Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-04-13

then between the scow and herself Ericsson's
torpedo exploder or 'devil," as it has been
called. The Ironsides, with admiral Dupont
on'board was the fifth in line, and the Keokuk
the last. In this order the bar was passed in
safety without detention. The order given to
the commanders of the various vessels was
to keep on straight up the harbor until they
came within 1000 yards of the forts and then
to attack directing their efforts principally
againat fort Sumter
In this order the fleet moved on steadily
and CALAMITY up towards forts Sumter and
Moultrie, the rebels Withholding their fire un-
til they were up into the harbor. The Ironsides
stopped off fort Moultrie and let go her an
Choir, it being dangerous to take her further
up on account of her drawing over 10 feet.
At this moment there seemed to be a tempo.
rary misunderstanding, and all the iron clads
except the Weehawken and Keokuk gathered
about the lronsides, apparently Supposing
that she had grounded and needed assistance.
They were, however, soon signaled TO go into
action.
The Keokuk had kept inward until she led
the line, and had advanced to within four
hundred yards of fort Sumter, against whose
granite walls she hurled her heavy shot with
all the rapidity that the energy of her brave
crew could furnish. The rebels, as was ex-
pected, Immediately concentrated their fire
on the Keokuk, which assumed to lead in the
! attack. From Sumter, Moultrie, batteries
Beauregard on Cummings Point and from a
fort erected on Middle Ground, the fire of
four or five hundred guns were concentrated
in terrible hail upon the devoted vessel.
Such fire had never perhaps in the history
of the world been equalled. 1t was met by
the officers nf the X pplxuk with baroio mi
tude, while the shot were striking her at the
rate Of one every second. Her guns were
worked with vigor and precision, and their
| weight and force were making their mark on
| the walls of Sumter. 1t soon however became
! apparent that she had none of the impregna-
! blhty OF the Ericsson monitors that in fact
as an iron-clad she was failure. The rebel
| shot seemed to penetrate her as easily as if a
wooden vessel. The portfolios or shutters of
her. turrets became iammed, and her guns
| practically unsericeable
| During the thirty minutes she remained
| under this concentrated fire, one hundred shot
struck her, ninety of which were water-line
/ shots, or such as would cause her to leak in
seaway. In fact, she was perfectly riddIed;
her flag was shot into tatters, and the whole
Of her sides battered, bruised, and pierced.
Perceiving the severe injuries she had re-
of action and anchor beyond range. This was
safely accomplished.
In the meantime the Monitors Nahant and
| Catskill had moved up to support the Keo-
kuk, and engaged fort Sumter. The Iron
sides and other vessels at longer range were
dividing their attention between Moultrie and
Sumter. Into and on the latter fort a heavy
fire was thus poured, and, it is believed, not
without effect. The engagement was kept
up from one until four o'clock, when the fleet
| retired and anchored out of range within the
bar.
The Weehawken was assigned the impor-
| tant duty, which was faithfully performed in
| the midst of the fight, to examine, and if pos
sible to fire the Instructions which the rebels
have extended across the harbor from fort
Sumter to Moultrie. Protected by the scow,
and the ''Deyil' in front of her, she pushed
straight up towards the distractions They
were found to consist of network of chnns
and cables stretched across the harbor, over
which it was impossible for the Weehawken
to run without fouling her propeller, and
which she found it impossible to force.
10 this net work the rebels are supposed to
have suspended torpedoes and other sub-ma-
rine explosives. Having completed the ex
animation and tested the impossibility of
working up the harbor until means are devils
ed for the removal of these distractions, the
Weehawken returned.
1t Is believed that the damage done to fort
Sumter by our fire was serious. SO far as it
showed externally it consisted in two en-
brasures being knocked into one and numer-
GUS lndentations in the wall which it is be-
lieved a few hours more pounding would
convert into a serious breach. What damage
or loss of life was sustained in the fort is not
known, but it is believed to have been con-