January 14, 1861, The New York Herald
The Star of the West, now surrounded with uncommon interest on account of her adventure in the harbor of Charleston, finally returned to her dock at the foot of Warren street yesterday morning, where large numbers wended their way during the day to see her. The gates on the upper end of the dock, however, were closed against all unauthorized applicants for admission, compelling those whose curiosity had brought them to the spot to content themselves with looking at her stern and starboard side.
THE MARK OF THE CANNON BALL is upon the port side, facing the dock, and was consequently visible only from within the forbidden enclosure. She bears no other traces of damage from the firing. The dent referred to is a little forward of the wheelhouse, under one of the portholes, and about three or four feet from the surface of the water. It is elliptically or egg shaped, showing that the ball struck the vessel obliquely, at an angle of about thirty or forty inches with the keel, and in a direction from the stern towards the bow. The impression of the ball, which must have been an eighteen-pounder, is about six inches wide at its broadest portion and about nine or ten inches in length. The missile sank into the wood only to the depth of about half its own diameter, showing that its force was considerably spent on reaching the vessel.
THE DEBARKATION OF THE TROOPS was accomplished at half-past seven ‘o yesterday morning. During the previous night the Star of the West was considerably inconvenienced by the large masses of ice floating in the river, and two anchors were wrenched away. She left her anchorage in the harbor–a position she had maintained since her arrival–and steamed into the slack water to avoid the floes of ice. She then passed down the bay to Robbin’s Reef, and thence back to a point a little above Governor’s Island, where, about three ‘o yesterday morning, the steam tug came alongside to take off the soldiers; but the commanding officer, deeming it an unpropitious moment on account of the terrific frost, and Captain McGowan fearing accident from the masses of ice, the movement was postponed. Those on board the vessel describe the cold at this time as of unusual severity. The sides of the ship were covered with ice, while the whiskers of the officers on duty were congealed with their respiration. Such was the keen state of the atmosphere during Saturday afternoon that a stove had to be put up in the soldiers’ quarters to make them any way tenantable or comfortable.
After leaving Governor’s Island the Star of the West steamed for the slack water off the Jersey shore, and passed through it until she reached a point opposite Bergen Heights, where she anchored. The steamtug here came alongside once more, and the troops were disembarked about half-past seven o’clock. The steamtug then put off and landed the soldiers at their old quarters, Fort Columbus, on Governor’s Island. The Star of the West immediately after raised her anchor and steamed to her dock foot of Warren street, which she reached about eight o’clock.
HER APPEARANCE YESTERDAY presented nothing unusual to the spectator, looking from the wharf, save the American ensign floating at her stern. On board, however, were plentiful evidences of her recent occupation by troops and of her warlike destination. Upon the main deck piled up against the sides of the wheelhouse, were some twenty or thirty cases of muskets, marked with the words ‘Major T. R. Holmes, Fort Columbus, N. Y. Harbor.’ These were the arms of the soldiers who were sent to reinforce Fort Sumter. Occupying various positions on the same deck and in the hold were some hundred or more barrels of pork and other stores for the provisioning of the troops, and a quantity of supplies for the garrison at Fort Sumter. A number of boxes of cartridges were also stored away.
The quarters of the troops were in the forward cabin or steerage. An inspection of this locality at once exhibited the recent presence of military men. The floor was littered with old straps and other military paraphernalia, bearing the letters ‘U.S.,’ while the remnants of their meals were strewn around, forcibly reminding one of the soldier’s life in camp and field. The number of berths originally in the steerage had not been sufficient to accommodate the detachment, and mattresses had been spread in the forward part of the cabin to supply the deficiency in the sleeping arrangements.
THE SCENE ON BOARD DURING THE FIRING FROM THE FORT.
The particulars of the attack upon the Star of the West have been stated in an official manner by Captain McGowan. A few further details in regard to the affair possess a great deal of interest. The first shot fired passed across the bow of the vessel and struck the water about a ship’s length ahead. The American ensign at the fore peak was then unfurled, and the vessel continued on amid the fire of the battery; but receiving no answer by signal from Fort Sumter in response to the hoisting of the American flag, and a couple of vessels coming down the harbor at the same time, apparently with a hostile intention, her head was turned for sea once more.
During all this trying time, with the guns of the battery continually pouring out their deadly missiles, the most admirable order was preserved on board. The soldiers were sent below, and no one allowed to remain on deck except the officers and crew. The captain and first officers were at the pilot house, while the second mate was ready on the forward deck to get the relieving tackle to work in the event of any of the balls striking the wheel and preventing control over the vessel’s movements. That there was good need of this precaution is shown by the close proximity of a ball that passed over the wheelhouse. The shots fired at the vessel during the first part of the attack struck short of her, but, glancing up from the water, ricocheted over the vessel, and were plainly visible during their flight in this second direction.