The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-30
EVANSVILLE, IND THURSDAY MORNING,

washington, Dut we DO not think 1t DOS
sible that the same fleet authorities will
be trusted with renewal of the attack.
When the fleet acas withdrawn from
Charleston aoe happen to k7sdw ii pas
done under the determination not to re-
tatrn to the attack II qcas anticipated
that majority Of the monitors ,could be
Immediately sent to another field 0 fope-
ratiOns, and, If The order to that effect
aodS not cOuntermanded from WoShiRg-
ton, oar readers may rest assured that
fire or si1 Of then, hare, before tb> pres
ent time, left Port Royal T1,.tfeet au-
Morittes 'oere too anxious te1>get them off
their hands to detain more than t,co Of
them as a means Of protecting the Wa-
bash and Vermont from an attack by
rebel rams, an the quiet harb0r Of Port
ROydL.
We are informed, also, of the arrival
of another monitor, and that the entire
fleet of iron-clads are all in excellent
condition, all their fighting qualities un-
impaired, and that this was the condition
IN which they returned from Charleston.
Surely, these gentlemen would not have
ventured on this damaging assertion had
they have known that the fleet authori-
ties had represented them all in Grip
pied condition, and that the swift witness
of the Tribune, direct from the quarter
deck of the 1ronsides, had dismounted
some of their guns, disabled their tur-
rets, represented their rudders as unser-
viceable, and placed them so completely
hOrS du combat that a renewal of the
conflict would have been suicidal
We also learn by these letters that the
Keokuk had been left on the shore off
Morris Island, the attempt to blow her
up having been abandoned. AS the fleet
passed over the bar they gave her
passing salute of heavy shot, which we
are to understand was intended to further
disable her. This would all be very well
if it were not for the fact that at high
water only about ten inches of her pipe
above the surface, and at low
water the top of her turret was COM
pletely submerged The damage done
by these shots was, therefore, most pro-
badly, no damage at all, and we should
not be surprised, by the next news from
Charleston bar, TO hear that the rebels
protected by their shore batteries and
are making efforts to raise
her, or at least, to secure her guns
Against wooden vessels she would be a
most formidable craft, and her posses
sion by the enterprising rebels of Charles /
ton, with her powerful armament, would /
soon enable them to raise the wooden
blockade.
Had there been the necessary energ or !
practical business qualifications among
the fleet authorities, she would never |
have been lost to US She returned |
from the walls of Sumter at five O clock |
in the evening, while in a sinking con-
dition, and it was not until eight O clock
next morning that any vff--- :, 4
-, hAr Attention was then attract
ed to her by signarof distress, and the |
gallant little steam-tug Daudeiion only |
reached her in time to save her crow
from drowning-some of whom were
con- PEELED to swim for their lives
Throughout the night her pumps were
kept in constant motion, and the first 1
surf from the returning tide in the morn
ing overwhelmed her A powerful steam
lighter, capable of lifting out the guns,
and otherwise tightening her, was within
a few minutes call of the feet-authori-
ties, with score of efficient workmen,
but their assistance was not called until |
the time for their usefulnes had departed |
Fifteen valuable hours had elapsed, and |
the keel of the Keokuk had settled on the |
sand banks of Morris Island Had she
been thus lightened, she could have been
towed to Stono Inlet, only six miles off,
beached, and her leaks stopped in very
brief time, and thus enabled her to reach
the workshops of Port Royal, where she
could have done excellent service, by |
her light draught of water, in protecting
the military and naval property in that
locality.
Throughout the feet, among the
sailors and petty officers, a general dis
prevails They were anxious,
and are still anxious, to prosecute the
attack.
Those who have any knowledge of ma
val affairs, know that these are the only |
critics of the acts of their su-
periors in the srvice When the fleet t
authorities have decided, the superior
officers become silent, and very properly
so, as any other course would be subver-
sive of good disipline; they discuss the
matter quietly among themselves, and /
even whisper their sentiments in the ear
of friend, but to all outside observers
they become quiet supporters of the acts
of their superiors The sailors and petty
officers will, however, have their say,
and it is evident from the above state
ment that they had not changed their
opinions ten days after retiring from the
walls of Sumter