The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-02-23
An Attack on Sumter.

An Attack on Sumter.
Many well-laid scheme of battle
falls through on account of some
small oversight, and the world knows
only Of the ignominious defeat, or,
perhaps, does not even hear of the at
tempt Mr.. Andrews tells in Lotus
Leaves the story of an intended at
tack upon Fort Sumter which will be
new to many.
General Gilmore had made his
headquarters on Morris Island, where
he had taken the Confederate forts,
Wagner and Gregg. A fleet was sta
toned near, commanded by Admiral
Dahlgren. 1t had been waiting about
for some time. fearful Of entering
Charleston harbor on account Of sus-
pected mines.
Gilmore, tired Of inaction, deter
mined to take Sumter by assault. The
upper part of the fort was in ruins.
but the lower portion was intact and
garrisoned- One night in September
the general signaled the admiral that
ne would attack Sumter that night.
The admiral replied that ne intended
to do it himself, and had made his
plans for that very night Had not
General Gilmore heard of his inten-
ton? he asked.
Not a very good feeling existed be-
tween the commanders, and the gen.
eral answered bluntly that it was very
strange they had both planned for the
same night Were his arrangements
known to the feet?
The signals went flashing back and
forth. 1t was proposed that the par
ties unite for the attack, but this idea
did not meet with approval. At last
it was decided that each expedition
should act independently, but would
cooperate If necessary, and that the
party who captured the fort should
display red light upon the parapet.
The admiral agreed to send off his
boats at o'clock that night, and that
the generals men, who had farther to
row, should precede them by fifteen
minutes.
General Gilmore, however, could
not resist the temptation of stealing q
march upon his naval rival. and he
started his company as soon as it was
dark enough. From Morris Island to
Fort Sumter was a row Of twenty
minutes; but the boats soon returned,
reporting that they had not proceeded
more than halfway when a brisk fu-
sillade was heard from the fort, and
in a moment red light shone out
from the parapet. Supposing that the
naval party had captured Sumter, they
turned about and came back. The
chagrin Of having been outwitted was
forgotten in the joy that the enemy
had been taken.
Meanwhile the naval party had I'M
dergone a similar experience. Ad-
miral Dahlgren had sent his men of
as soon as the dusk made it safe 20
proceed. The boats had gone only a
little way when the firing began and
the red signal was displayed. Feeling
sure that the general had the best of
it, the boats returned to the flagship
with their report.
In the morning the truth came out.
Instead Of cipher for signaling the
plans for attack, the ordinary code
had been used, and the Confederates,
stationed at Fort Sumter, had read
every word, and were prepared for
any assault. They had waited until
both expeditions were under way, and
then had opened fire and shown the
red light for the purpose of deceiving
each party into thinking the other had
captured the fort The trick was sue
cessful, and the army and the navy
had retired quietly without firing a
shot
Decisive Battle of World.
According to DR.. Greasy, the decis
iyo battles Of tho world have hoQu.