Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-02-29
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
A War Ship at Fort Fisher and the
Lucky Shot of Lieut., Henry
B. Rumsey.

| ueury i. conner, OF new 0rk City,
writing to the New York Times, has this
bit of war history, of local interest be-
cause the hero OF the incident was the
son OF Mr.. and Mrs. Philo Rumsey, of the
Palace hotel:
To the surviving soldiers and sailors
who took part in the reduction of Fort
Fisher, in January, 1865, it will be par
| ticularly interesting to read, perhaps for
the first time, that lucky shot from the
then famous ironclad New Ironsides
turned the tide of battle in favor of the
northern forces and shortened the time
OF the capitulation OF the fort by at least
one day, if not more.
To the late Henry B. Rumsev, then a
naval lieutenant of Fort Wayne, Ind,
belongs the honor of giving the order
which landed al eeveninch shell in the
centre Of the traverse occupied by the
confederates, scattering and demorallzing
them 80 that our troops rushed in and
took possession OF the holly contested
point, which shout an hour aid half of
stubborn hand to-hand fighting had failed
to give us.
The circumstances we're these: Our
troops had reached, think, the fifth
traverse, where the rebels had made
determined stand, and it seemed impos-
slble to dlslodge them. Commodore Rad
ford remarked that if they could bold
their position lit lie longer it would be
dark and he was afraid our troops would
be obliged to "retire. ," .TheIronsides was
ordered by Admiral Porter to keep up
slow bOmbardment to harass the enemy
as much as possible during the land as.
sault, the remainder of the fleet keeping
silent. Admiral Porter, with his fay.
ship Malvern, was on our port quarter
watching our firing. Seeing where our
shells were falling, he teleeraphed and
asked General Terry eff our fire was
not endangering our own people," to
which the reply came. "No 1t is
splendid. Keep it up" We were firing
in rotation at intervals of about ten Sec
onds, commencing at No. l gun, until No.
gun was reached, so the effect OF each
shell could be noticed.
Lieut.. Rumsey, who WAS in charge Of
the second division, (Nos. 8 and 4 guns,
came to our executive officer, Lieut. Com
mander Robert l.. Phythian, (now cap
tain), and asked him if he (Rumsey)
could not direct King, captain No. gun,
to put shell into the traverse the rebels
were holding so desperately. King was
an excellent marksman; hence his re-
quest Phytfian had no time 10 answer,
as our commodore beckoned him away,
and Rumsey returned to his division and
ordered King to put shell into the
traverse. Overhearing the conversation,
l watched from No. port and saw the
shell from No. 3 gun exploded in the very
center OF the traverse with the tremeE.
dous effect before related. Our troops
then steadily advanced and gained posses,
sion of the fort late that evening.
When we were celebrating the victory
in the ward room Lieut. Rumsey was
often congratulated for his lucky shot,
and when next day all hands were mus
tered to hear Admiral Porter's eulogistic
letter read by our commodore in behalf
of himself. his officers, and crew for the
prominent part taken thought if Admi-
raj Porter had only known the important
part played by Lieut.. Rumsey be would
have had special mention. OF course the
chances were one out of a hundred that il
would not have demoralized our own
troops. Still, in this instance it won,
and it is hard to estimate the result Of
suspending operations over night Lieut..
Rumsey's lucky shot probably saved
many lives by reducing the time of the
conflict.
The downfall of this last stronghold
was most disheartening to our erring
brothers, and fastened the day when
they were all gathered once more into
the happy household of Uncle Sam.
The GROWING act of Lieut.. Rumsey' q
heroism occurred few years ago. After
safely getting out of burning hotel in
the northern part of this state, he gal.
lantly went back through the fire and
smoke in answer to the cry of child,
which he saved, but at the cost Of HE
own life.