Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[485] wall into the yard. We heard of a piece falling at the south side of the public square, penetrating the roof and floor of Mr. J. Dykeman's portico; and an entire bomb at Mr. Blose's foundry, and a piece going to the first ward market, and one shell burying itself near Smyth's garden; but none, fortunately, hitting any one, though some narrow escapes were had. We were shown a 32-pound ball that was said to have been picked up in the street, near Broad-way and Tremont. We have been informed, also, that some of the shells were found unexploded; but we cannot hear that any of the gallant Alden's missiles came nearer than the further part of Mr. League's new hotel lot, on Tremont street, south of the bayou, or about half a mile from the gulf. This is considered by many as the range of the propeller's guns, from her nearest approach to the shore, opposite the beach batteries.

The News states that two consular flags--one the British--were flying, but were not respected by Capt. Alden. The News continues:

A large number of people having collected on and near the sand-hills, a little to the eastward of the batteries, to gratify their curiosity, a shell fell among them, apparently directed for that purpose, cutting one man in two, and carrying away most of his body between the shoulders and hips, and exploding about the same time. Some two or three others were slightly wounded with the pieces.

This, we believe, was all the harm that was done by this first attempt to bombard our city. The firing continued about half an hour. Some of the shells measured ten inches in diameter, and must have been thrown by a sixty-eight pounder, said to be the steamer's pivot gun.

During the firing the city rang with the shouts of the people from the roofs and balconies at every discharge from the batteries, and even the ladies participated in the enthusiasm of the excitement, manifesting the utmost anxiety to see our shot strike the steamer and sink her.

Some twelve or fourteen shots were exchanged between the shore and the steamer. She then moved out to sea, firing a last shell, and our guns replied. A number of careful lookerson report that, with their glasses, they distinctly saw a boat, or something like it, lowered over her side as she turned away, and this, as is thought, to plug or examine a shot hole in her side. It is also thought that her pivot gun was capsized, from being raised at too great an angle, as a large number of men and officers were seen bending over it, as they were on Sunday.

The Dart had soon got out of range and followed the steamer, which speedily resumed her old position east of the bar and off Bolivar peninsula. There she has remained up to the time of writing--Monday afternoon.

Good judges think that Capt. Alden made his best effort on this occasion, to show his power to injure our city. There are many of an opposite opinion, however.