Letter from a Yankee prisoner in Fort Sumter.
--The Easton (Pa.) Express publishes the following letter from Assistant Engineer Harmony, of Easton, who was one of the naval expedition that undertook to steam Fort Sumter and was made a prisoner. He writes as follows to his parents:You may be surprised to receive a letter from me dated from this place of "brick and mortar," but so it is. An expedition was fitted out so assault and carry the fort. We reckoned without our host; for in place of we taking, we were taken. The way it was is this: At about 4.30 P. M. Capt. Williams collected the different boats comprising the expedition. Among the number were two boats from the Housatonic. I volunteered to go in the one commanded by Lieut. Brower, (the other was in command of M. M. Butler.) We found that our party was in the third division, and commanded by the Flag Lieutenant S. W., Preston. We were towed within a hundred yards of the fort and cast adrift. We then formed line and proceeded towards Sumter. When within fifty yards of the fort we were hailed and fired upon by the sentinel. We gave a yell and pitched in good style, but it was no go. All of Captain Williams's, one of Lieut. Preston's (our boat,) and one from Lieut. Reine's division were all that landed. The others, about 18, commenced firing their revolvers and skedaddled. We, who landed, quickly formed under Captain Williams, (I as Lieutenant,) and tried. "to rush up the rocks," but it was no go. We tried to do what we volunteered to do but could not, so we got in one of the many indentures made in the walls by Gen. Gillmore, and came to the conclusion it would be best for us to surrender, which we did. Our men behaved nobly, and we are now prisoners of war. Some of our party received letters from those who were among the skedaddler, wishing they were with us. At all events, we all done what we volunteered to do, which was to get inside of Fort Sumter (although prisoners.) The officers in command here are perfect gentlemen, and treat us as brave men, which we showed we were in our three successive attempts up the side of the fort. Not a man quailed, but all rushed towards the parapet with the intention of either placing the flag on its walls or falling in the attempt. Very fortunately only four were killed and about sixteen wounded. I, as usual, am one of the lucky ones, escaping without a scratch. The scene after we landed I will try to describe at another time; it was fearful as well as amusing.
Yours, affectionately,
J. H. H.
J. H. H.
