The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-29
ghe aahia Da1lu sole Saturday ornno etobr e. 1882
A BIT OF WAR HISTORY.
Lieut.. Henry r. Rumsey's Lucky Shot ~
Fort Fisher.


Fort Fisher.
To the surviving soldiers and sailors
who took part in the reduction of Fort
Fisher in January, 1868, it will be
particularly interesting to read, per-
haps for the first time that a lucky shot
from the then famous ironclad New
lronsides turned the tide of battle in
favor OF the northern forces and short
ened the time of the capitulation of the
fort by at least one day, if not more.
To the late Henry b. Rumsey, then a
naval lieutenant of Fort Wayne, Ind,
belongs the honor of giving the order
which landed an eleven-inch shell in
the center of the traverse occupied by
the confederates. scattering and demor-
alizing them so that our troops rushed
in and took possession of the hotly con-
tested point, which about and hour an a
half of stubborn hand to hand fighting
had failed to give us.
The circumstances were these: Our
troops had reached, I think. the fifth
traverse, where the confederates
had made determined stand,
and it seemed impossible to
dislodge them Commodore Rad
ford remarked that if they could
hold their position little longer it
would be dark and he was afraid our
troops would be obliged to retire"
The Ironsides was ordered by Admiral
Porter to keep up slow bonn bardment
to harass the enemy as much as pos
sible during the land ASSAULT the re-
mainder of the feet keeping silent.
Admiral Porter, with his flagship NAL
vern, was on our port quarter watching
our firing. Seeing our shells were fall
ing his telegraphed and asked Gen.
ing our own people," to which the re-
ply came, mol 1t is splendid. Keep
it up" We were firing in rotation at
intervals of about ten seconds, COM
mencing at No. l gun until No. was
reached, so the effect of each shot could
be noticed
Lieut.. Rumsey, who was in charge Of
the Second division mos. and4 guns)
came to our executive officer, Lieut.
Com. Robert L. Pythian (now captain),
and asked him if he (Rumsey)
could not direct King, captain
No. gun, to put shell
into the traverse the confederates were
holding so desperately. King was an
excellent marksman, hence his request.
Pythian had no time to answer, as our
beckoned him away, and
Rumsey returned to his division and or
dered King to put shell into the trav-
erse. Overhearing the conversation, I
watched from No. port and saw tho
shell from No. 8 gun explode in the very
center of the traverse with the ire
mendous effect before related. Our
troops then steadily advanced and gain
ed possession of the fort late that even
ing.
When we were celebrating the vic
tory in the ward-room Lieut.. Rumsey
was often congratulated for his lucky
shot, and when next day all hands were
mustered to hear Adm. Porter's eulo-
CYSTIC letter read by our commodore in
behalf of himself, his officers and crew
for the prominent part taken. l thought
if Adm. Porter had only known the inn
portant part played by Lieut.. Rumsey
he would have had special mention.
Of course the chances were one out of
one hundred that it would not have
lemoralized our own troops Still, IN
his instance it won, and it is hard to
the result of suspending opera
ions over night Lieut.. Rumsey's |
lucky shot probably saved many lives !
oy reducing the time of the conflict.
The downfall of this last stronghold |
was the most disheartening of our err
ng brothers, and fastened the day |
when they were all gathered once more
INTO the happy household of Uncle
Sam.
The browning act of Lieut.. Rumsev's
1eroism occurred a few years ago.
After safely getting out of a burning
,otel in the northern part of this state
lie CALAMITY went back through the fire
Ind smoke in answer to the cry of
,hild, which he saved, but at the cost
# his own life.-Henry P. Conner, in
\. Y. Times.