The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-09-03

on the enemy, 10 which IN the course Uf half
an hour, hc responded from his uumcrou forts
aud batteries extending from the Aayyyard
20 Fort Mcl,ac, distance Of about four miles
the whole nearly cqui-distaut from Fort Pick
ems 40 the time our batteries opened. Flag
Officer Mexican. iU the Niagara. and Capt. Eli
son, in tie Richmond, took position near 10
Fort McEae as the depth Of water would per
mt, but which unfortunately WAS not sni.i-
Clculy deep % give full eject 10 their powerful
batteries. our ere was iucessgut from tie time
OF opening until 10 was too dark 10 see, "a the
rate Of q shot Tor each gun every 3 or 20 mIu-
utcs, the fire Of the enemy being somewhat
slower. BY noon tie guns OF Fort Mcliae were
all sileurcd, and before sunset this fort aud
the adjoining battery ceased Gre. The guns Of
batteries LmcOu, Cameron and Iottcu were
directed CA Tho batteries adjacent 10 the Navy
yard; those OF Battery Scott 10 Fort McIlaC,
aud those Of Fort lickcns 20 all. Fire was
again opened on The 23l, bat was less rapid, aud
Ion this reason more efficient than that OF The
previous day. Fort McRao was So clcc,gaIy Sc
fenced Oh tie 2sa that ID did rot frc On thl 23l.
One OF our guns became g -ab.cd br q shot COM
ing through The Cmbggsure. Tie steamers
W.lch were tied 20 the wharf just before the
bOm1arcment commenced, were left % their
fate, 0l Of which were destroyed on the first
day OF their exposure 10 our fire; the loss %
the enemy was unknown. The firing on his
batteries was very heavy well directed, aud
continuous Tor tTJ days, and could hardly fail
OF having important results our loss would
have been heavy but for the lorcs gilt which
with great labor caused Us 10 erect elaborate
means ~ protection aud which saved many
lives Our Joss WAS small, one private killed,
one 0crgcTni and one Corporal, and four prl-
Yates wounded.
The TROOPS Of the command all performed
their duty with the greatest chcerfulucss and
ln Tic most able and efficient manner Lieut..
Toad, Ordnance officer. had full supplies Of
all required articles; Dis department was con-
Quoted wita system aal efficiency. Capts. Rob-
cTtsou, Duggca aud Blunt and Licuts PEN
nugton and scc.cy respectively commanded
batteries Lincoln, Scott IOttcn and "A small
battery 40 Spanish T8gt. Capts. D0bic's aud
lallcg.s CONF aules were with the batteries 40
Lincoln aHa Cameron. Ihcc1mEauics Of Hen
berger aud Duffy, Of The 9Th ~ ", were sue
cc5-iyaIy "a duty 81 Fort Plckcus and rem
ucrcd important assistance.
The Regular companies engaged 80 the bat
tcncs al Of whom performed their duties
30 efficiently as 10 preclude making a dis
tnclOni were Cos. a, II and J., lst Art;
i q, ii and x, "a Art, and g aud j, "a
! mr. and Cos @ aud J. 9th r.. Y. From
/ Information atterWard gained from dcsCrlcrs
I and coutfa5auds, it seemed that our attack oc-
Cured just a. The 3. -ht time. Great prepare
. tiOns were being made by the enemy for Tie
4 reduction Of Fort IclCns; ID was DIS iutcn-
. ton OF opening fire about the lst Of December,
I but our unexpected lomlardmcut Of their bat
ter.cs, and tie dreadful results which followed,
! completely frustrated tHcir designs. Not Lay-
/ ing sufficient troops m his command, or trans
i p0nuiCn Tor what Die Ind, Col Brown was pre-
4 vented from following Up his success on the
/ mainland JANIS IT, HAE0LD, Lieutenant,
/ lst n T. Luss., Duucilcu, y. J.