The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-25
The CHARLESTON FARCE.

An Exposure of the Facts in the Case bv
Charles G. Fulton Editor of the Bots
more American.
We quote the materiel parts of the CORES
P0ndence OF CHARLES G. FULTON, Editor
OF the Baltimore American, relating to the
ineffectual performance of our naval forces
before Charleston. Mr.. FULTON's account
telligence and reliability are well known.
Wecopy the concluding paragraph of his
account of the cannonadinQ.
The Weehawken, which received the
nrst shot, also received the last, having
maintained her advanced position during
the fight, and rained in shot and shell on
MoultFie and Sumter without intermission.
The Passiac, PatapscO, Moutauk, Catskiu.
and Nantucke all maintained their ground
throughout the entire battle, which lasted
two hours and fifteen minutes. Thew all
fired with much rapidity, and ratified their
immense projectiles against Fort Sumter
greatly to the damage Of it's fair proper
tons. Several shells are said TO have en-
tered the embrasures, and the southwest
corner of the wall is said to be greatly dam
aged.
The firing on the part Of the rebels from
all their forts and batteries bearing on the
channel in front Of Sumter, was wild and
rapid for the first hour, but after that it
was sensibly diminished, and toward the
close there was not one gun fired to ten at
the commencement. Their practice was,
however, excellent, which may be Judged
from the fact that the different vessels OF
the feet were struck altogether not less
than five hundred times. The number OF
gums fired on both sides could not have
been less than eighteen hundred. The fir
ing lasted ono hundred and thirty-five
minutes, and the guns fred certainly aver
aged more than twelve per minute.
When our fleet commenced to retire, the
guns of tho enemy materially slackened-
that they should go. There ,oas only an oc-
casional gun fired at them as they moved
along u, front of Sumter, dom the ship
channel, although they fred more rapidly on
Sumter than any previous time during the
fight! The Wehawken, especially, fingered
L at the corner of the fort, and appeard 10th
to obey the Admirals summons to retire
AS they passed down along the front Of
Morris Island, they also exchanged shots
with the different batteries and moved Of
with colors flying.
Nothing, of course, is known as to the
amount Of damage done to the inside Of
Fort Sumter, against which our fire was
principally directed. Several Is inch shots
are believed to have entered the embras.
| ures, and the outer wall is extensively
boaredand broken. Whether tho slacken,
| ing of their fire was caused by interior
damage is not known, AZ the heavy smoke
prevented the gunners from seeing where
their balls struck.
A DISGRACEFUL RESULT.
| OFF CHARLESTON BAR, April 6.-Yester-
day was q bright day, but nothing to com
this morning. We can see the bruises and
indentations on the walls of Sumter, the
flags flying from all tho forts, and even the
smoke curling up from the chimneys o.
the houses in Charleston. The steeples q
st. Phillips, st. Michaers, the Cathedral
and Grace Church can be recognized, Is
well as the observatory on the Mills House
| Every thing is distinct and clear to the vi
sion this morning, and just sufficient wind
blowing to carry the smoke of, if thebom-
bardment be renewed. Fort Pinckney
which is far up in the harbor, opposite the
wharves of the city, is distinctly visible
with its flag, while Fort Sumter stands on,
clearly in the foreground of this magnif-
cent panoramic view.
THE COUNTRY DIsGRACED.
| But now comes the saddest and most sor-
rowful part Of my statement. The seven
Ericsson monitors were all examined by
Mr.. Sinners, Inspector of Monitors, and
with the assistance of his workman, had
them all in as good condition for service as
they were yesterday before noon. Hall
past one o'clock was the hour fixed upon
| lOI d Telc"dA Vi CLIO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, SsAu
the officers of the different vessels were all
in readiness. and most of them anxious fol
a renewal of the conflict. The order fol
the movement was momentarily waited for
but the order never came.
| At o'clock it was ascertained through.
out the fleet that the Admiral had decided
that "Charleston was impregnable, thai
Sumter can not be taken with the vessels
and appliances placed at his disposal BY
the GOvernnient"-ino other words, that the
power of the Government is not sufficien,
to humble this nest of rebels. Sad oonclu-
sion to the man who SO decided. and sor.
rowful to the country which trusted in his
ability to perform the duty assigned him
| In conversation with some of the COM
manders of the iron-clads, before this or.
der was received, l was. assured that the
walls of Fort Sumter were pierced and
crushed, and the opinion was expressed
that in three hours more the Fort would be
compelled to surrender. Several Ofthem ties.
titled that their immense shot had entered
the embrasures ofthe Fort and dislnOunted
guns, and that the walls were in q most
shattered condition. Other officers APP
proved the decision of the Admiral, but
| they are the same who have maintained
from the first that charleston could not be
taken" The sailors Of the fleet, however,
were disguised with the decision, and felt
themselves disgraced.
| Two hours and fifteen minutes of bonn
bardment, one man killed, seven wounded,
one inferior vessel sunk, and the great eff
fort of the country to retake the forts and
public property abandoned as inpractica-
i \