New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-14


shall have isolated it, and necessitated the evacua
ton or surrender of its defenses.
For this latter purpose the main body of the troops
has now been landed on Coles Island, occupied q
already stated, for some time by regiments, with
view to working their way across it TO Folly Island
as close to Morris Island practicable. safe an
chorage for the navy nearer than Port Royal being
desirable Edisto Island was taken possession of last
week by tho brigade of Gen. Stephenson, and the
control of the harbor it commands secured.
1t would not be difficult 10 demonstrate that this
whole movement against Charleston cannot stand the
test of sound Strategy that likely TO be success
full without much larger land force than that at the
command of Gen. Hunter But as it is positively
determined upon, and about being made in accord
ance with the wishes of the Government and the
people rather than with the judgment of those in-
trusted with it's execution comments Of this kind had
better be deferred until its prudence be measured
by its results. One condition of success is certainly
fulfilled: the heads Of the two branches are on the
utmost efforts to accomplish the desired end resolved
and TO make the best possible use Of the ships men
and material under their control.
| IL is true, one Of the old maxims Of naval war
fare is, that enc gun on shore is equal to entire
ships battery. Still there is reason to sup
pose that the armament Of the iron-cads, although
comparatively not very numerous, 10 so powerful
in point Of caber as to be adequate to the task
before it. The only fear of naval men is, that
distinctions will prevent the vessels from reaching
the proper position for an effective bombardment.
II they can bat bring the seven fifteen inch, and
twenty-five eleven inch gums and three riAed two
hundred Founders, and throwing combinedly nearly
six tuns of ron to bear at close range, the result
cannot be doubtful
And now will resume my narrative. At 7 o'clock
the Bib, which was to take the lead, was under
way, and soon afterward the whole feet was in
motion.
A magnificent spectacle spread out before US after
we had crossed the bar and gained the open sea.
The sun shOne brightly, defining plainly every object
upon tue vast expanse of water. Slight undulations
ony disturbed the blue deep in its rest from the not
of yesterday. In way rose the huge form of the
Ericsson and tho horizon was lined with transports,
black with troops, and headed in northwestern d.
rection, The proud squadron steamed in grand and
grim procession. What would old mariners from
foreign waters think of the strange floating medley
of swift, well-proportioned steamers and sails, and
the slow, besmeared, ugly ron-clad monsters There
came first the Bib, next the Locust Point, and
Keokuk, then the Memphis, and Nabant the flag
ship, and the Fambeau, the South Carolina and
Patapsco, the tug Dandeline and the Montauk, the
Augusta, and Catskill, and Passaic.
When about two miles out, the gunboats Locust
point and Dandelion stopped and took the iron-cads
10 tow. The Weehswken dropped her raft, which
was again taken up by the Ericsson. The
Memphis, in standing 10 the southwark, to
wait for its charge, ran foul Of the bow of
the Keokuk, and although ii seemed bu. just touch
the latter, was 80 seriously injured tina! she had ct
once to be sent to Port Royal for repairs
Excepting this mishap, we made our destination
in safety. After two hours steaming, we came up
with the blocksders, and in full sight Of Fort Sum-
ter. The fagship had preceded u.s. and already as
surned a station near the New Ironsdes, whose
sive, graeeless, barren hull with its tier of huge
guns looked at distance strikingly like great
swimming castle. ...,.
As the different vessels approached, they took
position in range with the flagship, and soon formed
line stretching far to the southwark and northwaId
about two miles from the bar. The last of the iron
clads had just been brought up, when rapidly sue
ceedng reports Of heavy guns from the barbor, told
us that the advent Of the fleet had been noticed and
the alarm sounded by the enemy.
The feet being assembled, the next move was TO
buoy the channel TO the bar This duty was performed
by the Bib and the buoy schooner Admiral Dupont
and the Keokuk. The range TO the bar was marked
out by the former two by noon. Early in the after
noon Mr.. Plat of the Bib went ON board the keo-
kuk and under his guidance she calamity steered for
the bar. AZ she neared the shore the whole fleet
watched eagerly her course. The battery supposed
TO cover Folly inlet was every moment expected to
open upon her. Bnt the buoys were rolled of
from the deck over her slsntng sides at the proper
points, without molestation from the enemy. The
buoys being placed she steamed over to Swash
Channel, after sounding which for several hours,
Capt. RLind brought her back to within short dis
lance from the Bibb.
The way over the bar WIS now opened and the
hsrbor essble to all OF the ron-clAds ut the next
flood tide. About p. III. stiff breeze rose sud-
denly and speedily produced such commotion OF
the sea MS drive the crews of tho Monitors from
the decks, upon which they had been baskng in the
sun. The sky remained clear, but the wind gained
in force With the provoking, all but uninterrupted,
unpropitousness of the weather during the last two
weeks before our eyes, We are almost inclined to
believe that Providence frOwns upon our cause.
At sunset the Patapsco got in motion, made d.
recty for the bar and crossed it, and took picket
station, as it were, inside. from which to prevent
the removal of the buoys by the Rebels during the
night Her bold movement drew out no more OF an
opposing demonstration from the enemy than that OF
the Keokuk.
As coon as the Patapsco commenced moving the
Catsk and Passaic also got under way standing Tor