Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-04-14
4 O'CLOCK, II. NJ.
FROM CHARLESTON.

NofEHEAD, n, c., April l0th, via Fortress
Monroe, l2,i Wopls-ed through the fleet of
Charleston Oh Thursday, the Jth inst, al 10
O'Clock A. NJ. The weather was clear aud pleas
ant The Monitors were ranged along the
beach of Cummings Point all 10 good order.
We were boarded By one Of the pilots OF the ex-
petition, who stated that the Ironsides and sey-
en- of the Monitors attacked Fort Sumter On
Tuesday the b aud passed some distance above
the fort receiving some two hundred shots A
pointed shot Of English manufacture penetrated
the irou-clad Whitney battery, keokuk and she
sunk in . hours after near the beech The
other ir0n-clads pissed through the shower Of
Of sho, and shell unlnjlr4d or with trang
damage
Asrgtrds future movements reports are con
Hicliug II was positively stated by one OF the
pilots who boarded Us that the monitors would
withdraw over the bar, and further action for
the present would be suspended This was sub
soqucnty coTro5oraed by a reporter for New
York paper An officer from the James AdSer,
VINO previously boarded us, states that the en-
gagement would be renewed about p NJ and
ADDED that the Admiral EXPIRE ssed bis belief Of
success. The chaun, above the fort was OBJ
structcd y t0rpedOts are reported to have
been exploded We left the feet at noon
When about twenty i've miles northwarl heard
heavy lrng. The weather Is exceedingly pleas
ant and Oh. sea is smo ,th
Toe above was private message addressed
to col. SANFORD, Military Superintendent Cen
sor brought by steamer Mary Sanford.
Rebel dispatches state that IN the engagement
OF the 1tb, all the monitors were frequently hit,
with results unknown One gun was dIsm0unt-
ed IN Moulrie, aud one man wounded
Steamer & orge Peabody, FROM New Orleans
3lst uit., Key West 9th inst, arrived this
evening Capt A,well reports that he was at
Hilton Head On the 9Th, where he saw the mon
itor Nahant repairing. She had FIVE holes in
her chimney, and it was reported she had five
hundred shots hred at her by the rebel batteries
ia Charleston liarbor, but was not severely in
iurel but some rlvet- had been started from her
turret, which prevented her guns from being
worked 90 advantage The keokuk had been
sunk and one man lost in her. At 100 clock OF
the evening Of the 9th the Geo. Peabody was
III Charleston bar and spoke two gunboa,s but
obtained no news other than that Gen. Hulter
was up the bay.
New IosK, April H. The Tr'blme's Wash
lngton despatch says the Iron-clad squadron,
conveyed by number of guuboats, arrived OF
Charleston on the morning OF the 9th. II was
intended 10 cross the bar that afternoon, but
mEh wiud arose. which induced Admiral Du-
p0nt o. postpone crossing until the next day.
towards evening the Petapsco stood IN close to
the lighthouse inlet to prOtec, the buoys. Ii
was expected that she would draw the hre Of the
rebel batteries. but she anchored inside and re
NAMED unmJles.ed all night.
In the morning the Admiral issued his or Ter
ui battle. The plan Of attack was to move the
iron clad squadron up the main ship channel
without noticing any tire from the Morris Island
batteries, steer directly to Fort Sumter, aud en-
gage q Northwest lace at distance OF 6U0 OF
500 yards The general signal to get under
weigh was given, Some fears were entertained
OF grounding when crossing the bar, but all the
Vessels got safely over, and came to anclor d.
rectly opposite the lighthouse inlet. 1t was
deemed necessary to wait the ebb tide in order
to discover more readily the distractions. The
fleet was expected to be able to move to the at
tack at one p NJ, but thick fog hal risen,
concealing the shore lines, the guidance OF
which the pilots, among whom were three col
ored volunteers and Robert Small, required for
sale steering The Admiral then reluctantly
postponed the attack to the next day
During the day u brigade OF Gen. ferry's d.
vision worked ts way up to Folly island, estab-
lshed itself close to the beach and opened com
muuicaton with the tieet. No portion Of the
land force got nearer to the point Of attack, and
all we're obliged to play the part Of ear witness
SIS Nothing was done during the remainder
Ut the 9th INST
Ga the moruiug of the 7th the fog was still
thick, but by 9 o clock 1t had nearly cleared
away, and there was no further cause Ter delay
Up to l. clock preparations for the conflict
continued At P. NJ the pilot of the flag
ship declared himself ready The signal to get
under weigh was made, and at 10 minutes be-
fore = clock the whole fleet was IN motion
Al one half past two clock, the batteries on
Morris Island had been passed by the first four
monitors without drawing the fire of the en-
envy. Shortly before O'Clock the lronsldes
showed disobedieuco to the rudder, her bow
swinging to the strong ebb tide, and threaten
ug to bring her on the shoals and she was com
pcl to come to anchor
In the meantime the first four monitors bad
continued on. The enemy allowed the Weehaw-
ken to come within GOO yards Of Fort Moutre,
when two shots across her bows from this fort
opened the action.
The lronsides got under weigh again and APP
proached within 1900 yards OF Tort Sumter,
when once more she became unmanageable and
dropped anchor.
The Monitors ahead Of her reached the con
ycrging point Of the ire from Cummings POM
battery, and from Sumter, Moultrie, aud battery
B. A sheet of flame and volumes Of smoke
extending from Morris TO Suliyan's Islands
iuauguratcd what has been undoubtedly the
most terrific cannonading OF the whole war.
A perfect torrent of shot and she'll roures
upon the Monitors, wrapping them sometimes
almost entirely in spouts of water. The Monl'
tors continued their way, replying vigorously
from their batteries. They passed the Northeast
face Of Fort Sumter but when they came neal
/ its angle with the Northwestern face, they made
out a short distance ahead three distinct lines
OF distractions consisting of floating logs with
torpedoes attached, and networks OF cables, held
perpendiculAry in the water by weights.
The patapsco got foul Of one and could I
work her screw for 10 minutes bu, finally got
clear. A torpedo exploded close to the bow o.
the Weehaw ken without damage. The vessels
all steering through the narrow passages, thu
line. Of ob,tructions could not bereached, after
several vain attempts.