Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-11-25
A BIT OF WAR HISTORY.
Lieut.. Henry B. Rumsey's Lucky Shot NJ
.E.t Fort Fisher.

Fort Fisher.
To the surviving soldiers and sailors
who took part in the reduction of Fort
Fisher in January, 1865, it will be
particularly interesting to read, per-
haps for the first time, that a lucky shot
from the then famous ironclad New
Ironsides 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
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 u
half of stubborn hand to hand fighting
had failed TO give u.s.
The circumstances were these: Our
troops had reached, l think. the fifth
traverse, where the confedefafs
had made a determined stand,
and it seemed impossible to
dislodge them. Commodore Rad
ford remarked that il 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 bombardment
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.
Terry "if our firing was not endanger-
ing our own people," to which the re-
ply came, mo! 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 s WAS
reached, SO the effect of each shot could
be noticed. ,g i.
Lieut.. Rumsey, who was, in charge Of
the Second division (Nos. 0 and 4 guns
came to our executive officer, Lieut.
| Com. Robert l.. Pythian (now captain),
and asked him il he (Kumsey)
could not direct King, captain
No. 8 gun, to put she'll
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
commodore beckoned him away, and
Rumsey returned to his division and Or
dered King to put shell into the trav-
erse. Overhearing the conversation,
watched from No. Z port and saw the
she'll from No. 8 gun explode in the very
center of the traverse with the tre-
mendous effect before related Our
troops then steadily advanced and gain
ed possession of the fort late that even
ing. .r.
| 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, thought
if Adm. Porter had only known the i'm
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
demoralized our own troops Still, In
this instance 1t won, and 1t is hard to
estimate the result of suspending opera
tions over night Lieut. Rumsey's
lucky shot probably saved many live:
by reducing the time of the conflict
The downfall of this last stronghold
was the most disheartening of our err
ing brothers, and hastened the day
when they were all gathered once more
into the happy household of Uncle
Sam
The crowning act of Lieut.. Rumsey'l
heroism occurred few years ago
After safely getting out Of burning
hotel in the northern part of this stat'
he gallantly went back through the 6r'
and smoke in answer to the cry Of {
child, which he saved, but at the cos
of his own life.-Henry p. Conner, il
N. Y. Times.