The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-18
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
The Charleston Fight.

From the officers of the Keokuk infor-
nation of the advance on Charleston is
obtained. The iron-clad feet entered
the outer harbor on Monday, the 9th inst.
The Keokuk, drawing less water than
any of the others, was sent in first to find
the channel and replace the buoys Pro-
ceeding up the main ship channel the
Keokuk found an easy and unobstructed
entrance with full eighteen feet of water
in the shallowest places, more than has
ever been found on Charleston bar. The
buoys were replaced without difficulty,
the rebels offering no opposition. The
Keokuk returned to the feet, and OH the
morning Of the 7th the order was given
the iron-clads to enter the harbor The
order was to proceed in single file or in
line ahead The Weehawken was the
leading vessel, having in front of her a
scow, and then, between the scow and
herself, EFicssons ms tqEpedQ 9 ggdbo e1ggdboder g Rg
Ironsides, with Admiral Dupont on board,
was the fifth in line, and the Keokuk the
last. In this order the bar was passed
in safety, without detention.
The order given to the commanders of
the various NGSSSio was W hCCp Ou
straight up the harbor until they came
within one thousand yards of the forts,
and then to attack, directing their efforts
principally against Fort Sumter. In
this order the fleet moved on steadily
and gallantly up toward Forts Sumter
and Moultrie, the rebels Withholding their
fire until they got well up into the har-
Dor. The Ironsides stopped off Fort
Moultrie and let 60 her anchor, it being
dangerous to take her further up on .ac-
count of her drawing over fifteen feet.
At this moment there seemed to be a
temporary misunderstanding, and all the
iron-clads except the Weehawken and
Ke0kuk gathered about the Ironsides,
apparently supposing that she had
grounded and needed assistance. They
were, however, soon signalled TO go into
action. The Keokuk had kept inward
until she led the line and had advanced
to within 400 yards of Sumter, against
whose granite walls she hurled her heavy
shot with all the rapidity that the energy
of her brave crew could furnish. The
rebels, as was expected, Immediately con.
centrated their FIRE on the Keokuk. which
assumed to lead in the attack From
Sumter, Moultrie, Batteries Beauregard
on Cummings Point, and from a fort
erected on the middle ground, the fire oi
four or FIVE hundred guns were concen
trated in terrible hail upon the devoted
vessel Such IRE had never perhaps il
the history of the world been equalled
1t was met by the officers of the Keokul
with heroic fortitude, whilst the ball:
were striking her at the rate of one every
secondl Her guns were work rked witt
vigor and precision, and their weigh
and force were already making thei
mark upon the walls of Sumter.
1t soon, however, became apparen
she had none of the impregnabllity o
Ericsson's Monitors that, in fact, as al
iron-clad, she was failure. The rebe
balls seemed to penetrate her as easily a
if she had been a wooden vessel. Th'
portfolios or shutters of her turrets be
came iammed and her guns PRACTICAL.
unserviceable. During the thirty min
utes she remained under this concen
trated fire one hundred shot struck her
ninety of which were water-line shots, o
such as would cause her to leak in
seaway-in fact she was perfectly rid
died. Her flag was shot into tatters am
the whole of her sides battered, bruised
and pierced. Perceiving the severe il
iuries she had received, the Admiral sic
nailed her to retire out of action an
anchor beyond range. This was safel
accomplished.
In the meantime the Monitor, Nahar
and Catskill had movedup to the supper
of the Keokuk and engaged Fort Sun
ter. The Ironsides and other vessels g
longer range were dividing their after
ton between Moultrie and Sumter. Int
and on the latter fort heavy fire wa
then poured, and it is believed not witt
out effect The engagement was keI
! up from one till four o'clock, when,
obedience to the Admirars signal, tt
feet retired slowly, receiving and r
turning the rebel fire until they anchore
b out of range within the bar. The We
hawken was assigned the importaI