Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-23
Hsw the Tron-CIads Behaved Before

HoW the Iron-Ciads Behaved Before
Charleston
From 8 letter Of a correspondent who
accompanied eur iron-clad feet to Charles
ton, written at Port Royal, South Carroll
na, April 10, we make the following ez-
tracts:
"There is no doubt but that the MOni-
tors have proved their invulnerability
and their ability to pass fortifcations Of
powerful armament, and if it we're possi-
Bile for them to have engaged Sumter alone
they would have reduced it in half an
hour. But, on the contrary, they were
obliged, while attacking Sumter, TO re-
ceive the cross-fire Of two hundred and tf-
ty guns, and CALLING and the severest IRE
of all, that of Moultrie. 1t is estimated
that between three and four thousand shots
were fired by the enemy during the time
that the engagement lasted. No sooner
did the rebels see the shutter Of an iron
clad open than it was the signal for them
to direct broadside directly at it. During
one Of the vOlleys a steel-pointed shot
struck within two inches of the fifteen
inch port-hole Of the Montauk. Men Of
undoubted bravery and experience, who
have been under the seyerest fires, say
that nothing could equal the wickedness
of those rebel broadsides. Fragments of
bursting shell fell through the turret graf
ing Of the Monitors; bolts and nuts we're
driven with fearful velocity from their
positions by the force Of the rebel shot
against the sides Of the turrets; the spray
and mist raised by the shot falling around
them obstructed the view from the Moni-
tors, so that at times it was impossible to
see even Sumter only five hundred yards
from them; the conclusion of the big guns
was fearful, and the roar Of the rebel ar
tillery deafening the channel was mar
row, and required the utmost caution and
skill of the pilots beyond the fort were
distractions lacking nothing which inge-
nuity could devise or labor execute; yet,
notwithstanding all this, the Monitors for
three hours fired as often as possible at
Sumter, and damaged, without doubt, its
eastern angle At evening they withdrew
from the unequal conflict, and could have
renewed it the next morning, but prudence
dictated better course, and Admiral Du-
pont, fully appreciating the interests at
stake, and the impossibiliiy of reducing
the enemy's Notifications and clearing the
channel Of distractions with the present
power at his command, did not renew the
contest. A braver man, or one better
adapted for this great work, never trod a
ships deck, and his officers in command Of
various iron n-clads have won regulations
which will make more beautiful the pages
of the history Of this war. None could
have done better under the circumstances,
and while the Northern people may be
disappointed with the present results,
they must at least acknowledge that all
that skill and bravery could do in the
midst Of such dangers and difficulties was
done nobly and well. All hail to the gal
liant little feet and its noble commanders!
When they shall again, strengthened and
reinforced, assault the rebel strongholds,
we shall, as before, see the same bravery,
Ainching at nothing, and the same skill,
rivaling in its movements the subtle arts
Of the enemy"