Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-22

lining and finding, if possible, the distractions e.
tending across the harbor from Forts Moultrle g
Sumter. Protected by the scow and the "Devil
in front, she pushed up to the obstructons wh'e9
were found to consist Of . net work OF CHAINS ana
cables Stretched acress the harbor, over wh!Gn
was impossible for the Weehawken' to run without
foulipe her propeller and which she found it mPos
sible to force To this net work the rebels are
supposed to have suspended torpedos and other SUD-
marine explosives Having tested the imposslbility
of working up the harbor until means are devised
for removing the distractions, the Weehawken re,
turned and reported to the Admiral, who ordereo
the conflict discontinued.
Itis believed Fort Sumter was seriously damaged
So far As it showed externally two embrasures were
knocked into one side and numerous indentat'ohs
in the wall which, it is believed, few hours more
pounding would convert into serious breach. mo
loss of life in the fort is believed TO be
Fort Moultrie was well hammered also, alIo mao
at least one gun dismounted. Beyond the SINKING
of the Keokuk the damage to the iron. ciaos was
very slight, not more than would require twenty.
four hours to repair. They all came out OF the
contest in fighting trim, and able to nave coht'oeu
the conflict had it been desirable. ~,
The Ironsides was hit frequently, but beyond one
post shutter damaged, was uninjured There were
no serious casualties on board Of any Of the vessels
except the Keokuk, which sunk next morning ABOUT
one thousand yards from Morris Island beach. she
had thirteen wounded, two of whom will one.
The 'eDevif' was not lost, as stated by the rebel
DISPATCHES When the Weehawken returned from
the reconnaissance of the distractions the scow she
had in tow broke loose and grounded OF MOTIFS
Island. The rebels thinking it dangerous affair
peppered away at it, thinking it was the "Devi,
which is safe and will yet be used against the rebels
The affair against Charleston may be summed up
thus: We have entered Charleston haroor mace
successful reconnaissance; engaged therebel forts
for three hours; damaged Fort Sumpter pretty
seriously lost one vessel, and have had crowning
proof o: the invunerability Of the monitor fleet
Gen. Leman, on board the Mary Standford who
passed through the feet off Charleston two days Ut
ter the fight, says 1.-THE monitors were ranged
along the beach Of Cummings Point, all in good or
der "A pilot CT the expedition stated that the Iron
sides and seven monitors attacked Fort Sumter on
the 7th, passing some distance above the tort, re
ceving two hundred shot A pointed shot o.
English manufacture penetrated the iron clad Whit
new battery, Keokuk. which sunk twelve hours at
terward near the beach, Other iron-clads passed
through shower of shot and shell. with tritiing
damage.
The casualties reported are few. Capt Rhind Of
the KeokuA was slightly injured BY bolt A.
quartermaster ano six men on the Nantucket were
killed.
Arrangements are being made to bow-up the
Keoknk Reports are conflicting as to future move
ment
1t 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 be sus
.pended- :.
Hilton Head, says he saw before leaving the iron
clad Nahant She had five holes in her chimney
and five hundred shot were fired at her from the
rebel batteries in Charleston harbor, but she was
not severely injured. Some rivets had been started
her turret, which preclyded her guns from working
to advantage"
We are indebted to the writer for the Richmond
Enquirer for some very impertinent and offensive
remarks, in yesterdays issue, upon the course OF
this paper, touching the proposed recall Of our
Commissioners from Europe. 1t has comported
with that writer's ideas of propriety to assign grow
cling and unworthy motives and sentiments as
s and 10 iaJalas ~ eaithsts
In tho application made of them, but unfit to be
employed by gentlemen.
In reference to the continuance Of diploustic re-
lations with Europe, We have maintained, as we
now d. that the President is the best Judge, from
bis necessarily superior knowledge as to all facts
which bear upon the question. We have main-
tained in the interest Of the Confederacy, that in
consequence Of this and Of the peculiar n9ture of
diplomatic service, We should best show our own
good sense by con6ding in his. We have suggest
ed reasons most Of them obvious, why our Com
miss!oners should not be withdrawn at present.
nor unless the duty should become imperative.
In depr,c eating the withdrawal of our Commits.
soners, We have gone indeed against the passionate
eachings of the writer for the Enquirer His ar
cies have been Of sort to isAa1ne the public mind
here, to bltteiA ess against England. Perhaps-he
has loosened our tongue to spcak-perhaps it was
not to be wondered at. True. it is not generous or
just, to infase into our Confederate affairs, all
weighed down with our troubles as we are, the gall
and bitterness of others qharrels But to him,
with his private gIef and bitter reeollections, it
may nave seemed very proper and desirable thing
to have the Confederacy cmbrolled with England
", we nave looked at the matter in different light
we nave had no purposes passions to serve save
such as belong alone to our own dear country
within whose bosom sleeps the dust of our fathers
ana our fathers fathers for many generations -
look at the subject strictly from the Confederate
] point OF view, unswerved and uninhueuctd by any
recoiecttons OF collisions on other and distant are
i mas Thus approaching the question, we have
tho4ght 1t very unwise, and so thinking have so
sa'd to rush, in this delicate coniuncture with mas
slonate ignorance, between the President and his
constitutional duty, of conducting our diplomatic
AFFAIRS We have though: that the effort to excite
popular camor, and to obtain q legislative aecla-
ration against the policy he is pursuing was to
make an issue with him where no issue should be
made; 1T seemed without any rational object, un-
less designed to overawe HIN, and had, in fact all
the elements Of distrust and opposition on subject
which demanded trust and confidence
(. Whether we have most excited the ;.,,o,er =,
the anger Of the writer for the Enquirer: we know
/ not He should in either case have met our views
! with argument He has chosen to do Il with i'm.
pusatons Applying European ideas to American
politics. he can See in our honest appeal for Con.
fedssase interests nothing but bid for Executive
smiles; and he iealousy hastens to repei us a.
POSSIBLE rival. He does not know the difference
when he is right, for his country's sake and :,
eourtsr who fawns for favors Let him dismis.
ms ]eaiousies, and his.fears We leave him tn sno-
.he graces Of polished courter, if such he b.
trained in the schools of Europe, at his leisure ~
For our own part, however awkward" it NAV
seem to him, we shall still pursue the part Of
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