty two vessels in all -
'one ironsides, three or four monitors,
four frigatcs and forty seven other YES
'sels. They steamed in very slowly, two
Of the frigates going round to the sea
front OF Ill. fort. and the iron -clads ana
menisoss lytHg abreast ef .'fccentre front,.
The ironsidcs and monitors came up
within a mile; the rest of the fleet re
manned out about one and q half miles.
Al 1890 A. N. the first con vas fred
by the irons:<ies, followed by the rest of
the heet-fring very slowly and del,be-
rately for the while. The fort reserved
| It's fire, thinking that the wooden fleet
would be tempted to come in closer range
Finding, however, that they would not
come closer, our guns opened, also firing
| very slowly. The day was quite foggy,
and the smoke from the guns rendered
it more so.
About - o'clock the fire commenced
to Increase with great rapidity. The
dull, heavy, humping sounds of the
| cncmy's guns as they were fired could
be heard first, and then the whis,ling,
shrieking sound Of the shells as they came
whizzing and buzzing through the air.
Their explosion and the myriad fragments
that went rattling by, thick almost as
hail, were terrible to listen to. Terrific
continued the bombardment-no slow
firing now from the enemy-no delibera-
tion-away they would shoot their hell
balls, not caring where they threw them
faster and faster comes the iron hail,
louder and louder sounds the terrible
| thunder-the air is hot with the fire,
| such as you would experience from the
heat of q furnace the earth shakes; no
| interval of quiet; all is noise-crash,
bang, and bang, crash, all the time. Will
it ever cease? VIII it ever stop? No
lull. Bang, bang, bang, quicker than
you can count. The sand flies all about.
There goes shell whist!ing by, close to
Gperal Whiting; it buries ITSELF ex-
pl5ding, covering him all over with the
vet sand. lie does not even move, not
even takes his pipe from his mouth, and
only remarks coolIy, "Well, it spattered
me-"
Still no intermission the evening goes
on; the time passes slowly. The men
stand to their guns nobly.- Some have
been, yesterday, fighting all day, and still
fighting; there is no lag in them; they
fight as men never fought before with
heavy guns. Colonel Lamb and General
Whiting arc everywhere along the lines
encouraging them from battery to bat
terry they go; t lc men look at them and
smile, and bang away again; the com
rnanders Of the companies are all at their
posts.
The bombardment continued terrific
till about o'clock, when the firing sud
denly slackened from the feet. 1t was
then discoy cred that the enemy had sue.
ceeded in landing force at Anders on
and Holland batteries and that their line
of skirmishers were advancing on the
fort. Ali is excitement now. Our in
fantry man the parapets; and now the
sharp crack Of the rifle can be heard in
Stead of the heavy booming of guns
Faison and Parker have engaged
them. But the lull is Of short dlra-
tion-thc most terrific bombardment
now commences; the fleet have
seen their land forces, and they open with
greater vim than ever 10 keep: our men
from engaging the skirmishers.; Colonel
Lamb comes rushing up the parapets !;
he calls Tor his men to man the limo of
palisades; with cheer for him they an
swer to his call. Away they went after
him, and soon they are in line, ready to
meet TIE snon., The sharp crack of the
rifle is mixed in with the loud noise Of the
cannon. The Yankees can be seen creep
ing away on their bellies, like crawling
worms. Lieutenant Hunter, with his
Whitworth rifle, is doing good service ;
| Colonel Tansili and Major Saunders a:e
among the Junior reserves, encouraging
them on; fainter grows the cannonade ;
the musket firing has ceased; the feet
is drawing off; the land attack has been
repu!sed. The days fight is over and,
thank God, all is well.
Everything about the land front was
now got in readiness With the expectation
that night attack would be made ny
! the land force to storm the fort. A
| bright lookout was kept up and our