Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-09-08

People who have been feeling lit
tic shaky about our coast defenses anu
their possible efficacy In case OF an at
tack by the Spaniards may gain cour-
age by hearing how the Patapsco went
down In Charleston harbor in the ear
ly dawn Of Jan. 10. 1865.
During the last seven months OF the
siege Of Charleston Fort Sumter was
In charge Of Maj. T. a. Huguenin.
typical young officer given to the
Southern Confederacy by the South
Carolina military academy. 1t may be
remembered that the winter OF 1864
65 was particularly cold and rainy ana
the consequent sea fogs made the din
cuIties Of the situation at Fort Sum-
ter extremely hard and guard duty
ceaseless and most imperative necessi-
". It was the young commanders
custom to rise every morning nj .,
with each man Mt his post from that
hour until sunrise. for he felt confident
that II m assault were to be made It
would occur during the dark hours Just
before dawn.
zone misty night" quoting Major
Huguenin's own account. Il was
aroused by the officer on duty and In
formed that low-lying craft was np-
proaching Fort Sumter from seaward.
Hearing tn!s l Immediately assembled
the watch tower, and after looking
steadily through my field glass. OBJ
served what might have been taken for
n phantom ship slowly and silently
creeping up toward us. This stealthy
visitor, I surmised. was nothing less
than n monitor. and l presumed that.
coming in SO unusually close. she must
have some evil intention. l thought
that she would either open fire at short
range to attract our attention while
nm attack OF some kind would be made
upop tho rear OF the fort. or that she
was bringing in men to make n sud-
den dash by bargcs upon the sea face.
where the debris made by the bam-
bardment shelvcd down toward the
waters edge. inviting assault We
were prepared to meet either attempt.
and got ready to meet whatever might
ensue as silently as herself. for l
wished to induce her to come as near
rs possible to the fort, hoping to sur
prise her with very warm welcome.
Capt. Hal Lesesnc's company of the
First South Carolina regular artillery
was doing guard duty at Fort Sumter
lust then and knew that our only gun
battery, which was mounted on a bomb
proof below, would do effective work
in the hands Of these experienced artil-
lerymen.
"a speaking tube ran from the ram
parts TO this embrasure where the guns
lay. quietly waiting to be used.
therefore called through this tube 10
Capt. Lcsesne and said: Look toward
the sea at an approaching object: train
your guns upon II. and at the word of
command fire. aiming the largest one
In the battery yourself.
Very we'll. SIR replied Lescsne. 4
y,iIl omen fire on her as soon as YOU are
ready.
Returning to the watch tower I
waited several minutes to let the nol-
,,or get within range; then, hasten
ing to the tube. gave the order Fret
Holding my breath, | stood notion
tees, expecting to hear the quick, re-
,ponsive roar OF the guns; but. to my
Intense surprise. the silence remained
unbroken. Surprising that Captain
'csesne had not heard my voice,
created the command in louder tones.
ufning with impatience at this delay,
caring that the ironclad might with
raw before we could get n chance to
nd her to the bottom of the sea. as
had done her companion. the Keo-
nix. with the cannon Of Fort Sumter.
80 7Ncnce which still ensued my