Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-10

The DineuIties in Charleston Harbor.
The correspondent Of the Boston Jour
nal, writing from Hilton Head, shows the
difficulties our forces, especially the naval
portion of them, have to meet in Charles
ton harbor:
ain former letters have pointed out
some Of the obstacles to be surmounted
before we come in possession of Charles
ton. Further intelligence does not lessen
the difficulties. The fact that the Monitor
received the broadside Of the Merrimac so
near that the rsmmers Of the eannoneers
almost touched as they ran them from the
port holes, has been taken as conclusive
that our iron-elads can run past Sumter,
Moultrie, the batteries of Sullivan and
Morris islands, past the floating batteries,
paying no heed to the tornado Of shot and
shell belched from the one thousand can
non reported to be in position, and make
straight course for the city of Charles
ton. It is possible to do that, but l think
not probable.
"There are three ways Of steering yes-
sels-by sight by lead, by compass. In
great naval engagement the immense
volumes of smoke will be likely to shut
out prominent objects from sight, and rem
der steering by that method Intellectual.
To stand OF the slushed deck of the Ma
hant or Passaie and throw the lead under
such fire as the rebels will concentrate
upon our little feet will require cool
ness which few men possess, besides it will
be hazard which Admiral Dupont will
not require unless absolutely necessary.
To steer by compass in a narrow channel
is not practicable. The steering must be
done mainly by sight. Fortunately we
have accurate surveys Of the hsrbor, and
pilots who are intimately acquainted with
the channels. If the attack is made at
high water the light draft Of the iron -clads
will enable them to take position to suit
their own convenience.
awe have supposed that because the
Monitor resisted the shot Of the Merrimac,
and at the same time accomplished 80
much with her eleVen-ineh guns that the
ffteen-inch guns would knock everything
in the shape of masonry or earthwork de-
fences to pieces, but il has become appar-
ent that our Ordnance Department has moi
kept pace with progress in marine archi-
lecture. All Of our large guns are of cast
iron. As we increase the caliber we are
compelled 10 decrease the quantity OF
quality Of powder, or in other words re-
duce the velocity given to the shot. The
powder used must be slow burning-gra
as large as flberts. Rife powder, which
ignites with the quickness Of lightning al
most, would send the gun and its carriage
head over heels from its position, or split
the gun into fragments.
"By increasing the weight of the ball
we increase its crushing power; but a RI
fed hundred pound PARROT gun for pene-
trsting or boring purposes, throwing g
shot at high speed, will probably be
found to be superior to the ffteen-inch
four hundred pound shot, hurled, as they
must be, with comparatively slow velocity
Fifteen-inch guns are yet untried. The
Ordnance Department is all at sea in re.
gard to them.
aThey may fulfill the most sanguine ex-
pectations, and they may be found less
efficient even than the eleven-inch guns
The experiment is to be tried. You re-
member that great results were predicted
Of the Lancaster gun in the CTimea. Il
was to send its shot completely through
Todtleben's fortifcations. but it proved to
be failure. Till they have beel put 10
the test, we cannot unqusliiediy and un-
reservedly expect that these monsters will
completely destroy the defences which
General Beauregard has erected.
"They cannot be served with the rapid
ity of lighter ordnance. Itrequires hard
lifting to handle shot weighing four hun
dred pounds. In oil, we shall have but
eight turreted vessels and the new Iron
sides-thirty-two guns. The wooden gun
boats undoubtedly will take part but il
will Of necessity be at long range. Thirty
two guns against one thousand as reported.
Beauregard boasts that ten minutes ex-
pOsure Of one Of our iron-clads at close
range under his converging fires will use
them up. The rebel fire will be hot. II
will be q continued roar Of thunder, q
continual bsttering Of shot upon the iron
mail. They have Whitworth guns, which
throw steel-pointed shot Fortunately we
came in possession Of several thousand
shot intended fer them when we captured
the Ocean Wave. have faith in the pow
er of the iron-clads to Withstand their hot
test fire, but it is yet to be determined
whether, with our necessarily slow mani
pulations, we can silence the batteries op-
posed.
"The labor will be exhaustive. A crew
will hardly handle those heavy guns day
after day and week after week without ex-
haustion. Cessation of fire will enable the
rebels to repair damages. You remember
how the Malakoff held out and the Redan
knocked all to pieces by day and made as
good as ever by night-how at last they
were carried by terrible assault and the
slaughter of thousands of men. The rebel
batteries are not like those Crimean
strOngholds, but they are, nevertheless,
formidable works.
"As to sailing straight in, unmindful Of
shot and shell, we are not TO forget that
there are distractions and torpedoes, and
that there are rebel rams. We are not to
forget that the rebels have given out hints
that we shall find ourselves confronted by
omething new and unheard Of"