Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

The shells and shot of the enemy when they struck in the water near the monitors would send immense bodies of water flying over their decks and turrets.

Beauregard is said to have been in the Fort during the whole siege, assisting in its defence. The rebels had large supporting forces near at hand to meet any troops that might land.

The scene was very exciting, and amid the din and noise of battle we all felt a confidence in the result, so far as the safety of our iron fleet was concerned, even if they should fail in reducing the Fort. Their invulnerability to the projectiles of the enemy had been fully ascertained by the previous conflicts of Captain Worden with the same works, and by his successful destruction of the Nashville whilst exposed to the guns of the Fort, to which he paid no attention.

In alluding to the destruction of the Nashville by Capt. Worden, in my last letter, I omitted to mention that the enemy succeeded in exploding one of his torpedoes directly under the hull of the Montauk, slightly jarring her, but doing not the slightest damage. She continued in her position, tiring on the Nashville until she was blown up, and then fell back to her anchorage. On Wednesday she steamed back to Port Royal, and is ready for the next movement that may be ordered. She did not take part in the fight, because only three vessels could get in position, and it was desirable to give the others an opportunity to test their powers, and gain the experience and practice that can only be obtained from an active engagement.

Gen. Seymour was also present, and had troops on steamboats ready to land and take possession of the Fort, in case their assistance was required in the progress of the fight. The great distance — from one thousand two hundred to one thousand four hundred feet--at which the monitors were compelled to lie, rendered its reduction an impossibility.

From twelve to one o'clock there was a temporary suspension of hostilities, on account of the fall of the tide, partly to rest and refresh the gunners, and partly to concert a new combination of movements for the reduction of the enemy's work, which from its peculiar location, and the obstructions in the river, prevented our monitors from fully concentrating their fire on its most vulnerable points. The mortar-schooners kept up an occasional fire until two o'clock, when the monitors again advanced and renewed the fight. A heavy cannonading was kept up occasionally until four o'clock, when the firing was again suspended, the monitors falling back out of range.

The direct firing on the Fort was suspended at four o'clock, the monitors falling back out of range. From four o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening hostilities were entirely suspended, when the mortar-schooners again opened fire, and continued to occasionally throw their shells during the entire night. Every fifteen minutes a shell was thrown in the direction of the Fort, and having got the range during the day the firing was thought to be with considerable precision. The purpose of this firing during the night was to distract the enemy, to prevent him from repairing damages and keep him from rest and refreshment. Our men on the monitors and gunboats, being tired out by the labors of the day, slept soundly notwithstanding the din of battle by which they were surrounded.

The cannonading during the day had been very heavy, and its results rather unsatisfactory. The difficulty of obtaining position before the Fort by more than one monitor at a time, owing to the obstructions in the river, which prevented them from getting in full range before the Fort, rendered the task a difficult one. If they could have removed the obstructions, the work would have been an easy one of accomplishment, and they might have moved on against Savannah, if so desired. These obstructions, however, have proved a greater barrier than the guns of the enemy, which against the iron-clads have done no more damage than so many pop-guns.

The night bombardment was kept up until daybreak, without any intermission, when it ceased entirely, whilst the fleet of iron-clads was preparing to move forward to a renewal of the direct assault on the works.

During the progress of the fight a ten-inch mortar-shell, loaded with sand, fell on the deck of the Passaic. It struck on the weakest of the deck, and, further than a disfiguration of the armor, did no damage to the vessel. This was a test that the monitors had not before undergone, and it will be a matter of congratulation to know that they are invulnerable to even mortar projectiles.

Wednesday, March 4.--This is the second anniversary of the inauguration of President Lincoln, and the war still progresses. God grant that its next anniversary may find peace and happiness prevailing throughout the land.

The morning has again opened bright and beautiful — a cloudless sky and a warm sun shining down on this scene of human antagonism. At the time I write, the monitor fleet are moving forward in momentary anticipation of a renewal of the conflict. The incessant mortar-firing during the night it was thought had prevented the repair of the damage done yesterday, as well as the mounting of new guns in the place of those dismounted yesterday.

The firing of the mortars at night was a grand sight. Their immense shells could be seen mounting slowly to an immense height, with a slight spark of fire visible. When they turned to fall they came down with double the rapidity they ascended, and soon the booming sound of their explosion could be heard coming back from a point two miles distant. At other times the shells would explode high in the air, owing to some defect in the fuse, making a brilliant pyrotechnic display.

On board the schooners, to prevent injury from the immense reverberation, it was necessary to stand on tip-toe and keep your mouth open. The practice of the gunners was fine, but not very pleasant to a spectator.