Navies of the world : $b giving concise descriptions of the plans, armament and armor of the naval vessels of twenty of the principal nations.Very, Edward W. (Edward Wilson)
History
Navies of the world : $b giving concise descriptions of the plans, armament and armor of the naval vessels of twenty of the principal nations.
Squadron went into action at 3 a.m. within 800 yards of Sumter, keeping
up a steady fire for three hours. Only six shots fired from Sumter in
return, but a heavy fire kept up from Moultrie. Fleet drew out, not
having drawn the fire of Sumter. On the night of September 1st the
squadron moved in again and bombarded Sumter for five hours. The fort
was almost dismantled, but still kept its garrison. Fort Moultrie
responded to the fire. The fleet withdrew, not having driven the
garrison from the fort.
_Bombardment of Mississippi Forts, April 18 to April 28, 1862._
FEDERAL.
Twenty mortar-schooners, each armed with a single mortar. For about one
hour and a half the forts were under the fire of Admiral Farragut’s
fleet of 17 vessels, mounting 188 guns.
CONFEDERATE.
_Fort Jackson._—A masonry fort on the right bank of the Mississippi,
mounting 75 guns. _Fort St. Philip._—A masonry fort on the left bank of
the river, nearly opposite Fort Jackson, mounting 30 guns.
On the morning of April 18th the mortar-schooners were towed into
position in three divisions. The first and third (14 vessels) were
moored near the right bank of the river at a bend below Fort Jackson,
within 2800 yards of it, and protected by a thick wood, the mast-heads
of the schooners being trimmed with branches to conceal their exact
position. The second division was moored near the left bank of the
river, more exposed and 3700 yards from Fort Jackson. About 1 p.m. fire
was opened from all the mortars on Fort Jackson, and continued without
interruption until sunset. One mortar only was directed against Fort
St. Philip. At the end of the first day’s bombardment two guns had been
dismounted and a third heavy rifle broken in two in Fort St. Philip.
The citadel of Fort Jackson was set on fire. On the evening of the
18th the second division was transferred to the right bank, the left
one being too much exposed. On the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22d, and 23d the
bombardment was continued each day, one mortar-vessel being sunk by
a rifled shot from Fort Jackson on the 19th. On the night of the 23d
and early morning of the 24th an incessant fire was kept up whilst
Admiral Farragut’s fleet was passing the forts. On the 25th, 26th, and
part of the 27th the bombardment continued, and on the 28th both forts
capitulated. Fort Jackson was reduced almost to a ruin, over 800 bombs
having fallen in it. Several guns were dismounted and the casemates
were cracked through in all directions. Fort St. Philip was not much
injured, its fall being a necessary consequence of that of Fort Jackson.
RÉSUMÉ.
Total number of masonry attacks noted, 4. Successful, 1. Failures, 3.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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