SIR: I have the
honor to report that on Sunday, December 4, at about 11 a.m., the enemy opened
three pieces 12-pounder artillery on block-house No. 7, at distances of 500 and
800 yards, throwing seventy-two shot and shell, thirty-one of which struck the
building, five in the lookout and twenty-six in the main building and its
entrance way. Of the twenty-six, six were thrown into the inner casing at loop
line. It will be remembered that the outer casing of this house is supported
above the loop line by pillars twelve to fifteen inches long. The shot were
thrown in between the upper and lower logs of the outer case and the pillars.
Some of the pillars were struck and shattered but none knocked entirely out. No
shot penetrated the main building; no shot struck, however, directly on the
loop, the bearing of the guns being such as not to admit of it except at the
corner. No shot penetrated the timbers of inner case sufficiently deep to
distend the timber on the inside. About 2 p.m. Major-General Milroy engaged the
enemy and relieved the garrison. On Monday, the 5th, about 2 p.m., the enemy
again opened three pieces on house, at distance of 800 and 900 yards to the
northwest, and fired five or six shot and shell, one of which only struck the
building, doing but little damage. The garrison were ready for the attack, and had
seven or eight loops bearing on the battery. I required them to fire by rank,
which was done, and done with such precision as to compel the enemy to limber
up and get away at double-quick, with the loss of one horse, and, I learn from
rebel authority, three or four wounded men; their sharpshooters left with them.
We took advantage of the dark to get more wood and water, and some timbers,
with which the floor of tower was made bomb-proof. About midnight a Federal
soldier came to garrison, saying that General Bate had sent him to say to
garrison that if they would surrender that he (Bate) would parole the whole
garrison, respect private property, &c., and that he would send in flag by
6 a.m. or sunrise. At 12 the promised flag came, by order of General Hill,
asking surrender upon terms offered by General Bate; was answered that "We
would hold the block-house." This morning a picket-line was put out around
us, the sharpshooters looking after also. On the 7th flag came in, by order
General Forrest, giving ten minutes to surrender or be burned with Greek fire,
etc. Four flags came in during the thirteen days. On Friday, the 16th, the
pickets were called in. On 17th all disappeared except a few stragglers, who
evinced no disposition to molest.
The garrison did not
have one man hurt, nor did the house sustain any serious injury.
The deficiency in
the block-house, as developed in this case (and as far as I can learn in that
of No. 2), is in the staunching supporting the ceiling and in the horizontal
bracing at the cap plates. In No. 7 the girder spanning the south wing
commenced to give way while the house was bombarded in the opposite side or
wings. I had temporary posts put in and other like improvement made as
circumstances suggested. I am of the opinion that the rectangular building,
properly constructed and located, is the better plan for the blockhouses. I
have increased confidence in block-houses as means of defense, from my
experience, and believe that they can be so constructed as to resist any artillery
that is ordinarily brought to bear against them.
Allow me to
recommend to favorable consideration Lieutenant Glosser and his command; they
behaved nobly during the siege of fourteen days.
Chief Inspector R. R. Defenses, Dept. of the Cumberland.
