INSIDE SUMTER IN ’6i.

69

men, it operated also, in some degree, to save the Confederates. Our most pow-erful batteries and all our shell guns were on the barbette tier, and, being for-bidden their use, we were compelled to oppose a destructive shell fire with solidshot alone. This, especially as we had no mortars, was a great disadvantage.

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SERGEANT JOHN CARMODY FIRING THE BARBETTE GUNS.

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Had we been permitted to use our shell guns we could have set fire to thebarracks and quarters in Moultrie; for, as it was, we wrecked them badly withsolid shot, although we could not see them. Then the cotton-bale shutters wouldhave been destroyed, and we could have made it much livelier generally forour adversaries. This was so apparent to the men, that one of them — a mannamed Carmody — stole up on the ramparts and deliberately fired eveiy bar-bette gun in position on the Moultrie side of the work. The guns were alreadyloaded and roughly aimed, and Carmody simply discharged them in succession;hence, the effect was less than it would have been if the aim had been care-fully rectified. But Carmody’s effort aroused the enemy to a sense of his dan-ger. He supposed, no doubt, that Major Anderson had determined to openhis barbette batteries, so he directed every gun to bear on the barbette tierof Fort Sumter, and probably believed that the vigor of his fire inducedMajor Anderson to change his mind. But the contest was merely Carmodyagainst the Confederate States; and Carmody had to back down, not becausehe was beaten, but because he was unable, single-handed, to reload his guns.

Another amusing incident in this line occurred on the Morris Island side ofthe fort. There, in the gorge angle, a ten-inch columbiad was mounted, enbarbette , and as the 42-pounders of the casemate battery were making no