Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-04-24
EROM CHARLESrOM

A letter IN the Baltimore American, dated
of Charleston bar 10th instant says it is now
understood that the entire iron-clad fleet will
be sent to the Mississippi
1t also says that the use of one Of the Erics-
son torpedo RATS and'shells would have swept
away 100 feet Of the rebel distractions and
the city been at our mercy; also that some Of
the commanders of the iron-clads says that the
walls Of Fort Sumpter were crushed, and ex-
press the opinion that in three hours more the
would have been compelled to surrender.-
Several testified that their immense shot had
entered the embrasures of the Fort and the
walls were in a most shattesed condition.
Others approved the decision of the Admiral.
A detachment Of troops were left on Folly
Island to cooperate with the feet in Stono
Inlet, and prevent the construction OF the new
rebel batteries. A similar force was left in
Edis.o Inlet for like purpose.
The turrets and huls of the Monitors are
unscathed In no instance is the armor per-
forated. The sum total of the injuries is the
simple riddling of the smoke stacks. The
feet, with this exception, is ready for active
service.
A letter from John Ericsson, published,
says the imperfections ofthe Monitors are not
of serious character What has happened
will be readily obViated for the future. Ev-
erythng connected with our new fighting
machines worked precisely as intended, not a
single change of plan being called for. The
pilot house proving of insufficient thickness
was not an unforeseen circumstance. The lin
tied experience we have had in actual conflict
indicated that eight inches Of thickness of the
iron would be sufficient, but it was by no
means assumed to be a settled point, hence
such construction was adopted that without
removing the structure or changing its inte-
rior arrangement any number of additional
plates might be attached to the exterior and
its thickness increased to any extent; as with
regard to the turret it is constructed of an
interior skeleton cylinder, composed of plates
firmly riyeted together, to which any number
OF plates may be bolted
IL is by no means yet established that our
turrets require increased thickness, excepting
possibly at the base. The public will do well
not to be alarmed by remarks ofinex perienced
observers, who are startled TO see indenta-
tions produced by the enemy's projeotles.--
We apply armor to keep out hostile shot, not
to prevent scars and indentations
SO far we have fully succeeded. II will be
proper to observe that the supposed imperfect
steering qualities are utterly groundloss. No
class Of vessels in the navy obey their helm
so readily as the monitors. The large equi-
poise rudder employed is acted upon by a
powerful current from the propeller with such
force as to change the course Of the vessel
with the slightest motion of the helm
In strong currents and shallow water, as
in Charleston harbor no vessel can be readi-
ly manTuvered.
Rebel kilograms from Charleston Of the
18th, say "all is quiet few blockaders
and the frgate lronsides are of the bar
They are the only vessels in sight.
A Fortress Monroe letter OF the 10th in
the Herald states that from deserteIs It is
ascertaiued that Longstr' ct in person com
nands the rebels near Suffolk Also, that
the greatest portion of the rebel army is
withdraw from the Rapphannock and arc
concentrating in eastern Virginia, and North
/ Carolina.
Reliable evidence il at hand that the enc
my seems to be rapidly reinforcing their eol-
umns on the opposite bank OF the RapPahaa'
! mock