The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-11-26

Every embrasure and port hols is
secured from a surprise attack by
heavy iron shutters. The interior is
admirably contrived with bombprOof
magazines, private apartments for
amateurs to study military engineer
ing, provided with "spades" for prac-
tice. There is also within the Fort a
eistern. the contents of which are
rarely used by the garrison except in
case of prolonged siege.
This splendid piece of military en-
gineering skill was constructed by
Maj. J. W. Mills. CT the regular brick
and mortar corps, assisted by Adj
Kilbourn Mills and Brigadier Gen.
johnson, Gnder the immediate super
vision of Commodore Wommer him
self, who, though bearing naval til
tie, long since lost his taste for the
water.
Anticipating an attack, the Fort
was garrisoned on Thursday morning,
the 18th inst, and the magazine filed
with supplies. The old Commodore
took command in person, aDd was
ably assisted by that veteran hero of
many a bottle, Capt Dan Eckman,
who might have been sailor, but like
his great commander, had a great
aversion to water.
The artillery consisted of full
battery Of 12-iuch guns, heavy at the
breach and taperiDg towards the muz-
zle, was concentrated on the right Of
the main entrance, behind breast
work and placed in the immediate
command of Capt. Eekman, who was
assisted in handling them by Lieut..
Frank Wommer.
During the day the firing was slow
and steady, but towards night the be-
siegers were re-enforced by fresh re-
cruits from Tifin, Melmore, Attica
and the surrounding country, when
the contest began ia earnest. Sueh
was the precision with which Capt.
Eckman handled his guns that near
| ly every man of the assaulting party
was "shot in the neck,'' producing
vertigo, weakness of the knees, and
arrangement of the stomach, and
sometimes temporary insanity. Even
then many of the brave fellows rush
ed up to the very muzzles of the
guns, and seemed determined to re-
duce the fort by exhaustiDg the ammu-
milton. After dark the combat deep
ened. The voice of Col. Dan Smith
of the Tiffin "Horse Marines" was
heard above the roar and din of bat
tie, calling on his men to 'go in and
whip them" They did 90 In, and all
being wounded by discharges from
the batteries became wild with ex-
citement. As often happens in great
battles friends mistook each other for
enemies. Lieut. Nose Sivils, of Col.
Smiths staff, and Capt. John Cook,
also of the besieging party, engaged
in fierce hand-to-ha encounter
Col. Smith few to the assistance of
his Aid, and down went Capt. Cook
with Lieut.. Sivils upon him. Sergeant
Frank Cook leaped the breastw orks,
and dealt some telling blows with his
sole leather upon the head of Lieut..
Sivils, and in return received bloT
from new fashioned hand grenade,
called 4 "tumbler,' thrown by Col.
Smith. The battle ceased for mo-
ment to be again renewed with re-
doubled energy. Finally the parties
all withdrew, much demoralized.-
Capt. Cook, who claims that he was
overpowered by superior numbers,
was badly battered about the face aud
eyes. All this time the brave old
Commodore sat quietly by the stove,
or paced with dignifed mien, the
bloody floor of the fortress.
The siege was again renewed, and
continued all night, with no signs of
a surrender. The wounded struggled
off. Some to jonas OF Bartow's hos
pitals, others to witness the merry
dancers at the ball room. Among the
latter was Capt. Bob Gardner, who
received his commission on the 9th
inst, from Gov. Corbet, and was given
the command of squad of light IN
fdnt-ry.
This fearless young officer having
repeatedly received the full charge
from the batteries of the Fort, had
been resting and recuperating at the
Hall, and was about to return for an
other advance movement, when, in
his haste and enthusiasm, he plunged
headlong down the stairway to the
landing where he formed himself into
line again, and by the next advance
brought up on the floor. Now too
much in disorder to reform, he un-
loaded the remains of his thanksgiv
ing dinner, from his haversack, and
proceeded, under escort, to the hes
pital.
/ The ver-memorable night wore
away, and Fort Wommer still stands
a monument of the builders folly,
with its "bombprOofs, and "case-
mates" stored full, and its batteries
loaded to the muzzle with red hot
shot and shell that will bring head
ache and delirium to many mis-
guided husband, father and son, and
heartache, poverty and distress to
many a wife, mother and family.
THINGS ABOUT TOWN.
Thanksgiving day was observed
with religious services at the Baptist
church, and the usual social festiyi-
ties on private account.
A dance at the Town Hall in the
evening was we'll attended; many OF
its patrons were from distance
Miss Sybil D. Baker. eldest daugh-
ter Of VIM. Baker. and Mr. Wm