The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-03-08

The Siege OF Charleston.
In the same year that the war closed,
Col. w. w. Davis. OF the 10Th Penn
sylvania regiment furnished some very
interesting statements relating 90 the
siege OF Charleston, which Will bear re-
peating az this day.
Although the union forces had OBJ
tanned a Judgment upon Morris Island,
Fort Wagner obstinately held out
against several direct assaults. and
General Gilmore decided to lombard
Fort Sumpter over Wagner.
A three hundred pounder cannon was
moved distance Of more than mile
through sand aud marsh. Three carts
were broken down, AMI "A week required
for this labor. BY such toll as this
eight batteries were constructed for the
breat hing OF Sumpter, ana a stupendous
weight Of gun metal mounted on them.
Besiies the great piece named, there
were SIX two-hunlrcd Founders, nine
one hundred FOUNDERS, two eighty-four
FOUNDER Whitworths two thirty and
four twenty-five Founders, all ritled,
and all PARROTS except the two Whit
worths. lt is stated that never "before
had such weight OF metal been directed
against any fortress in one attack since
the art Of war began OF these batter
les. the nearest TO Sumpter was thirty
four hundred yards and the farthest
forty-two hundred and thIrty-live yards.
II was the boast Of the Confederates
that Sumpter was never given up until
the approach OF Sherman's army IN the
rear compelled the evacuation OF the
city, and that the ruins OF the fort were
held bv infantry, who successfully beat
oil all boat attacks While this is true,
il is also true that the terrific lombard
ment bv batteries and iron ships that
Sumpter was subjected 70 from Aug.
IL 20 Sept. 1. 1858, dismounted all its
artillery, and made the place practically
a mass OF ruins. which could not be
used for offensive purposes The mum
Der OF solid shot poured upon Fort
Sumpter from Aug. II TO Sept. !, 1858,
was two thousand one hundred and six
ty-iiye. the number Of percussion shell
four thousand aud cighty-ilve.
The proposed location Of the "Swamp
Angel il described as almost a mile
from Morris Island aud nearly on line
between our left batteries and Charles
ton, on the edge OF n deep creek that
served as wet ditch" Bottom could
not be reached with pole anywhere IN
the vicinity short of sixteen feet. The
L
tailed TO do the work looked over the
ground-o or the swamp and declared
that u was impossible 10 make foun-
dation in such place strong enough to
support large gun. Col. Sarrell 70.
piled that the plan was practicable, and
the work must bee doae at the point des-
ignated you can make requisltion
for anything you need" he added
Thereupon the obstinate lieutenant
made formal requistion on the quar-
termaster for lone hundred men eight
cen feet high, 20 wade through mud
sixteen feet deep and he informall v
called on surgeon TO know IL he could
splice the men when furnished. OF
course this waggish officer was relieved
from further duty in building the bat
tery and placed N arrest. and the work
was done, and thoroughly done. by
those who had faith in the possibilities
OF the situation. The whole work wa
done az night TO avoid interruption by
the enemy. and occupied two weeks.
The foundation was mxe OF pine logs.
which had 10 be hauled several miles:
on this foundation sandbags were built
up.
On this battery was placed 200
pound Parrott gun. which was got into
position with vast difficulty and labor.
The distance from Charleston was 3. SOC
yalds and the gun was fired at an ele.
vation OF thirtv-lIve degrees. IL burst
at the thirty-fourth discharge. but not
before It's enormous shells had fallen
into that quarter OF Charleston that
was within its range. demolishing build.
ings, and causing the desertion OF the
exposed part.
After the fall OF Fort Wagner, Union
batteries were erected at Cummings
Point. more than three miles from
Charleston In an airline. From thirty.
FOUNDERS and 10O-pounders shells were
continually thrown into Charleston
during several nights ia succession q
she'll fell into the city each five min.
utes. One OF the thirty-nve FOUNDER.
was lred 1913 times
The precision OF the fire on both sides
was often marvellous. IL Is related that
a capita Of Maine regiment stood ur
on n boom-p proof at Battery Gregg &c
have a good view OF Charleston" From
James Island. mile and n half of. O
Confederate gunner sighted him and
made MIN n mark. The ball cut him Ia
twol