Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-20

ANN0N0 V~~"~ ~~~ N'US '~<~ ~~~N ~S~~ WV ~~
friends and repeated my reasons for
wishing to decline the command of the
proposed expedition. From this l
was dissuaded, and I finally signi6ed
my readiness to 60 on mission that
my judgment told me was almost
without hope.
THE COMMAND ACCEPTED.
As soon as I had notified the admi-
raj of my consent to take command
of the expedition, my energies were
bent toward making the necessary
preparations. The admiral's barge
was placed at my disposal, and Lieu.
tenant Forrest, an officer of rare intel
ligence, was appointed my aid.
i One of my friends, the present Rear
Admiral Rhind, suggested to me that
one division of boats be sent around
Sumter as feint. while the rest should
wait within easy distance of the fort
for the order to advance. AS such a
feint would be likely, among other
good results, to develop the strength
of the enemy's preparations for de-
feuce, the plan was adopted.
So many things had to be planned
and executed that it was half-past ten
by the time the watchword for the
night had been arranged, a tug secured
to tow the boats up to the forts and
our medical officer fully prepared for
his duties.
All being at last in readiness, the
order was given to start, the tug NOV
ed slowly ahead and the boats were
strung out in long line behind her.
MANY farewells and words of cheer
came to US from those left behind on
the Patapsco as We moved away from
her side, for all felt the perils of
the duty which we had undertaken,
and foreboded that many close friend
and good shipmate would return no
more.
| It was a calm, clear, starlight night.
The picket monitors Montauk and
j lLehigh were to be ordered to move up
to support our attack, as the admiral
had decreed at my request, and toward
them we directed our course,
The only sound after we left them
was the steady humping of the tugs
propeller, and all that could be seen
ahead was the sombre, half-defned
outline of the fort.
At last the master of the tug report
ed that he could 20 in no farther.
The boats were then cast off and
formed into divisions, and the COM
mand of that one which was to make
the feint was given to Lieutenant
(now Captain) T. J. Higginson, a bril-
liant and apable officer in whom l
placed the most implicit reliance.
He started off on his mission, but
had no sooner begun to move than the
other division commanders dashed
away also, under the impression that
the order to advance had been given.
| I at once made every effort to recall
them, but in vain, and nothing remain
ed to be done but to order all the
boats which were left to make the best
of their way to the fort. By this most
unfortunate misapprehension all the
good effects of Mr.. Higginson's dem
onstration were lost.
On our way in, the barge fairly fly
ing under the strokes of the oarsmen,
we observed large number Of boats
lying on their oars. We hailed them,
and directed them to pull in and join
in the attack; but as no sign of
movement was made by them then
or, indeed, during the whole conflict
we believed that it was force of Cen
eral Gillmore's soldiers waiting the re-
suit of our demonstration.
NOT SURPRISE.
On and on we went until we were
under the very walls of the fort. Sud-
denly a quick, loud hail came from
the sentry on the parapets. No an
swer was returned, and signal rock
ct at once flew from the fort, high
into the air.
As it made its graceful curve and
exploded, a storm of shot and shell
burst upon our astonished ears, rat
tie of musketry began, and as We
grounded under the walls of the fort
the air was filled with Kissing, shrek
ing projectiles.
The James and Sullivan island bat
terries seemed alive with fire, while
one of the enemy's ironclads had NOV
ed up to within close range, and was
now sweeping the approaches to the
gorge and firing grape and canister
Shot into the approaching boats. The
parapets and crown of Sumter were
filled with men who poured a murder
Gus fire down on our defenseless party,
and their heavy missiles and hand.
grenades helped out the work of de-
[struction.
Before this fire had fully developed
two boats from the Powhatan and a
few others had effected a landing.
Their officers and men were unable to
stand against the storm of missiles
which assailed them, and they were
finally driven to shelter and made
prisoners.
All these things showed plainly how
| nm, ri of oly tho onamu had haan aware