BOMBARDMENTS OF MASONRY FORTS.
Attack on Fort Sumter,
April 7, 1863.
FEDERAL.
IRON-CLAD SQUADRON.
| Guns. | |
| Weehawken | 2 |
| Passaic | 2 |
| Montauk | 2 |
| Patapsco | 2 |
| New Ironsides | 16 |
| Catskill | 2 |
| Nantucket | 2 |
| Nahant | 2 |
| Keokuk | 2 |
CONFEDERATE.
Fort Sumter, 10 guns, supported by Fort Moultrie, 16 guns, and earthworks adjacent mounting 43 guns.
The squadron went into action at 2 p.m. in line ahead, approaching Fort Sumter as close as the obstructions would permit (from 500 to 1000 yards), and opened fire. The action lasted two hours, when the fleet withdrew, not having silenced the fort. The Weehawken was hit 53 times, the side-armor being completely shattered in places, the deck broken through once, 36 turret-bolts broken, and at one time the turret was jammed. The Passaic was hit 35 times; her turret was disabled for a time, and one turret-gun was completely disabled; the pilot-house was knocked almost over. Montauk hit 14 times; no injury. Patapsco hit 47 times; gun disabled. New Ironsides hit about 50 times; one port-shutter knocked off, otherwise uninjured. Catskill hit 20 times; deck broken through. Nantucket hit 51 times; port-stopper jammed, disabling one gun. Nahant hit 36 times; turret jammed, side-armor badly shattered. Keokuk (casemated gun-boat) pierced at and below the water-line 19 times; turrets pierced and port-shutters knocked away; vessel sank the next day. Casualties: Keokuk, 16 wounded; Nahant, 1 killed, 6 wounded; all by broken bolts flying in the turret or pilot-house.
Attack on Fort Sumter,
August 22 and September 1, 1863.
FEDERAL.
IRON-CLAD SQUADRON.
| Guns. | |
| Weehawken | 2 |
| Montauk | 2 |
| Nahant | 2 |
| Passaic | 2 |
| Patapsco | 2 |
CONFEDERATE.
Fort Sumter, supported by Fort Moultrie.
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.
Fort Sumter was, by repeated bombardments for two years, reduced nearly to a total ruin, but was not abandoned until Charleston was captured by General Sherman. Fort Moultrie never was silenced until it was abandoned. Fort Jackson refused to surrender after six days’ constant bombardment by a mortar fleet and an hour’s bombardment from a passing fleet at from 60 to 300 yards, only capitulating at a second summons, when the capture of New Orleans destroyed the last chance of relief.