Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-22

another attack will be made. The Admiral
With the iron-clads, is still within the bar, bu
all 10 rumor. r.Tl
Another person who was on board the Kto
kuk, from the time che went Into action unit
sbe sank, gives the following particulars: q p
The vessel, lie known, steamed toward tht
rebel forts last In the line Of battle; bot tht
feet once engaged, the Keokuk, by her superior
speed, and the splendid daring Of her COM
mander (Rhind) ran In toward Fort Sumter
and took the fre Of that fort &c little more thar
half the distance at which the Monitor batter
les had received it Our informant explains
this apparently inexpllcable N oyement, so fai
90 Il was understood on board. Though the
Keokuk was deemed the weakest OF our vessels
and this fact reasonably accounted for the posi-.
tion which was assigned her by the Admiral
stll the officers were restive under the implied
restraint and she impossibility Of going among
the frst into battle, and 10 was determined that
when the opportunity offered the Keokuk should
do her duty. ,t .
IL should be remarked that the officers and
crew, with national pride in the vessel as theii
own, did not share the opinions OF some other
persons that the Keokuk was not frst-casi
battery, and they believed that In the coDflc
into which they were entering they bad an ever
chance with their brethren on the Monitors
Capt. Rhind, with bis crew. were willing to tesl
her, and take the risks. "If she proved invul.
nerable," one OF her officers remarked, "we
were prepared to fght the rebels at the moutbs
of their cannon" The excellent capacities OF
the Keokuk for msneuverlng also entered into
the calculations and confidence of her com
mander, In the hazardous but brilliant de.
sign which he had formed, and which he and
his crew entered on without fear.
The Keokuk moved rapidly; she answered
her helm beautifully, and she steamed into the
fight while her consorts were receiving the
rapid fire of all the forts. As she entered the
range Of the rebel guns the balls fell for shor
time over and around her, but did not touch her
The frat shot which struck his her deck neal
the att turret, but glanced of. A moment after
the turret received heavy ball. which wal
deemed to be little less than 200 pounder.
The high hopes with which the men of the
Keokuk went into the fight were, by the effect
OF this ehot, proved to have been delusive, II
pierced the turret, badly shattering the iron and
wood. work of which Il was constructed. The
shot did not enter, but tumbled back into the
water. Seventeen men were Inside the turrei
B,lt-heads and fragments Of the broken timber
few among them, and Acting Ensign Mcintosh
commanding there, was struck and disabled =
II is not too much to say that there was soml
CONSERVATION al that moment among thos,
men. Mcintosh was removed below; and afte
the turet was struck again part Of the force
was withdrawn from 10 70 the main deck. Th
intelligence which vas shus received by th
crew Of the vulnerability Of the Keokuk wa
Immediately followed by ample and simila
proofs from the forward turret, and the effect Q
the shot on the slopipg sides, which were broke
through In like manner.