Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-16

Der, opened nre on tOrI Cidrk ABOUT
the middle of the forenoon, using new
and bold tactics to avoid direct shots
from the fort The vessels moved
steadily on, passing and repassing the
guns at varying distances so that the
southerners could not fix the range.
Their guns had moving targets and
seldom landed q shot, while shells
from the ships speedily made the fort
too hot for the Confederate gunners.
Soon past noon a shot carried away
the flag on the fort. and afterward the
garrison left the works, some taking
fight in boats and others running
along shore toward Fort Hatteras.
Seeing the fight Of the Confederates
from Fort Clark, the detachment of
Buffers soldiers on the beach moved
down and took possession, but the
shells of the fleet aimed at Fort Hat
teras passed over that work into Fort
Clark Driven from shelter by their
own fire, the troops returned TO the
beach and passed the night in a rain
on the wet beach, with no food but
what they picked up on their march
to the fort. During the night a Con
federate regiment from Newbern came
10 the beach to help the garrison beat
of the enemy, but they were too
busy repairing the parapets and cham
bcrs injured by the bombardment to
look for outside trouble.
Barron Takes Command.
Seeing great confusion on land after
the Confederate flag fell from Fort
Clark. Flag Officer Stringham suppos-
ed that both forts had given up the
fight. Fort Hatteras ceased firing.
The former commander Of Fort Clark.
Colonel w. F. Martin of the Seventh
North Carolina. went into Fort Hat
teras. reporting his little garrison of
100 men worn out by fighting. About
that time Flag Officer Barron OF the
Confederate navy entered the fort
and at the request of the commandant
took charge Of the defense. All the
guns in the fort We're of naval pattern.
and it was thought that a naval officer
could handle the force with best ex-
ecution. There were three guns in
Fort Hatteras bearing upon Fort
Clark, and another was put in posi-
ton 10 keep tie enemy out of the
abandoned work.
Meanwhile the steamer Monticello
had an exciting time trying TO run
through the inlet. When it seemed evil
dent that the Confederates had aban-
doned both forts the Monticello made
her way with difficulty in the shallow
water to the mouth of the Inlet. She
often grounded. and Hatteras guns
paid no attention. but finally when she
was caught in shallow water the guns
opened. landing hYe shells in her with
in a few minutes. One shot went COM
pletely through the ship from srarboard
TO port and landed in i coal bunker.
Under cover Of the feet the steamer
got out from under the Confederate
guns. and the ships soon anchored for
the night During this days fight the
Confederate war steamers lay idle in
the sound. After the abandonment OF
Fort Clark the Ellis carried troops and
to Fort Hatteras. passing
and repassing under fire. She took
Flag Officer Barron and others into
the fort during the afternoon. 1t was
said that some of the officers of the
little tiotilla wished TO put troops
ashore TO recover Fort Clark and hold
it nt the point OF the bayonet if need
be, but their counsel was overruled-
Twenty-eight Shells g Minute.
Very early on the 10Th the large
ships OF Stringham's fleet moved up
and were saluted by the stars and
stripes on Fort Clark. About S O'Clock
a. IN. the Wabash opened fire, accord
ing 10 the Confederate narrative. and
a rain of shells began
dropping in and around the fort The
combined armament Of the feet was
seventy-tbree guns. a Confederate
twenty eight shells falling in
one minute A ride battery in the sand
on the shore as well as the guns Of
Fort Morgan added TO the fire. The
guns of Hatteras started in bravely to
respond, but soon found that it was
Useless. Their shots could not reach
ire ships.
The COnfederates on the warships
were amazed at seeing the shots from
Hatteras fall short Of the Yankee
ships. Sometimes the fort would cease
firing and then open with q round or
TWO simply 20 show fight The guns Of
the feet sometimes dropped a shot
among the Confederate ships, but none
Of them was struck
Finally the Confederate gunners
abandoned their stations and took
refuge IN the bombproof- When this
was packed with about 500 men q
Yankee shell went in through the
venulator and landed in the crowd
the shell didn't explode,
but it resulted in q terrible panic.
which FASTENED the fall of the fort
The men rushed from the place and
found cover elsewhere. The magazine
lay next TO the bombproof. and the
thought OF what might have happened
had the shell travelled through the thin
partition separating the compartments
or even exploded in the bombproof