The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-31 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN "MONITORS."

The official reports of the commanders of the
Monitors made to Admiral Dupont immediately after the
failure of the attack epos Fort Sumter, in April last, were
submitted to Cowles by Secretary Wells@ with Ins an.
sexed report, and show that these vessel' were incapable of
rodstieg the oormentroted fire of heavy rifled ordnance.
Captain Drayton, of the Passive, say. :
" I was struck in quick succession in the lower part of
the turret by two heavy shots, which bulged in its plates
and beanie and forting together the rails on which the ear.
rine of the 11-inch gun worked, rendered it wholly melees
for the remainder of the action ; a little after a very heavy
rite-shot struck the upper edge of the turret, broke all of
its eleven plates, sod then glnneiog upwards struck the
pilot-house with such force as to send it over, open the
plates. and squeeze out the top, exposing the inside of the
pilot-house. wed rendering it extremely likely that the next
shot would take off the top entirely."
Captain Rogers, of the Weishawkeo, reports :
" Two or three heavy shots struck the side armour near
the seise place. They so broke the iron that it only re.
!mood in splintered fragments, much of which could be
picked off by hand, and the wood was exposed. The deck
was pierced so as to make a hole, through which water ran
into the vessel; 36 bolts were broken in the turret, and a
greet many in the pilot-house. To the Patapsco no damage
was dorm which disabled her, although injuries which she re-
ceived, if multiplied, would do so. Forty bolts in the f meal
were broken. After the third shot from the 15-inch gun
of the Nantuck • port stopper became jammed, several
shots striking very mar the port and driving in the plating,
It was not used again. A number of the same plates were
started so much that another shot in their vicinity would
have knocked them off. The deck plates were cut is 12
plains ; one shot cut through the iron, and about two
inches into the beam, starting the plates, several bolts, sad
the planking, for some feet below. The plates on the aide
armour of the Reheat were badly broken is several places,
and one, where 'truck by two shots in close proximity,
grstripped from the wood, sod the wood
king broken in, with edging of back plates started
up aod rolled back in place& The desk was struck twice
damagingly, one shot near the propeller wheel quite
shattering and tearing the plate is its passage, lag
starting up 2.1 bolts, another starting plates and 2)
bolts in the turret. There were marks of nine shots ; 56
of the bolts were brakes perceptibly, the heads flying off
inside the turret, and the bolts starting almost their leactn
outside, some of them flying out completely, and hug
found at a considerable distance from the turret, on the
deck. One shot struck the upper part of the turret,
breaking through every plate. The pilot house was much
d azd wrecked, end four more such shots as it re.
ceiv woold have demolished it. One shot et the base
broke every plate through, and evidently seedy pesstrsted
it."

WRATH.= RIPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

Tllllltillit Docion U. S L.

ILL IL D. W. iI.X. Q. L.L , L
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Leah 29.93 8.8. E. 86 m 1
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Ureasomils 29.71142 188.1 E I IS • 3
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Valenti& 291&47 SAW. 14 • 1987 8
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iparanietows
Liverpool
Holyhead ..
Pembroke
PISMO, .
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Plymouth
Weymouth
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Porlassouth
Loudon
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Yarmouth 30.021 LILL U o 5
Scarborough 29.9 &L 114 1
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Hellgolaisd
mama

FRIDAY. au KOMI
8.8. to N.E. and N. W.. Pans.
strong to agsle, some

lIATCRDAT.
N. W. to 8. W. and again
to N., strong to fresh.

sta;;;O; fora
&X to 8. W. sad N. w. Worms. s. W. to N., strong,
straw to a gale, with squall, to moderate:
faro
-- • •

MIDDLX. next above.
BA.6.Dextto B,W)"."aed N.W., forrzmiuta. 8. W. to N.W. and
fresh to a gale, Wu N.N strong to
at times. moderate.
L W S. and W., fresh L 612111. As neat above.
to a gale, some rain
or snow.