Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-04-14

pSsaic, Capt Drayten; the Moni4uk, Capt.
Mordtn the Patapsc5. Capt. Ammen the Iron
sides the fagsLip-C Commander Turner, with
Admiral Dupont and his stan on board Next
iolloSrd the Caiskill, Capt George Rodgers
Nantucket, Capt. FairfVx; Nahant. Cart.
Dowus; keokuk. Capt. Rhind.
| Ia this order they proceeded M the main
chanuei, arriving within l 100 yards NJ the main
tcits The lronsides became unmnnage
nwiug TO the tide aud the nRrrowuess Of the
chinnel, and sis was. therefore, ged to drop
Huchor to prevent dritine ashore. Owing TO
these circumstances, she signaliel her consotts
10 disregard her motions,
The remainder Of the squadron continued on
lis foufse, and soon came within range Of the
rebel fire from all points, The obstruction IN
The caanuel from Sumpter to Fort hloultrie inter
Tered With the progress Of cur ships In con-
ssquencc Of this ard the position Of the Iron
tldts asahoye stated, the plan Of operations for
tle battle was deranged. aud space for named.
V,rine being only from 600 to 1000 yards the
vessels were obliged to prepare aud ut once Gu
gagged the forts ami the djacent batteries
The signal had been made for action at half
past three o'clock in the afternoon by the Iron
-iivs, but the rebels had previously opened fire
upon the leading vessels. The contest is repre-
secuted AS in the highest degree exciting, present.
ing fearful scene Of fire belching from all points
on the wafer aud the land II continuous roar Of
cannin,
lu the course Of thirty minutes the keokuk
WAS in a sinking con iition, and was obliged to
Withdraw from the fire. and seek an anchorage
below the range OF the enemys fire. A few
minutes nfterWard all tue vessels Withdrew, on
! AiIlal from the iag-ship, it being deemed in
practicable TO continne further hostiites
/ The keokuk was within five hundred or six hun
Z died yards Of Sumpter, and was completely
rlllei. being struck from all the batteries with
/ in range ut least ninety times in thirty minutes.
! The shot was from rhed cannon of the heaviest
caibre Captain Rhind, her commander. re-.
ceived a confusion on the leg, from flying irag.
inent Of bis vessel which any slightly amed
hun Twelve ui the men were wounded. together
with Acting Ensign Macintosh, who had
charge Of one Of the guns. The injuries are sup.
posed to be fatal.
The next morning finding it impossible 10 save
tie vessel, Captain Rhind called tug, which
took a his men on board. A few minutes there
after the keokuk sunk. The persons Belonging
10 the ship lost all their personal effects
On Wednesday the squadron remained Of
aachur in The main ship channel It is said the
men III nur fleet only number red about 900, with
~ guns. while the enemy, it is supposed, Ind al
least @0n guns, tho best the world.
The injury 10 the vessels, excluding the Keo-
hhht hic represented TO Ne NI hNcn q character n
will require hut short time 10 repair. Th,
casualties among our men were remarkably few
ineluling killed, and . wounded, on tho Ma
hant
The advantage of our feet being 10 possession
OF ihe main channel narrows the circuit Of tn,
hlochnde two-thirds Of tue former distance
None OF the batteries fired upon our vessels unit
The latter reached the vicinity of the mali
forts
The quartermns,er and six men on tho Nan
tncktt were killed
/ Arrangements were being made to blow ~
the heokuk
As regards future movements the reports ar
conflicting. 1t was positively stated by one o
pilots who boarded us, that the Monitors youl,
withltaw over the bar, and that further actio
for the rresen; would he suspended This wa
sub'tluently corruborated by IL reporter of on
Of the New York papers
An officer from the Jlmes Adgor. who preyl
ousy honrled W. stated that the eprapemeu
would he renewed about o'clock =. Nj. An,
: nddcd that the Admiral expressed his belief q
thcir success, The emanuel nhoye the fort wa
oh1ruclcl Ma tprpcdoea were reported I
have been exploded
. We lett the fleet At noon, aud when nbou
twenty-five miles north We hearl heavy hfin.
The weather was exceedingly pleasant and ii
sea smooth.