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[229] thousand four hundred yards, three thirteen-inch mortars; the second, at three thousand two hundred yards, three thirteen-inch mortars; the third, at three thousand one hundred yards, three teninch columbiads; the fourth, at three thousand and forty-five yards, three eight-inch columbiads; the fifth, at two thousand seven hundred and fifty yards, one thirteen-inch mortar; the sixth, at two thousand five hundred and fifty yards, three thirteeninch mortars; the seventh, at two thousand four hundred yards, two thirteen-inch mortars; the eighth, at one thousand seven hundred and fifty yards, three ten-inch columbiads, and one eightinch; the ninth, at one thousand six hundred and seventy yards, five thirty-pounder Parrotts and one forty-eight pounder James (old twenty-four); the tenth, called the McClellan battery, at one thousand six hundred and fifty yards, two James eighty-four pounders (old forty-two) and two sixty-four pounders (old thirty-two); the eleventh, at one thousand six hundred and fifty yards, four ten-inch siege mortars. The siege artillery, therefore, comprised nine thirteen-inch mortars, seven ten-inch ditto, six ten-inch columbiads, four eight-inch ditto, two of James' fortytwo pounders, two thirty-two and one twenty-four ditto, and five Parrott's thirty pounders, making in all twenty-six smoothbore and ten rifled guns; among these ten, only the first four named were really of a powerful calibre. The last three batteries, placed side by side, were connected by a trench, each having magazines and splinter-proof shelters.

At daybreak, on the 10th of April, a small boat bearing a flag of truce was seen to leave the coast near the lighthouse, to proceed toward the fort, and to go back immediately. It had scarcely returned when Hunter gave the signal for the bombardment to commence; the garrison had refused the summons to surrender. All was ready in the Federal batteries, and every man was at his post. The large mortars, which were most distant, fired, with a charge of fourteen pounds, shells containing seven pounds of powder, the trajectory of which was described in twentytwo seconds. The columbiads of the distant batteries were inclined at an angle of twenty degrees, so as to give a curved fire; they used a charge of seventeen pounds of powder, and the length of fuse was twenty seconds. The shells of these guns were to

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McClellan (West Virginia, United States) (1)

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James (3)
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