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SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF FORT PULASKI.

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FORT PULASKI FROM TURTLE ISLAND (SEE MAP, PAGE 3), TYBEE LIGHT-IIOUSE IN THE LEFTDISTANCE. FROM A WAR-TIME SKETCH.

pair of planks was successively taken up from the rear and laid down infront as the guns were moved forward.

By some mistake the men detailed for this work had already been on dutyfor twenty-four hours, and were in no condition for such fatiguing service.They sank to their knees at every step. The planks soon became slipperywith mud, and were hauled forward with drag-ropes; the wheels frequentlyslipped off, sinking to the hubs, to be replaced only by the greatest exertions.The last gun had been landed at 10 o’clock, and by 2 a. m. two pieces hadcrossed about one-fourtli of the marsh, and the men were utterly exhausted.The guns were concealed by reeds and grass and left until the next night,when a fresh detail carried them through to their position, crossing the worstpart of the marsh and repeating all the experiences of the previous night. Byhalf-past 8 on the morning of the 12th the battery was ready for service.

The Bird Island battery was established eight days later, the crossingbeing made on the night of the 20tli.

The Venus Point battery was tested on the morning of the 13th, when therebel steamer Ida passed down under full steam. In firing nine shots at her, allthe guns but one recoiled off the platforms. These were at once enlarged todouble their former size. The Ida was unhurt, but preferred to return toSavannah by another route. On the next day three gun-boats engaged thebattery for a short time, withdrawing after one of them was struck. |

The first vessel, witli ordnance and ordnance stores for the siege, hadarrived in Tybee Roads on the 21st of February, and on the 9th of April thebatteries were ready to open fire. Lieutenant Horace Porter says :

“ So much were the preparations hurried for opening the bombardment, that we could notwait for many of the ordnance stores that had been ordered from the North. Powder-measures

The 48th New York, w r hieh furnished theguard for the battery, had not a reputation forconspicuous sanctity, but it is doubtful whetherone story told of them would not suffer in pointby contact with hard facts.

There was an iron-elad at Savannah named theAtlanta , but commonly known as the “Ladies’ gun-boat,” from the fact that means for building it hadbeen largely supplied by contributions of jewelryfrom the ladies of the city. Some time after our oc-cupation of Jones Island, it was reported that theAtlanta was coming down to shell us out. Thethoughts of the battery-guard naturally turned to-ward measures for meeting such an attack, and itwas resolved to fire shot connected by chains, andso tangle her up and haul her ashore. When the

question arose how they should get into their iron-bound prize, the officer in command of the detach-ment was ready with his solution: “I’ve got themen to do it.” Then he paraded his men, andinformed them of the facts. “Now,” said he,“you’vebeen in this cursed swamp for two weeks,up to your ears in mud,— no fun, no glory, andblessed poor pay. Here’s a chance. . Let everyone of you who has had experience as a cracksmanor a safe-blower step to the front.” It is said thatthe whole detachment stepped off its two paceswith perfect unanimity. The Atlanta did not, infact, make any demonstration on the Savannah ,but went, some time later, to Wassaw Sound, onlyto be captured by Commander John Rodgers •withthe monitor WcehatoTcen .— Q. A. G.