DAMAGE TO THE FLEET. 117 Sofield, New Jersey), and the Quartermaster (Edward Cobb, Massachusetts). The Quartermaster had been struck by the bolt on the back of the skull which received a compound comminuted fracture. When I saw the poor fellow, late at night, he was in a state of coma, his life ebbing away. He died this morning. The pilot's wound was a severe contusion of the neck and shoulder, and he is doing well. The Captain received merely a slight contusion of the foot. Other bolts were driven in, in the turret also, and the following were wounded: John McAllister, seaman (Canada), concussion of brain; John Jackson, seaman (Massachusetts), Roland Martin, Seaman (Massachusetts), and James Murry, seaman (Massachusetts), slight weighing 420 pounds, is hoisted up by mechanical appliances to the muzzle of the gun, and rammed home; the gun is run out to the port, and tightly 'compressed; the port is open for an instant, the Captain of the gun stands behind, lanyard in hand-Ready, fire!" and the enormous projectile rushes through its huge parabola, with the weight of ten thousand tons, home to its mark. That mark is the face of Sumter, which already displays palpable proofs of the horrid impact. Half a dozen ugly pock marks show conspicuous, and a huge crater is formed in the parapet near the eastern angle. We look with interest at these effects, and look forward with good hope to seeing a breach at length effected, if only the ironclads can remain long enough under fire to batter ly hurt by flying bolts in the turaway. If only they could have remained. But what craft, pray, could remain under such a hurricane of fire? And what is this coming down out of the fight? It is the Keokuk-we know her by her double turret. She has defied Sumter under its very walls, and now comes out to report to the flagship that she has received her death-blow, and is in a sinking condition! The flagship herself has had one of her port shutters shot away, thus exposing her gun-deck, and red-hot shot has penetrated her wooden bows. In addition, three others showed signs of disablement, and there was little more than sufficient daylight left for the fleet to gain its old anchorage. At 5 o'clock the Admiral makes signal to retire. "The Nahant received in all thirty wounds, several of them bad fractures of the deck and sides, below and above the water-line. The most fatal blow, however, was given by a heavy rifled shot, which struck the pilot-house, and dislodged several of the bolts, one of which, driven violently inwards, wounded all of the three inmates of the pilot-house-the Captain (Captain Downs, Massachusetts), the pilot (Isaac ret. The Passaic also received twenty five or thirty wounds. The most extraordinary shot was from a large 10-inch rifled projective, which struck the top of the turret, scooping out a huge portion of the iron, breaking all of the eleven plates of an inch thickness each, and spending its force on the pilot-house (which is placed on top of the turret), in which it made a crater three inches deep, and producing such a shock on the pilot-house as to start its top and raise it up three inches! Had not the force of the impact been broken on the turret, there can be little doubt that this shot would have gone clean through the pilot-house. Another shot hit the turret, forcing the place struck inwards, and producing a big swell on the interior. The same shock disabled the carriage of the 11-inch gun, while portions of the interior iron casting fell down, and lodging in the groove of the turret stopped its revolution. The Nantucket, besides receiving a number of wounds, had her turret so jarred that the cover of the port could not be opened, and consequently the 15-inch gun could not be used. In addition, the other Monitors each received shots, more or less, though not disabling them. Thus the Catskill was hit twenty times. The worst wound was from a rifled shot, which broke the deck-plating forward, going through it, breaking a beam beneath, and spending its force on an iron stanchion, which it settled half an inch. The Ironsides was frequently struck. One of the shots broke off and carried away one of her port shutters, and her wooden bows were penetrated by shell, though they were prevented from doing the damage they otherwise must have done, by Commodore Turner's precaution of protecting the exposed part of the vessel with sandbags. But the poor Keokuk-she, of all others, was the most fearfully maltreated. This vessel was struck ninety times, and she had nineteen holes above and below the water-line, some of a size through which a boy might crawl. Her turrets (five and three-quarters inches of iron in thickness) were fairly riddled and came out of the contest mere sieves. During the action twelve of her men were wounded, among whom was her commander, the gallant Rhind. During the night her pumps were kept at work, to throw out the leaks she was making. The sea had become somewhat rough, however, and was washing in through the holes in her bows. By daylight it became obvious that she must sink. I had remained on board the Catskill during the night, and at seven o'clock word was brought down that the Keokuk, which was hard by us, had made a signal of distress. Passing up on deck, we saw she was rapidly settling forward. At her signal, boats and tugs had come to her assistance, and were busy removing her wounded men. Barely time enough was afforded to get off them and her crew, for she had settled so much that the water was pouring into her turrets. Two or three of the men, indeed, had to jump into the sea, and were hauled into the small boats. Suddenly she gives a lurch to one side, and a lurch to the other, and plunges under. She went down at eight o'clock at the spot of her original anchorage, near Lighthouse Inlet, and all that is visible of her is the upper portion of her smoke-stack. Thus ended the brief and glorious career of this interesting vessel-the first ironclad ever sunk in battle. Her story must form a most important chapter in the history of these new engines of naval warfare, and her fate presents an astounding example of the frightful power of modern projectiles."* The military force of General Hunter under these circumstances, numbering it is said but seven thousand men, brought to Stono Inlet, were not called into action, their employment depending upon the success of the naval operations. All that General Hunter in fact could do, was to bear his testimony to the gallantry of the fleet, which he did in the following letter to Admiral Dupont the day after the engagement: Not knowing what have been the results of your attack of yesterday, so far as Fort Sumter is concerned, I cannot but congratulate you upon the magnificent manner in which the vessels under your command fought. A mere spectator, I could do nothing but pray for you, which, believe me, I did most heartily, for you and all the gallant men under your command, who sailed so calmly and fearlessly into and under and through a concentric fire which has never heretofore had a parallel in the history of warfare. That you are uninjured, and so many of your command fit for service, is a cause of deep gratitude to Almighty God. I confess, when the Weehawken first ran under Sumter's guns, receiving the casemate and barbette broadsides from that work simultaneously with the similar broadsides from Fort Moultrie and all the other works within range, I fairly held my breath until the smoke had cleared away, not * Correspondence of the New York Times (W. Swinton) of Charleston Harbor, April 8th, 1863. GENERAL BEAUREGARD'S ORDER. 119 expecting to see a vestige of the little On the 10th, a few days after the envessel which had provoked such an at-gagement, General Beauregard issued tack. With each of the others the same the following congratulatory order on scene was re-enacted, my interest in the the event: "The Commanding General fate of the Ironsides being, perhaps, the is gratified to have to announce to the keenest from my knowledge of her vul- troops the following joint resolutions nerability, and of the deep loss the coun- unanimously adopted by the Legistry would sustain if anything was to hap- lature of the State of South Carolipen to you. Thank God for the results na: Resolved, That the General Asas far as they go. May He have you in his sembly reposes unbounded confidence keeping through whatever chances are in the ability and skill of the Comyet before you. No country can ever manding General of this Departfail that has men capable of suffering ment, and the courage and patriotism what your ironclads had yesterday to of his brave soldiers, with the blessing endure." In the account of the action of God, to defend our beloved city, and published in the Charleston Mercury of to beat back our vindictive foes. Rethe 11th of April, it is stated that by an solved, That his Excellency the Goverestimate made from Sullivan's Island, nor be instructed to communicate this "about eighty shots were fired at Fort resolution to General Beauregard. SolSumter where Colonel Alfred Rhett diers! the eyes of your countrymen was in command, forty of which struck are now turned upon you, on the eve of the work. One 10-inch gun was tem- the second anniversary of the 13th of porarily disabled by a shot. One co- April, 1861, when the sovereignty of lumbiad of old pattern burst. One the State of South Carolina was tri7-inch rifled gun dismounted by re- umphantly vindicated within the harcoil, and one gun was disabled for a bor which we are now to defend. The few moments by fracture of the ele- happy issue of the action on the 7th vating screw through recoil. Not a instant--the stranded, riddled wreck of person was killed in Fort Sumter from the iron-mailed Keokuk-her baffled coany cause. Sergeant Faulkner, and adjutors forced to retire beyond the privates Chaplin, Minnix, and Penn, range of our guns, have inspired confiCompany B, were injured by a shower dence in the country that our ultimate of bricks thrown from a traverse on success will be complete. An inestithe rampart by a large shot of the mably precious charge has been comenemy. A drummer-boy, Ahrens, was mitted to your keeping, with every restruck on the head by the explosion liance on your manhood and enduring of a shell over the parade. A negro patriotism." laborer was also wounded. All, we learn, are doing well, and there is no danger of losing a life or a limb. The regimental ensign was pierced near the centre by a ball. The Confederate flag was also perforated. There was but one casualty at Fort Moultrie. A shot from one of the Monitors cut away the flag-staff, a few feet above the parapet, and the staff fell upon private Lusby, Company F, First South Carolina [regular] infantry, inflicting injuries, from the effects of which he soon died." No new operations of moment for some time occurred in the Department, with the exception, perhaps, of the destructive raids in the beginning of June, led by Colonel Montgomery, with several companies of negro soldiers, assisted by gunboats at landing on the Combabee river, where many valuable plantations were destroyed, and on the coast of Georgia, when serious damage was inflicted on Brunswick and Darien in an ascent of the Altamaha river. Early in June General Gillmore ar rived as the successor to successor to General South. In turning over command to his Hunter. successor, Major-General Hunter congratulates the troops of the Department, that in General Gillmore they will find an officer well known to them, and whose worth they have long since learned to estimate; and it is the earnest hope of General Hunter that the same skill, perseverance, and gallantry, which so largely contributed to the reduction of Fort Pulaski, more than a year ago, may be equally successful in whatever enterprises General Gillmore shall next be engaged in." CHAPTER LXXXVII. GENERAL HOOKER'S CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA. JANUARY-MAY, 1863. courage, patience and endurance that, under more favorable circumstances, would have accomplished great results. Continue to exercise these virtues, be true in your devotion to your country and the principles you have sworn to maintain; give to the brave and skillful general, who has long been identified with your organization, and who is now to command you, your full and cordial support and co-operation, and you will deserve success. Your general, in tak THE Army of the Potomac having | been sufficiently recruited, after the battle of December, to warrant in the judgment of its commander, General Burnside, another forward movement against the enemy, arrangements were made in the middle of January for the passage of the river above and below Fredericksburg. The army was set in motion on the 13th, and dispositions made for crossing that night, when a tempestuous rainstorm set in, which suddenly softening the roads, arrested the move-ing an affectionate leave of the army ment at its commencement, and compelled its abandonment. Immediately after this, General Burnside, at his own request, was relieved of the command of the army, and General Joseph Hooker appointed in his place. On the 26th the former took leave of the army in a general order marked by his characteristic candor and feeling "The short time," said he, "that he has directed your movements has not been fruitful of victory, nor any considerable advancement of our line, but it has again demonstrated ar. amount of from which he separates with so much regret, may be pardoned if he bids an especial farewell to his long and tried associates of the Ninth Corps. His prayers are that God may be with you, and grant you continued success until the rebellion is crushed." "He General Hooker the same day issued his order on assuming command. enters," said he, "upon the discharge of the duties imposed by this trust with a just appreciation of their responsibility. Since the formation of the army he has been identified with its history. DEATH OF GENERAL SUMNER. 121 by the country, while his personal virtues had endeared him to all who knew him. "The name of Sumner," said General Halleck in an order of the fierce struggle in which the army of the Potomac has been engaged, and every page of its history will perpetuate the fame of this noble soldier. He has shared with you its glories and reverses, with no other desire than that these relations might remain unchanged until its destiny should be accomplished. In the record of your achievements day, is "identified with nearly every there is much to be proud of, and with the blessing of God we will contribute something to the renown of our arms and the success of our cause. To secure these ends your commander will require the cheerful and zealous co-operation of every officer and soldier in this army. In equipment, intelligence and valor, the enemy is our inferior. Let us never hesitate to give him battle wherever we can find him. The undersigned only gives expression to the feelings of this army when he conveys to our late commander, Major-General Burnside, the most cordial good wishes for his future." In the reorganization of the army the_army which followed, Major-Generals Franklin and Sumner were relieved of their commands. The system of Grand divisions was pronounced to be impracticable, a hindrance to the dispatch of current business, and unsuited to the service which the army was liable to be called upon to perform, and the corps organization was adopted in its place. Major-Generals Reynolds, Couch, Meade Sedgwick, Sigel, Slocum, and Brigadier-General Sickels (temporarily) were appointed corps commanders. The cavalry was consolidated into a single corps under command of Brigadier-General Stoneman. Genearl Sumner did not long survive this change. He was presently assigned to the command of the Department of Missouri, and was preparing to enter on this new field of duty, when he was suddenly taken ill on a visit to his sonin-law at Syracuse, N. Y. After a few days' illness of congestion of the lungs, he died at that place, on the 21st of March, having just completed his sixtyseventh year. His long service in the army was remembered with gratitude The regrets of the whole army go with him. He will be lamented and remembered, not for his soldiery traits alone, but for his generous and courteous bearing, the offspring of a true and noble nature." At the funeral services at Syracuse several traits of the noble-hearted old warrior were recalled in an address by the Rev. Mr. Canfield. On his death-bed, it was said, "he expressed a feeling of regret that he had not entered into the thickest of the fight at Fredericksburg so that he could have died on the field of battle. A short time before he died, a few drops of wine were given to revive him, when he seized the glass, and waving it above his pillow, exclaimed, 'God save my country, the United States of America.' His patriotism was always earnest and unhesitating. "All," wrote General McClellan, "recognized the high honor, loyalty and courage of that distinguished veteran. He presented to younger men the highest example of unswerving devotion to his country, and of a firm determination to sacrifice everything that might be necessary in subduing the rebellion and restoring peace and the unity of the nation, by putting forth all the strength of the country to defeat its armed enemies in the field.” The months of February and March and the greater part of April were passed by General Hooker in preparations for resuming active operations as soon as the season permitted. Under the new organization of the army the rumors of disaffection or mistrust which had followed the previous unsuccessful movements dis |