The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-27 00:00:00

Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Barnett.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Losses s, Mess's. Lindas and Vining.
THIS EVENING the drama of AURORA FLOYD. Mi,s
Amy Sedgwick, Sliss lienderson, and Mrs. Simpson ; Messrs.
CathcarVt
Rox., G. Melville, G. Beimore, C. Seyton, Wallace, and
After which, KILLING TIME. Mr. Gee. Vining, Mr. C
Seyton, and miss Amy Sedgwick.
To conclude with a new nhimsical Extravaganza, entitled
BEAUTIFUL HAIDEE ; or The Sea Nymph and the Sallee
Rovers. Misses M. Oliver, Helen Howard, Hudspeth, Hen-
derson, and Murray ; Messrs. C. Seyton, G. Belmore, Fitz-
james, Moreland, and Ccckerill.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI,
Sole Pronriator and ISanan-er,3lr. B. Webster.

THIS EVENIGN. JANET PRIDE Messrs. B. Webster,
T. L. Toole, Paul- Bedford, Stephenson, Stuart, I4:burne,
Sefton, C. J. Smith, Romer; 3liss Avonia Jones, Miss A.
Seaman, and Mrs. Stoker.

-• ------- •
To conclude with DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Mr. J. L
Toole, Miss Kate Kelly, Miss A. Seaman. and Miss Stoker.

Commence at 7.

THE THIRD EDITION OF "THE SUN,"
1 Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
can be had Every Evening of

G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

--
The Weather—Sun Office, April 26, 1863.

---~-__.

Highest since Noon yesterday
Lowest during the night ••—.
This day at N00n.....
Wind—N. Westerly ; fresh, and fine weather

APRIL 27.
TIIERIIOXETER.
Highest since Noon yesterday .. GO
Lowest during the night .. 41
61
This day at Noon

Wind—N
-Westerly ; fresh. and fine weather.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tara DAY.—Morning, Bh. 18m.—Afternoon, Bh. 59m.
To-moaßow.-Morning, 9h. 36ui.—Afternoon, 10h. 12m.

f ',17 .4.,
tifjg er.....4'*•#:„. mUlt,

LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1863,

Our anticipations of the result of the attack on
Charleston have been fully realised. Northern
accounts direct from the scene of action tell us that
the repulse of the Federals was complete and deci-
sive. Nine of the vaunted iron clads, who are to
sweep our commerce from the seas, crossed the bar
on the 7th in single file, and moved up Charleston
harboar towards Forts Sumter and Moul-
trie. In the course of this passage the fleet
encountered a network of obstructions, stretching
in every direction, which completely barred their
progress. Finding it impossible to carry out the
original intention and begin the attack upon the
north-west face of Fort Sumter, the invading
squadron were forced to content themselves with
the nearest point they could reach, and accordingly
commenced operations. Then began that struggle
between forts and ironclads, whose probable result
has so often interested and occupied men of science.
Then began, too, that conflict between the North
and South, which has been so long eagerly looked
forward to as the trial of strength and spirit.
Charleston is not in itself a possession of such vital
importance as Vicksburg, but it was felt that, with
the memories of New Orleans fresh in their minds,
the Confederates would never dream of surrender,
while the open threats of the North left little hope
of mercy, even if the enemy cried quarter. The long
delay of the attack was easily accounted for by tha
Northern ingenuity, which is always ready to fur.
nish "strategic reasons" for wholesale Bight, but
reasonable men justly supposed that while the North
were emulating the boastful school boy, who, with
closed fists, and threatening attitude, goes round
and round his adversary shouting, " I'll fight ye,"
wishing nothing so little as to fight, the South were
employing their leisure in strengthening the forti-
fications surrounding Charleston by every means in
their power, and were procuring every means of
defence which modern science and ingenuity has
placed at their disposal. We learn from the
last accounts that the machine for clearing
the torpedoes had, in consequence of the
want of skill or want of luck that usually attends
Northern tranceuvres, floated ashore and been cap-
tured by the Confederates. But, notwithstanding
these various discouragements, it was determined
to attempt the assault, and accordingly the nine
ironclads, any one of which wculd have been a
marvel to our forefathers, opened fire on the forts.
On the equipment of this expedition, neither care
nor expense had been spared. In the construction
of the ironclads every improvement recently made
in those sea dragons which have first tried their
strength in the American struggle, had been
introduced. The Keokuk, more especially, is
said to have exhausted the resources of
science and skill in her construction ; yet, alas
for the pride of human workmanship, and the
triumph of Northern skill, she rests beneath the
very waters that was to have witnessed her success.
The engagement, though only lasting two hours,
was of the most desperate character. It was no
feeble or purposeless fire that sunk such a vessel as
the Keokuk, doubled up the turret of another iron-
clad, and after inflicting terrible injuries on the re-
maining vessels, compelled the whole fleet to retreat
hopelessly defeated. So complete, so overwhelm-
ing was the triumph of the Confederates,
that at a conference of the Federal Cam.
menders held next day no voice was raised in
favour of another attempt. It was " unanimously
decided that it was useless to renew the attack." It
was felt that to encounter again that tremendous
fire, to come within reach of those crushing guns
was to sacrifice the remainder of the vessels en-
trusted to their care. In striking contrast to the
old feeling which induced the North to throw upon
its Generals the blame of every loss, is the temper
shown by the correspondent of the New York
Times, who, after remarking that the fleet had only
felt the outposts of the enemy, goes on to say it was
solely due to the skill of the commanders that it
was not entirely destroyed. Perhaps it is felt that
it will not do to declare their naval commanders
incompetent, as well as their military chiefs to be
lacking in ability, or is it that the disaster is so
bopelesa and conclusive that even Northern effron-
tery can find nothing to say ? It is a significant
fact that while we learn from Northern sources the
damage inflicted on the besieging force, no explicit
account of the injuries received by the
enemy finds a place in their reports.
A correspondent of the New York Trzbune
tells us that the north-east face of Fort Sumter is
marked with eleven holes of great extent, some
gaps being three feet wide. These scars, however,
were dearly earned, for during the last 30 minutes
of the engagement, the Confederate batteries poured
a concentric fire upon the enemy which is described
as being more than mortal-made fleet could stand.
Some idea may be gained of the nature of this fire
by the account of the shots received. The Keokuk
received uo, her turrets being completely riddled,
and one of them still retaining a steel-pointed