Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-04-17
ATTACK ON CHARLESTON.


the 9TH inst Il was intended to cross the bar in
the afternoon. but high wind arose which in
duccd Admiral Du Pont to postpone crossing un-
ill the next day Towards evening Che Patapsco
stood in close to the light house inpt 20 protect
the buoys. 1t was expected that She would draw
the fire Of the rebel batteries bui she anchored
inside, and remained unmolcsted all night. In
thcmorning the Admiral issued his order OF battle
The plan Of attack was TO move the iron clad
squadron mp the main ship channel without motto
ing any fire from the Morris Island batteries, steer
straight for Fort Sumter, and engage its north
west face at distance Of GOO TO 500 yards The
general signal to get under way was given. Some
fears were entertained Of grounding when eros
sing the bar, but all the vessels got safely over,
and came to anchor directly opposite the light
house inlet. 1t was deemed necessary to wait the
obb tide in order TO discover more readily the OBJ
structions The fleet was expected to be able to
move 10 the attack at O'Clock IN the afternoon,
but a thick fog had risen, couccaling the shore
lines. the guidance Of which the pilots (among
whom were three colored volunteers, and Robert
SmalD required for safe steering. The Admiral
then reluctantly postponed the attack till the next
day.
During the day. brigade Of General Tcry's
division worked its way mp TO Folly Island, estab-
lished itself close to the beach, and opened COM
munication with the fleet Noportion of the land
force got nearer to the point Of attack. and all
were obliged to play the part Of ear witnesses.
Nothing was done during the remainder OF the
9th instant.
On the morning Of the 7th the fog was still
thick, but by nine o'clock it had cleared away,
and there was no further cause for delay up TO
twelve o'clock, preparations for the attack con-
tnucd. AZ one O'Clock p. m. the pilot of the flag
ship, declared himself ready. The signal to get
under way was made, and at fifteen minutes be-
fore two o'clock the whole lect was in motion,
and at haf-past two O'Clock the batteries ON Nor
ris Island had been passed by the first four Mont
tori without drawing the fire of the enemy. Short
~ before three O'Clock, the Ironsidcs showed dis
OBEDIENCE to the rlddcr, her bow swinging to the
strong ebb tide, threatening to bring her on the
shoals and she was compelled to come TO anchor.
In the meantime the first four Monitors contin-
ued on. The enemy allowed the Wechawkcn to
come within 200 yards of Fort Moultrie, when
two shots across her bows from this fort commenc-
ed the action The lronsidcs got under way a.
gain and approached within 1900 yards Of Fort
Sumter, when once more she became unmanagc-
bic and dropped anchor. The Monitors ahead Of
her reached the conyerging point Of the fire from
Cummings pit, FITS. Sumter Moutrie and batteryB.
A sheet of flame and volumes Of smoke extend
ing from Morris to Suvan's Island, inaugurated
what has been undoubtedly the most terrific can
nonading of the whole war. A perfect torrent Of
shot and she'll poured upon the Monitors wrap
ping them sometimes almost entirely in spouts Of
water. The Monitors continued their way, reply
ing vigorously from their batteries. They
passed the northeast face of Fort Sumter,
but when they came its angle with the north
western face, they made out short distance ahead
three distinct lines of distractions consisting Of
floating logs with torpedoos attached and net work
Of cables, held porpendicularly in the water by
weights The Patapsco got foul OF one, and could
not work her screw for fifteen minutes but
finally got clear. torpedo exploded close to
the bow of the Wechawken without damage.
The vessels all steering through the narrow passa
ges, the lines of distractions could not be reach
ed after several vain attempts. The four vessels
then turned about and steamed down the harbor
all the while sustaining heavy fire and respond
ing vigorously The Patapsco had her two hun
dred pound Parrot disahlcdhy its own recoh early
in the action The turrct OF the passaic wa
bent in and cramped her eleven inch gun, pre-
venting its working. Shortly alterward her tui
ret stopped revolving and she lost all ofiensiy
power. The Ironsides had in the mcautm
vainly struggled to come close to Fort Sumter
The rebel gunncrs seeing her condition plye
her freely with shot and shell. Her position WI
such that she could not bring her broadsides
bear until about ! O'Clock, when she got q
opportunity 20 deliver her fire at Fort Aloultri
This the only offensive demonstration ma,
by her during the action. When Admiral u
Pont found that he could not readily move Il
Ironsides, he sighallod the four Monitors benin
herto pass ahead. In trying to pass. tho Catsld
and Nantucket brushed the lronsides on the pc
and starboard sides, but after awhile the boat ma
aged to get away. They and the Keokuk al
Nahant caye under the concentrated fire Of Il
forts and batteries At about the same time Il
other four Monitors were turning back III,
nevertheless advanced with their guns at woi
brskly, passed the northeast face of Fort Sumte
till their course was impeded by the obstruction
The Catskill and Nantucket and Nahagi recciy,
the united fire Of Forts Sumter and Moultri
The Keokuk had steered a little to the left an
for awhile received the fire OF Fort Sumter, alon
She fred the gun in her forward turrct, but thr,
times when it became disabled her after q,
could not be brought to bear effectively.
After continuing under the united fires for tire
fourths Of an hour all the Monitors and 4
Whitney battery Cor Keokuk) came back in oh
dence to a signal from the flag ship The lronsid
dropped back out Of the range of Fort Sumtc
At five o'clock, the entire fleet was ont of rang
the action ceased. The Ericsson raft known
the Devil was attached to the bow Of the We
hawken, but proved hindrance instead of he'll
The Monster torpedoes, intended to be connect,
with the raft, were not used, as they required d,
icate handling and fears were entertained as
their success. The Devil was lost the day
ter the fight, and washed ashore.
1t was the intention of the Admiral to rem,
the fight the next day, but when the reports
the commanders were received Admiral DuPo
determined to dcsst from IT, continuance.
this decision he was sustained by the unanimo
opinion Of the commanders Of all the iron-clat
No words can convey an idea Of the terrible fin
The Monitors were hit from twenty 10 sxt, tim
each, except the Kookuk. which WAS struck by n