April 6, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
(From the Savannah News, April 5.)
The schooner R.H. SHANNON, Capt. Joseph Marts, from Boston, with a cargo of ice, to Heyward & Gage, of this city, arrived here at noon. Capt. Marts informs us that on Wednesday morning about 11 o’clock, the weather being rough and heavy, he mistook Charleston harbor for that of Savannah, and did not discover his error until after he had passed the bar, when he made signal for a pilot, intending to go into the harbor and to come out next morning, in the event the weather proved fair, and proceed on his voyage to this port. Shortly after making his signal by displaying the United States colors, in the hands of one of his men at the mast head, and when his vessel had arrived nearly abreast of Fort Moultrie, one or two guns were fired, as he thinks, from that fort, across his bows. He continued on his course, and ordered his colors to be run up to the main peak, supposing that a signification of his nationality was what was required. But in a few moment the fire was opened from both sides of the channel–from Fort Moultrie and from a battery on Morris’ Island–the shot passing fore and aft of the schooner, and whistling, as he describes it, fearfully over head. Not knowing what to do or what was required of him, he ordered his colors hauled down, tacked ship and stood out to sea. The firing from the fort and battery continued, most of the shot coming in dangerous proximity, and one ball passing through his mainsail, only some twelve inches above the head of a man who was standing on the house at the time. The crew think that one shot struck the schooner forward, but under water, and doing no perceptible damage. Passing within speaking distance of a brig that was going into the harbor, Capt. Marts hailed it and asked why he was fired upon. The captain of the brig advised him to haul his jibs down and come to anchor, which he accordingly did and the firing ceased. About an hour after coming to anchor a revenue cutter was seen bearing down towards the schooner, but owing to the roughness of the weather she was compelled to put back after approaching within half a mile of the Shannon. As she wore round, on her return, the officer in command waved his hat, which Capt. Marts took to be a signal that all was right and to come in from his dangerous position. The crew of the Shannon commenced heaving anchor when a boat was seen approaching the schooner, as we supposed from the shore, but which proved to be from Fort Sumter. Two officers from the boat came on board the Shannon, and after ascertaining where she was from and all the circumstances of her case, asked Captain M. why he did not display his colors. The Captain assured them that he had done so, but that the flag had not been respected, as the firing continued while it was displayed from his peak. The officers informed him that his vessel had no doubt been suspected of coming there to reinforce Fort Sumter, which was the cause of his being fired into, and directed him to remain where he was until they could represent his true character to the Confederate authorities, when he would be permitted to enter the harbor unmolested. After the boat had left, and had got about half-way to the island, night coming on, and the weather becoming more threatening, Capt. M. weighed anchor and stood into the harbor for safer anchorage; but looking through his glass and seeing what he thought to be preparations for opening fire on him again, preferred the perils of a stormy night on the coast to again running the gauntlet of the South Carolina batteries, and accordingly put to sea. Getting clear of the bar, the weather being rough, the Shannon hove to until 4 o’ yesterday morning, when she bore away for this port, where she arrived with no other damage than a pretty good fright, and a shot hole in her mainsail.
Capt. Marts, who is an intelligent and clever skipper, says although he brought us a cargo to keep us cool, we certainly gave him a very warm reception on his first voyage South.
The captain informs us that there were one or two ships outside of the bar when he went into the harbor, which, in the hazy weather might from the land, have been taken for steamers.