The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
IN THE DARK DAYS OF
SIXTY FOUR AND FIVE.

Il DUIIUIIISS IIdI IIIISHI HdNE SHSICered
Yankee sharpshooters had been burned
down by u own people, We sup
pose.
Here and there lay a round shell
| which had not exploded. Occasionally
an elongated Parrot shell with a per
| cussion fuse would be met with. These
| are dangerous things to fool with, as
they are apt to go off if rudely ham
| died, doing much damage to life and
limb. A soldier told that an ordnance
| sergeant whose name We did not Learn.
while collecting shot and shell on Mon
day last, was killed by the explosion of
| a Parrot shell. A negro VIC was with
him driving a cart shared the same
fate. The mule attached to the cart
was unhurt. The unexploded Parrot
| shells seemed mostly to be fitted with
/ percussion fuses.
Within a stone throw of the Fort. on
the side of the road leading from the
landing, is a small hole something of
| the length and shape of a coffin. and 6.
few feet from it is an humble ridge
| of earth marked by a, piece of earth at
each end. The hole is a rifle pit dug
by one of o or five enterprising Yam
| kee SharpShOOterS who Ventured up
that near to the Fort with the view
of picking off our gunners. The ridge
of earth marks the grave of a courier.
a member of Faison's of
1 SCculS, VIZ was SliO llS morse
by the occupant of the rifle pit. All of
this party of Yankees were either kill
ed or captured.
Colonel Lamb concurs in our opinion
previously expressed. that over twenty
thousand shells were thrown at the
Fort. We believe that General Whit
ing also entertains the same view. 1t
was the heaviest naval bombardment.
4 y-hi1a II lasted of which n o1o,-G
is given.
Having once got on the subject of
the fight at the Fort we thought it bet
ter to dispose of it at once so not to
mix it up with the more pleasing topic
of the day-the ladies's visit to Fort
F~isher-which was essentially a sur
prise party, as from some arrangement
of the telegraph the dispatch announc-
ing the intended visit of the ladies of
the Soldiers Aid Societ- and their OBJ
ject. namely. to thank the soldiers and
tender to them a New Years dinner.
did not arrive until after the ladies in
person. However, the soldiers We're
glad to see the ladies. and the ladies
were glad to see the soldiers. and they
were proud of them too, as the gallant
line vas formed of men of whom their
commander could truly say-not one
man left his gun-not one Shrank from
his duty.
The troops as drawn up formed three
sides of a square. The ladies formed
the fourth. Major Strange as their rep
r~eSentatiVe rendered to the officers and
soldiers Of the garrison of Fort Fisher
the thanks and the congratulations of
those whose homes had been saved by
their gallantry-betWeen whom and the
ruthless invader they had stood like 4
wall of fire. The ladies had labored
for the s~oldiers-they had prayed for
them, they came now in person to thank
them. To Colonel Lamb. the leader and
commander of the gallent men. their
thanks were in especial due. The had
relied upo his skill, his GOODNESS ana
undaunted courage. They had felt that
while he and his brave men stood be-
tween them and the enero- Wilmington
was safe, and their reliance was not
in vain.
Colonel Lamb in reply. said that the
ladies had done what the enemy failed
to do. They had surprised the garri-
son and taken the Fort by storm.
The victory which had our
arms was a heaven-sent victory-a
providential d~eliverance. Under Prov
1dence it was due to the bravery of the
gallant men by whom he was surround
ed men of whom he could truly say
that in the hour of trial not one had
faltered or failed. He and his garri-
son appreciated the kindness of the
ladies. They knew that they had work
ed for the soldiers. They had he
benefit of their best eXertions. their
kindest wishes. and above all, of their
fervent prayers. For this last token of
their regard he thanked them sincerely
on his own behalf and behalf of his
men.
We do not pretend to give any ac-
curate report of the remarks of Major
Strange or of Colonel Lamb-neither
pretend to make a set speech since
both were taken comparatively by sur
prise. That they both acquitted them
selves we'll. the ladies-the sole arbit-
ers Of the ~occasion-win bear witness.
Owing to the fact that due notice had
not been received at the Fort. and to
the further fact that the tide. which.
like time. waits upon no man. nor wo-
man either. rendered an early return
to the boat necessary, no dinner table
could De spread. and the ladies were
unable personally to Superintend the
dinner which they had prepared for the
troops. The dinner We know had been
provided literally. and we trust that
it was relished by the soldiers not
simply as a welcome addition to their
usual fare, but as a testimonial or
gratitude and appreciation on the part
of the ladies.
NneTe every ma ala MS duty, and
did it we'll. from General Whiting down
to the most recently joined private. it
would be difficult if not impossible to
discriminate. We may mention. how
ever. that we heard frequent reference
made to Private Rand, of Company K,
Seth regiment. who twice replaced the
flagstaff on the mound When shot
away by the enemy. We think We are
correct in the company. but are not
certain. In due course of time the Of
fetal report will probably be given to
the world. when we feel assured, due
credit will be given to all,
On the boat all passed pleasantly.
The day was beautiful. the party on
board seem to make the best of every
thing and no accident or other unto
ward circumstances occurred to mar
the pleasure of the day. There being no
Jenkins" along to dilate upon the
presence of the stately Mrs. Dash, and
the lively Miss Blank. an so forth. and