Daily national Republican., 1863-04-13
rnn ArrAok UroN oaAnhEsFos.
THE KEoKUK mDDLED AND DEsrSoyED
A ouartsrmastsr aud STA btsh kinsd ON
the Nsntuohet.

wA
Participants in the battle OF Sumter, who
have arrived at Baltimore, furnish tho follow
ing particulars of tho engagonenti
RENDEZVOUS OF THE FLEET.
The ncct amer leaving Hilton Head, rondez.
voused in tho mouth Of Edisto. Several days
were occupied in gathering the vessels there,
making the final preparations, issuing orders,
aud otherwise arranging for the great combat.
These were finally completed, and the feet left
In detachments, and assembled of Charleston
on Sunday, the 9TH.
SURVEY OF THE HARBoR.
The iron-clad hoet crossed tho bar and en-
tered Charleston harbor on the 9th, Monday
last. The Keokuk, drawing less water than
any Of the others, was sent In FIRST TO find the
channel and replace the buoys. Pro-
oeedlng up the main ship channel tho Keokuk
found an easy and unobstructed entrance, with
full eighteen feet Of water In the shallowest
places. This is more water than has ever been
before found on Charleston bar. The work OF
placing the buoys was accomplished without
difficulty. The rebels offered no opposition,
having apparently removed all thoir batteries
on Morris Island between the Lighthouse aud
Cumming Point. Having finished her al
lotted work the Keokuk returned to the feet
outside and reported progress.
ENTRANCE OF THE FLEET INTO the HARBoR.
| On the morning OF tue boNenLn tno Oruer was
given TO the iron-clad feet to enter the harbOT.
The orders were 10 proceed in single file, OF, In
| naval parlance, "llne ahead" The Weehaw-
ken was the leading vessel, having In front of
her a scow, and then between the scow and
herself EriCsson's torpedo exploder, or "dovil,"
as 1t has been called. The Ironsidos, with Ad-
miral Dupont on board, was tho firth In the
line; the Keokuk the last. In this order the
bar was passed in safety and without detention.
| The orders given TO the various vessels were to
/ keep on straight up the harbor until they came
within ono thousand yards Of the forts, and
then to attack, devoting their efforts princl
pRlly against Fort Sumter.
| In this action the feet moved steadily and
calamity up toward Forts Sumter and Moul-
trio, the rebels Withholding their fire until they
got well up into the harbor. The Ironsldes
stopped of Fort Moultrie, and let 20 her
anchor, 1t being dangerous to take her farther
up on account Of her drawing over hflcon feet
OF water. At this moment there seemed TO be
a temporary Misunderstanding, and all the
iron-clads except the Weehawken and Keolxuk
gathered about the Ironsides apparently sup
posing that she was grounded and needed as
sistance. The Admiral, however, soon sig
nailed the other vessels TO disregard his move
ments and 90 into action.
THE KEoKUK UNDER THE CONCENTRATED FIRE
: or Five HUNDRED GUNS.
The Keokuk had kept onward until she led
the line and had advanced to within four hun
dred yards Of Fort Sumter, against whose
granite walls she hurled her heavy shot with
all the rapldlty that tho energy Of the brave
crew could furnish. The rebels, as was ex-
pected, Immediately concentrated their FIRE on
the keokuk, which assumed the lead in the at
tack. From Forts Sumter and Moultrie from
batteries Bee and Beauregard, on Cummlngs'
Point, and from a fort erected on the Middle
Ground, the fire Of four or five hundred guns
were concentrated in terrible hail upon the de-
voted vessel. Such fire has perhaps never in
the history Of the world been equalled II was
met by the officers OF the Keokuk with heroic
fortitude, while the balls were striking her at
the rate Of one every second, her guns were
worked with yigor and precision, and their high
! weight and force were already making their
mark upon the walls of Fort Sumter.
1t soon, however, became apparent that the
Keokuk had none OF the impregnabllity Of the
Ericsson's Monitors that In fact as an iron clad
she was a failure. The rebel balls seemed to
, penetrate her as easily as those Of a wooden
vessel. The portfolios, or shutters of her iur-
ret, became Jammed and her guns practically
5 unservlceablo. During the thirty minutes she
remained under this concentrated fire one hun
n dred shot struck her, ninety Of which were
water line shots, or such as would cause her to
leak in a soaway. In fact she was perfectly
riddled. The flag was shot into tatters, and
the whole Of her sides battered, bruised, or
pierced. Perceiving the severe punishment
! she had received, the Admiral slgnalled 10 her
to retire out Of action and anchor beyond range.
This was safely accomplished.
: CONTINUATION OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
In the meantime the Monitors Nahant and
Catskill moved up TO the support of the KeO-
kuk and engaged Fort Sumter. The Ironsldes
and the other vessels, at longer distance, Nerl
directing their attention between Moull aud
Sumter. Into and on the latter fort Ngery
F., heavy hpe was thus poured, and II IL believed
not without effect. The engagement was kept
up from one until four O'Clock, when, In obe-
dience TO the Admiral's signal, tho feet retired
8 slowly, receiving aud returning the rebel fire
5 until they anchored within the bar, but out OF
range.
r THE FORCE OF OUR moN-CLAD FLEET.
' The following Is brief statement of the &C,
tual force Of officers, men, and guns engaged
, in the attack on Charleston. The iron-ciadI
are all Ericsson Monitors, save the new Iron.
Q sides and the Keokuk.
Z Officers and
Tons. Guns. Men.
Ironsides. ......:.. 3,49G 1s $50