The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-11-01
4 DISASTROUS ASSAULT

the following
Old Sumter seemed to be tho
groat point Of aggression for tho
South Atlantic squadron, and o
number Of attacks were made ut
different times and in various wavs.
Any change of squadron command
ors was suro to bring al attack on
the old fort. The most disastrous
and seemingly badly planned was
the assault made by boats during
Admiral Dahlgrcn's administration,
who conceived that tho capture of
that historical and we'll -battorod pile
by tho naval forces would rebound
to the crodit of that branch Of tho
service, particularly as tho country
was ringing with tho praise of
"Gilmorc's Swamp Angel" which
had boon playing havoc with the
symmetricel limos and angles of tho
fort, and throwing shells into
Chal lesion, five miles away. On
the morning of September 8, 1874,
Lieutenant Commander t. =. Will
liams Camil;arly callod "Barney'
Willinms) of tho ship Wissahlckon,
was designated by Admiral j. A.
Dahlg :cn to command division of
boats in the proposed night assault
upon Fort Sumter, whicn was to be
made in launcLo; and small boats,
and was expected to DO u severe
hand-to-hand struggle. Captain
Williams proceeded to obey the duty
assigned to him ; sts.4 ted with his
vessels Cuisine Of Charleston bar to
collect from the different vessels on
the blockade duty the quota of men
and boats for the assault, which
duty was satisfactorily performed,
he returning about dusk, 50 that tho
Confcdcratos would not suspect
anything from tho long string of
bouts astorn. After hisnrrival with :.
in the bar, tho boats and crows as
sembleI around the flag ship Phila-
dolphin, while the officers were ar-
ranging the proliminarics for the
assault which was to be nude in
threc divisions, tho first undor e.. Z.
Williams, the second undcr Lieutcn-
ant Romey, and tho third
under Lieutenant Preston. The
hItlo fleet consisted of twcn
ty-tivo boats some of them very
frail. They were taken in
tow about midnight by the tug DAT
fodil, Acting Master John Z. Carr.
Tho order was that, on being "cast
off from the tug" to pull quietly for
tho fort and land without firing.
Every man was expected to take
care Of himself, each being armod
for close work with q cutlass and
Colts navy revolver. The marines
wcrc armed with muskets, to cover
tho assaulting party while trying to
gain q footing on the limited ground
around the fort. After nearing the
fort, tho tug "backed and filled"
number Of times, which led to somo
confusion, and the boats became
entangled, which had bad effect
on tho men, who, in open boats,
woro boing pitched and tossed upon
the sea in front of tho grim old
guardian which stood as sentinel
barring the approach to tho much
coveted Charleston. Tho boats
were finally cast loose, and tho first
division made boldly for tho fort,
Captain Williams in the lead. Whom
within fifty yards Of Sumter the
sentinel hailed, but received no
reply. Ho fired on the boats after
tho third challenge, when tho case
mates and ramparts became alive
with mon, tho water was lit up by
port fires, tho sky illuminated with
signal rockets, and showers Of hand
gfenades, firo-balls, muskotry and
brick from tho debris showored
down upon tho brave band of men
below. The forts on james and
Sullivan Islands opened upon the
boats with grape and canister, cut
ting up and disabling most Of them.
The air was filled with screoching
shells and whistling bullets, and the
dying groans Of the wounded, max
ing a pnndemonium. The rebel
iron-clads Palmetto State and
Chicora took an active part in scat~
toring tho invaders, who woro COM
pelled to pull in all directions to
avoid capture. Ninety-fve mon
and twelve officers wero gobblod up
by the Confedorates. Of this num-
Der two deserted their flag and
took the oath of allegiance to the
Confoderacy. Tho boats wore