Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-11

and some curiosity was felt as to the
effect of such shot on the iron-clad bat
terry. The gunners made excellent prac-
tice, but the shot were seen to bounce
off it's sides like peas. 1t was evident
that thrQVing 32-pounder shot at it. at
la mile range, was a waste of iron, and
the attention of the gunners was trans
ferred to Fort Moultrie.
Moultrie was, perhaps, less salts
factory target than the iron-clad 1t
was literally buried under sand-bag s.
the very threats of the embrasures be-
ing closed with cotton bales. The fact
that the embrasures were thus closed
was not known in Sumter till after the
bombardment. 1t explained what was
otherwise inexpicable and the gunner
would feel that he had settled one gun
for certain, but even while he was
receiving the congratula tions of his
comrades the supposed disabled gun
would reply.
The smoke which enveloped the Con-
federate batteries during the first day,
while not so thick as entirely to obscure
them. was sufficiently so to make visual
aiming extremely unreliable; and during
the second day, when Sumter was or
fire, nothing could be seen beyond the
muzzle of our own guns. But the aim
ing arrangements, due to the foresight
and ingenuity of Captain Doubleday, en-
abled as to fire with as much accuracy
when we could not see the object as
when we could Early on the first day
several vessels of the fleet were OBJ
served off the bar, and orders were given
to dip the flag tothem. This was done,
and the salute was returned.
THE ONE-MAN DUEL WITH THE
CONFEDERACY.
Maiof Anderson had given orders that
only the casemate batteries should be
manned. While this was undoubtedly
prompted by a desire TO save his men,
lit opera ted also, IN some degree, to save
the Confederates. Our most powerful
batteries and all our shell guns were on
the barbette tier, and, being forbidden
their use, we were compelled to oppose
a destructive shell fire with solid shot
Ialone Had we been permitted to use our
shell guns we could have made II much
llivelier generally for our adversaries.
This was so apparent TO the men,
that one of them-a man named Car
modv---tole up on the ramparts and
deliberately fired every barbette gun IN
position on the Moultrie side OF the
work. The guns were already loadec
and roughly aimed, and Carmody SIM
plv discharged them in succession;
hence. the effect was less than 1t would
have been If the aim had been care
fully rectified But Carmody's effort
aroused the enemy to a sense of his
danger He supposed. no doubt that
Major Anderson had determined to open
| his barbette batteries, so he directed
every gun to bear on the barbette tier
of Fort Sumter, and probaly believed
that the vigor of his fire induced Major
Anderson to change his mind. But the
contest was merely Carmody against
the Confederate states; and Carmody
had to back down because he was un-
able, sinEle-handed. to reload his guns.
A Ii tLE BY-PLAY OF TWO VETE-
RAMS.
Another amusing incident in this line
occurred on the Morris island side of
the fort There, in the gorge angle, a
ten-inch columbiad was mounted, en-
barbette. an das the 42-pounders of the
icasemate battery were making no i'm
preston on the Cummings Point iron
battery. Two veteran sergeants deter
mined to try a shot>at the iron battery
from the big gun.
AS this was a direct violation of or
ders, caution was necessary. Making
sure that the major was out of the
way, and that no officers were near,
the two sergeants stole upstairs to the
ten-inch gun. 1t was loaded and aimed
already, they very well knew, so all
they would have to do was to fire il.
This was the work of a few seconds
only The gun was fired, and those in
the secret down below watched the
flight of the shot in great expectations
of decided results.
Unfortunately the shot missed; not a
bad shot-almost grazing the crest OF
the battery-but miss. a little less