The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-03

battery. The Kearsarge, Indiana Cor Mas
sachusetts) and Alabama were seen in
view and began firing at the battery named,
standing TO a point to the west and north
and some $500 to 5000 yards from the +.
G. station. All our pieces soon opened on
this fleet Except the six-inch battery.)
AT 5:15 the firing ceased on our side, as
a telephone message was received from
Gardner's Point battery that the three
ships had been sunk in passing over the
mine field. In a few moments the report
was corrected to the extent that the re-
ported sinking of the Kearsarge was an
error. Fire was at once opened on the
kearsarge by the mortar and ten-inch bat
teries At this time the Puritan was seen
approaching over the same course as that
followed by the three ships Just under con-
sideration. Fire was opened on her by
the six-inch rapid fire, the mortar and ten
inch batteries and continued until word
was received from Gardner's Point battery
that the Puritan had been sunk in passing
over the mine field at 5:37 o'clock.
while firing was going on at the Puri-
tan small craft hove in sight. She was
fired on by the six-inch rapid-fire and ten
inch batteries as soon as she came in range
During all this time the Brooklyn and
Massachusetts had anchored off the north
side.
'At 6:15 a. m all the ships and the small
vessels alluded to in this report were
steaming eastward. Under the rules Ii is
believed that all the ships named were
sunk. by either cannon or mines, and in
The second attack on the island forts
took place at o'clock this morning, and
as far as they went the maneuvers were
practically a repetition of last nights en-
gagement, though, of course, there were
different tactical movements. The army
men claim second victory. The ships at
tempted to pass through Plum Gut, but
were obstructed by mines, three of the
vessels being put out of action. After the
engagement, which lasted over an hour,
the ships proceeded towards Block island
AT noon General Macarthur, commanding
the army of the defense, made this report
to the adjutant general at Washington:
AT 3 o'clock last night information was
sent to district commanders by these head
quarters that the enemys fleet would di-
vide into two squadrons, attacking west
end of line and attempting to force the
race, the other squadron attacking New
port. At 10:15 d. m. the enemy's fleet was
sighted simultaneously by Forts Wright,
Niche, Terry and Gardner'S Point. con-
centrated and well-sustained fire was main
tained on the ships by Forts Niche and
Terry for forty minutes, with the result, as
reported by the five commanders, that the
Brooklyn and Indiana were DESTROYED.
About a. m. the enemy attempted to pass
through the mine fields in Plum Gut. Major
the destruction of the Alabama and the
Puritan by judgment firing and the Massa-
chusetts by contact firing. Passage of
ships through this mine field apparently
was not preceded by exploration or any at
tempt made to remove mines. Therefore
the report is accepted as conclusive Soon
thereafter the enemy retired. At midnight
three ships of the enemy were sighted off
BrentonS Reef. The mortar batteries at
Fort Adams opened and the ships retired
About a. m. two small ships of the enemy
attempted to open Sugar Reef passage by
were under fire of guns of Fort Mansfield
and soon thereafter retired"