Evening star., 1863-04-11
VERY INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF AZ
FAIRS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
ATTACK UPON CHARLESTON.

The accounts we get through rebel papers of
the combat in Charleston harbor are so vague
and contradictory, that they afford no reliable
data as to the condition OF things there. They
saw that our irom-clad fleet entered the harbor
on Monday, and that the attack was commenced
on Tuesday morning by four out of the seven
iron -clads that had crossed the bar. Heavy
firing took place between the fept and the forts,
and we are told the Ironsides was run ashore,
but got of and was carried out of range. At
O'Clock nine Monitors and the Ironsdes (Which
is thus made to reappear on the scene) opened
fire at q distance of three thousand yards. or
nearly two miles! Evidently there is some
mistake in the distance named, or the whole
affair was simply reconnaissance on the part
of the fleet.
From to o'clock we are tol d that the fire
was incessant on both sides, and then gradu-
ally diminished. The fire was principally
concentrated on Sumter. The Ironsides went
out of action at o'clock, apparently disabled.
A dispatch dated on Wednesday at 1 p. m,
reports that there was no apparent disposition
to renew the conflict. Seven iron-clads and
the Iroasides were still inside the bar, and -
wooden vessels were outside. The Keokuk is
reported sunk on the beach of Morris Island.
The keokuk was an experimental boat, a sort
and built after the Whitney plan. Her power
of resisting shot had never been tried. She
may have been disabled. but her sinking,
unless by the explosion under her Of a t1Fpsdo
iand no mention is made by the rebel 4ceount
of these submarine missiles,) is a most unlikely
accident. She is contrived to settle in the
wster when required, and it may be that she
was purposely lowered insteadfo of sunk as the
rebels supposed.
The affair on Tuesday looks like a strong
reconnaissance to find out the position Of the
rebel batteries and try their range. There is
one thing noteworthy. Whatever |. was, a re-
connoissance or an attack, it is evident that the
rebels are not disposed to brag over the result
There is not word of victory or triumph in
tneir dispatches.
The admission that several persons in Sum.
ter have been killed and wounded is suffi cient
to show that the fire Of the lron-c clads has been
effective. 1t will be remembered that during
the whole Of the bombardment Of that fort by
the rebels two years ago, Major Anderson had
not single man killed-so that the fire OF our
vessels in this attack, by the rebels own ad.
mission, must have been much more destruc-
tive than that OF Beauregard's batteries in 1861
The Keokuk, or Whitney's battery. is not
only a turretted vessel, but is also formi
cable ram. She Is smaller than the Erics.
son Monitors, being one hundred and fitty-
nine feet six inches over all, including the
ram, which is five feet long. The hull of the
vessel is constructed OF half-inch rolled iron
She has three keelsons running the whole
length OF the vessel, and two fore and aft bulk
heads leaving on each side space and form
ing an inner skin, which would probably keep
out the water in the event OF the outer skin be-
rNinr hxyc chns Tn. nd
h; TWO bulkheads-one forward aud one aft
which can be- filled with water so az to settle
the vessel down while in action. These can
be filled in fifteen minutes and pumped out in
forty minutes. In using the ram, should the
vessel be wrenched so as to cause leakage, the
compartment alluded TO would preserve the
vessel from sinking. The vessel is submerged
one foot by the appliance of these water tanks.
She was commanded by Commander A. Me-
Rhind, and MOreau Forrest, Lieutenant 1t is
difficult to believe thata vessel so well provided
with the power Of resistance, has really been
1ost-but We shall soon know.
The New Ironsides, reported to have been
disabled IN the Charleston nghr, is an iron clad
irlgate OF 3,ie6 tons, mounting twenty guns of
the heaviest caiibre. She was built at the Phil
adeiphla navy-yard, and launched last fall
Capt. J. b. Hlldreth, of the steamship Fab
kee, which left Newbern Oh the 5th, reports
that the officers OF the fleet were, when he
passed them, assembled on board Admiral Du-
points flagship, where they were apparently in
Gems ultation. This was on saturday, April J.
Capt. Howes noticed that Fort Sumter pre-
sented an unusual appearance. and as near as
be could discern by using his glass, a turret
had been erected OH the top of the fort, in which
there seemed to be one large gun mounted. 1t
is supposed that the armament of this turret
Will be used to discharge plunging shot against
the Monitors when ascending the harbor to-
ward Charleston.
An English officer, who left Charleston on
the 2oth OF March, gives some interesting in
concerning the strength OF that place,
and the opinions entertained by several mill
tary men upon the probable results of the attack
by the Federal feet
he says that IL the estimation OF all those
have been permitted to visit the harbor
and the fOrtifit atoms defending it. the place is
as we'll defended as time and the means en-
joyed by the rebels would allow, but that it is
by no means impregnable.
He also says tnat many OF the implements
OF war to be used by the Rebels having
not yet been introduced in naval warfare to
such an extent az TO make them perfectly re-
liable, it is very difficult 10 speak positively OF
the results 10 be Obtained by these new engines
Of destruction. Submarine batteries and tor
pedoes are quite new invention, which have
not yet been sufficiently tested, and upon the
OF which it is very hard to pronounce
he is Of opinion that If the Monitors under
command OF Commodore Dupont can resist the
fire OF the batteries and Of the forts, and sue
ceed in occupying a position from whence their
bombs and bullets can reach the city, there is
no doubt that Charleston will be reduced to
tShcs WOlst WHICH can happen TO them
IS the obstructions along the river strong enough
TO resist any effort on their part In that case
they would be compelled to fall back and to
resume the position they held before the attack
I'LL some more powerful engine be sent from
the North more capable to clear the river from
all obstacles.
In his estimation the bonn harding OF Charles.
lon is all that the Federals can accomplish
now. He has no idea that, uuproyided .is we
are with transports, we can effect landing on
shore. He believes that if we succeed in re-
ducing Charleston to ashes, the monitors will
Ee compelled afterwards TO leave the harbor
and TO place themselves under the protection
of the forts, the possession OF which will be
invaluable TO the North.
As to an attack of the place by land, such an
would demand more men than we
possess, and an amount Of labor greater than we
have any idea of. The soil around Charleston
is covered with marshes which would require
several miles of corduroy roads to be made
practicable. Besides, it can at any time be
and needs to be exhausted before it
can be crossed by our troops and artillery with
safety.
Especial Correspondence Baltimore Americana
U. 5. STEAMER BiBB, NORTH EDIsTo, S. G.,
March 27.-l was yesterday invited by Capt.
Platt, Of the coast surveying steamer Bibb, who
is In command during the absence of Captain
has been called North by serious
illness In his famiiy-to accompany him on {,
trim new OppratiOnS n ha Month