The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-04-17
The Attack on Charleston.

New YoRK. April 13.-The Tribune's
account of the Charleston fight says the
arrived off Charleston on the NOR
ming of the 9Th. and spent the day examin
ing bars and channsls, the wind being too
high 10 cross that evening The Admiral
disclosed his plan of stack. which was to
sail directly mp and attack the northwest
face of Fort Sumpser. at 500 or 800 yards.
About eight O'Clock Monday morning a
signal for movement was given. and the yes
sells started slowly. In consequence of the
fog, however, they were obliged to postpone
the intended attak till next day. During
the afternoon one Of Gen. Fury's brigades
worked its way up to Foley Island. and
established communication With the feet,
but no portion Of the land forces got into the
attack at all.
On the 7th. at 4 II P. NJ. the feet got
under way. and passed Morris Island bat.
teries without being fired on. pushing RICH.
on toward Sumpter. The new Ironsides
worked badly. and in consequence OF the
current. was obliged to anchor two or three
times. Fort Moultrie opened first upon the
Weebawken. which was within 500 yards.
Cummings Point Battery. For, Sumter.
and battery B Immediately opened. and the
action became general and terrific. The
Monitors still pushed on. replying vigorous
Is, and passed tho northeast face of Sumter.
when they discovered three lines of obsuuc-
tions holding torpedoes. ETC.. one OF which
exploded, but did no great damage.
Finding it impossible to get across the
distractions, they turned about and steamed
down the harbor. The Patapsco's 200
FOUNDER had become disabled. and the tur
ret of the Psssaic SO bent as to place that
vessel practically out of use. Other boats
also passed up to the northeast face Of the
fort till they also were stopped by the OBJ
struc,ions aud turned back.
After being under fire three quarters of
an hour, all the Monitors were ordered back.
and at o'clock the entire feet was out Of
range, and the action ceased. Admiral Du
pont intended 10 renew the attack next day.
dut on ascertsining that the Keokuk and
Passaic were entirely disabled, and three
others partially SO. he concluded to desist,
in which be was sustained by all the COM
manders.
The Monitors were hit from fifty to sixty
times each. except the Keokuk. which re-
ceived about ninety shots, and was penetra-
ted at water-mark no less than nineteen
times. She was kept adoat till next morn
ing. when she sunk on the bar. her colorsI
flying. All on board were saved. The
Ironsides was hit about sixty times, but not
damaged. There are eleven large holes in
Sumter. apparently running through the
walls.
The entire firing only amounted to $50
rounds. When our correspondents left, two
of the Monitors had sailed for Port Royal.
and others were to follow. Our entire cas-.
ualties amounted to thirteen, Of whom but
two or three were killed.
The Times special gives the following
list of casualties on the Nahant:
Commander Downs. slight confusion in
foot; Pilot Isaac Sea6eld, severe confusion
In neck and shoulders, doing well: Quarter
master Cobb. compound fracture Of skull,
since died; three seamen, slightly.
Keokuk-Commander A. q. Rhind, con-
fusion of the leg: A. McIntosh, acting en-
sign. dangerously: r. Nicholson. arm. slight
wound; three seamen. seriously. and seven
others, slightly.
New YoRk. April l3-The Times issues
an extra containing a detailed account of
the fight at Charleston. 1t says the result
OF the reconnaissance proves the utter ineff-
cheney of the iron.clad fleet to take Charles
ton alone.
The Nahant received thirty wounds, sew
eral being bad fractures.
The Passaic was also wounded severely
10 the turret and pilot house.
The Nantuckets turret was SO Jared that
the port could not be opened, rendering her
15-inch gun useless. None Of the other
Monitors were disabled.
The Times correspondent says of the
Charleston fight: The iron ships were expo !
sed to a concen,ric fire from five different
points. unparalleled in the history of warfare.
The feet found it impossible to pass beyond
Fort Sumter and assume an appointed posi-
ton. owing to the distractions which ex-
tended across the entire channel from Sum :
ter to Moultrie, while above these. near the !
middle grounds, we're three other rows Of
piles, and above these, three rebel iron clad !
vessels.
The feet was thus compelled to sustain
his terrific fire. and nobly did it do SO for
thirty minutes. During that time not less
than $500 shots were fred by the enemy.
leo being counted in a single minute
The Weebawken was assigned to an im-
portant duty, which was faithfully perform
I'd in the midst of the 6ght--to examine,
and. if possible, to FIRE the Instructions in
The harbor between Sumter and Moultrie.
Protected by . scow and the "devil" in
Tho distractions.
They were found to consist of network
,f chains and cables stretched across the
harbor, over which it was impossible for the
to run without fouling her pro-
peller, and which she found it impossible to
force.
To this net work the rebels are supposed
10 have suspended torpedoes, aud other sub !,
marine explosives. She completed the ex-l
animation. and tested the in possibility of
working up the harbor, until means were
for removing the distractions 10
The way.
l. is believed that the damages to Fort
Sumter by our Ere was serious. So far as
t showed externally it consisted in two EN-
orasures being knocked into one. and nu-
nervous indentations in the wall which, il is
few hours more pounding would
convert into q serious break. What damage
" loss OF life was sustained 10 the fort, is