A6 Norro Carorina Troops, 1861-65.

Major Andrews and Colonel Martin, which with the reports
of Commodore Stringham, I have preserved.

How shall I describe the bombardment—how give an idea
of what was going on in various parts of the fort—how ex-
press my ideas and impressions upon such a subject? It
would be a hopeless task.

I was standing with my men behind the traverse spoken
of, near the inlet, when the first shot was fired. This was
according to our time twenty minutes before 8 o’clock. Ac-
cording to Commodore Stringham’s account it was 8 o’clock.
We were all ready and expecting it. As the report reached
us, some one called out, “There they go, look out!” and all
instinctively leaned closely against the traverse. The next
moment the sharp, shrill whistle of the shell was heard. It
came from the direction of the Susquehannah and passed
right over us. It was followed in rapid succession by others,
which fell in all sorts of directions, some of them falling
short.

The flag was planted on the traverse next to the sally-port.
just beyond us, under my directions. It was found to afford
a mark for the enemy and in about an hour was taken down.
I sent John Blount to do it, but he called on W. B. Wil-
lis, who mounted the parapet, flaunted it at the enemy and
then brought it down. It was in the hottest of the fight.

The place where I was standing was very much crowded
and I concluded to seek shelter elsewhere in a position con-
venient to my guns. I was told not to fire without orders,
unless an attempt was made to force the inlet. I therefore
sought the entrance to the magazine, a few feet distant, and
directly opposite my guns. Lieutenant Carraway was in the
magazine passing out the powder as it was called for. In the
entrance with me were Lieutenant Norman, Colonel Martin
and part of the time Lieutenants Whitehurst, Thomas, Shaw
and others. It was a very dangerous place, but officers and
men were continually coming and going. It was close and
intolerably hot. We had to keep our hats going as fans to
keep up a circulation of air.

The naval gun commanded by Lieutenant Murdaugh, and
the guns commanded by Lieutenants Johnson and Grimes,

THe Fann or Harreras. 47

returned the fire of the enemy, but it was discovered that the
greatest elevation we could get, our guns did not reach the
enemy. It was therefore a one-sided business. ” It became a
question of endurance on our part. Could we hold out during
the day we would take the enemy in Fort Clark at night.

While in the magazine’I could readily distinguish’ be-
tween the enemy’s guns, the explosion of their shells and our
guns. When we fired the concussion shook the entire bomb-
proof. We could tell when every shell was falling. Many
of the fragments fell at the door. Had a shell fallen there
we would have all been killed. We could hear them fall and
explode all around and about us. Some came so near that
I became alarmed for the safety of the magazine. The door
beyond us had to be kept open to give air to Lieutenant Cara-
way, and to enable him to pass out the powder as it was called
for.

While here, the news of the killing of one, and the wound-
ing of another would be brought in by the men. Here I
heard of Lieutenant Murdaugh’s misfortune, and that Com-
modore Barron was killed. This proved to be a mistake,
When a shell or ball would strike the bomb-proof or a tra-—
verse, it would be with a very peculiar thud and all would
listen for the explosion. In this we would some times be
disappointed. It was because some of the shells did not ex-
plode as they fell.

During all this part of the engagement W. B. Willis had
stood by his gun, and could not be induced to leave it. Ool-
onel Martin once ordered him to leave. He stood upon the
carriage and gave notice to the men whenever a shell was
coming, fearless as to himself.

My men and Captain Johnston’s were all ordered to leave
their guns, and take care of themselves as best they could.
They all remained behind the traverses. One of John-
ston’s men was killed, and one of mine knocked down behind
one of these.

On leaving the magazine (having been there nearly an
hour), I‘went where Grimes was firing his gun, on the front
of the work. The shells were flying rapidly. I took shelter
beneath the parapet. In a few seconds I was covered with