New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-13
upon the Monitors, wrapping them sometimes almost
entirely In spouts Of water thrown up by tho Hfk'

entirely In spOuts Of water thrown up py 'ns slA'
ing prjecsiles. l.9 .o
The Monitor, continued their way, replying vigor
ously from their batteries 70 the sDemy. 1hcy
na,ssd the northeast face Of Fort Sumter, but when
thew came near it, angle with the northwestern
facs thew made on, at short distance three distinct
Hnss Of obaructons, consisting Of floating logs with
to,n.does attached, and networks Of cables held
perpendicularly in the water BY weights. - Il
The Ps.apsco got foul Of one Of them, and could
not make her screw work for some fifteen minutes,
but fnslly got clear. A torpedo exploded close to
the bow of the Wesbawksn, without, however, do
ing any damage. 10 -'I
The vessels oil steering very heavily, the nsrow
passages through the line Of distractions could not
DO reached. After several vain attempts, the four
vessels turned about and steamed back down the
barber, all the while sustaining q heavy fire. and
responding with their guns Is vigorously a. they
could. ~ a, r. I...a. fia.r
The Patapsco had her 90o-pounder Psrrott gun
disabled by its own recoil early in the action.
Tie turret Of the Passsic was bent in and cramped
her ll.inch gun 30 as 70 prevent It's working. Shortly
sferward her turres stopped revolving, and abe ost
all offensive power.
The Ironsides had, meantime, vsinly struggled 10
come closer 70 Fort Sumter. The Rebel gunners
finding her a fixed mark, Piled her freely with shot
and shel Her position was snch that che could not
bring her broadsides 10 bear until about o'clock,
when she got an opportunity to deliver her fire at
Fort Moulirie.
This was the only offensive demonstration made
by her daring the action.
dmir nd nj he
readily move the lronsdes, be ignaled TO the four
iron.clads behind her TO pass ahead and 30 to the
support Of the four vessels already engaged.
In trying to pass by tho Catskill and Nantucket
brushed tho Ironsides on the port and starboard
sides, bat after awhile managed TO get away aud
moved on.
They and the Keokuk and Nshant came under
the coDeentric range of the forts and batteries at
about the time tho other four Monitors were turning
back. r.I.. -... t. I..
They nevertheless advanced with their guns at
work brisky past the northeast face Of Fort Sumter,
until their was likewise imFsded BY obstruc-
lions. .|
The Catskill, Nantucket and Nshspt received the
united fire of both Forts Sumter aud Moalirie.
The Keokuk had steered little more TO the left,
and for Q while received the fire Of Fort Sumter
alone. She fred tho gun In her forward tunet but
three times, when it became disabled.
Her after gun could no, be brought to bear effect
lively and was thus rendered useless After eontin-
uing under the united fires of all the fors and bat
teries for about three-qusrtes of an hour all the
Monitors and the Whitney Battery came back in
obedience to signal from the flagship
The Iropsides had already dropped back some do
lance DOT Of range Of Fort Sumter. At oclot9 tue
entire feet was out of range and the action ceased
The Ericsson raft, known a. the Devil was at
tsched to the bow Of the Weehawken, but proved
hindersnce instead Of . help, by embarrassing the
steering of the Weehawken.
The monster tc-7eioes intended TO be connected
with the raft not used as they required delicate
handling, and fears were entertained to their sue
cess. The devil was lost the day aftor the fight and
washed ashore.
1t was the intention Of tho Admiral to renew the
attack on tho next day. but when tho reports Of the
commanders Of the iron-clsds received, show
ing that TWO, the Keokuk and Passac, were fully,
and three. the Patspsco, Nantucket, and Nshsn,
were partially disabled, the Admiral determined 70
desst from Q continuance.
In this decision he was sustained by the unsn-
imous opinion Of the commanders Of all the IRON
clsds. .t
The friug on both sides was good, aud the thuu-
der Of the cannonsde terrific.
The striking Of the heavy missiles used by the
Rebels against the sides decks, and turrsts Of the
monitors, the reverbersons Of their own nopstrous
guns, the plunging Of shot and shell into the sur
a.. IL.
forts and batteries from view, tbon broken by sheets
Of fame, the uncertainty "a TO what new obstacle
or internal machine might be encountered BY the
iron-cads, the difficulty Of properly maneuverine
the vessels, the anxious suspense Of the inhabitants
Of the iron boats to whether victory or defeat was
to crown their eforts-all this made the scene one
Of unparalleled interest and excitement
No words can convey an idea Of the terrible IRE.
The Monitors were hit from twenty to sixty times
each, with the exception Of tho Keokuk, which,
from her more exposed position, was struck by not
less than ninety shots. 100
Her turren were penetrated number Of times,
and her bull, at the water mark, showed nineteen
holes. She was only kept sAoat BY plugging and
pumping, until next morning when she sunk on
be bar in eighteen feet Of water, her colors still
flying. tsl
Ali on board were saved, but all lost everything
hey had
The Ironsdes was hit from 80 TO GO times without
material damage.
The enemy used only shot Of the heaviest csliber.
Tho most destructive Of their missiles were Of En-.
.lish manufacture, principally Whitworth's STEEL
pointed projectiles.
Eleven large holes, apparently running through
The walls. some of which were about three feet wide,
were made on the east face of Fort Sumter, showing