Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-15
l'HE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.


The war reporter of the Charleston Courier furnishes
to that paper full and graphic account Of The recent
attack upon the forts the material portion OF which
| append;
At three o'clock the slowly moving fleet being within
range Fort Moultrie opened rapidly by battery the
leading Monitor, apparently with effect Three minutes
later and the Barbete battery the East face of Fort
Sumter, commandedby Captain fleming likewise opened
BIZ battery. In two minutes the Passaic reurnt two
shots almost simultaneously Arren minutes after three
O'clock Battery Bee gave tie enemy the contents of Der
Columbads, and Forts Wagner, Beauregard, and the
Battery Cummns Point taking up the warlSe srrar
the engagement became general. The PasSaie though
at distance of from twelve 10 fourteen hundred yards
was struck in the turrct several times and it is said
damaging effect Of procces was distinctly visible,
one shot having torn oil portion Of the iron pla-
ting and left unmstakable rent. After receiving the
fire of the Fort and batteries Tor thirty minutes she
rounded off aud returning in the direction from which
she came moved out Of range. The three other vessels
of the first line came up successfully, were pun
ished in the same Eanner, remained about the same
leagh of time their PREDECESSORS and retired at
" the same point taking but little share in the engage
ment afterwards
The Iousides came up next in order, aud in q man
ner tLat indicated the supreme confidence OF her
mander in his really splendid ship. But lie, too
destined to di appointment. With his tremendous ar
mameIt of fourteen eleven inch guns and two two hun
dred pound rifles he opened vigorously at Cummins'
Point Moultrie Beauregard and Sumter, or twice
firing broaddes; but these GaRed upon him such
terrible storm Of heavy missiles that to avoid certain
destruction he quickly obliged 20 move out Of range
The target presented BY the immense back sides OF the
frieae was no, easily to be mi scd and shot ter
shot left its mark upon her iron face. Three o.
served to enter and those with srcng glasses who OBJ
served the ship dstapcc oil eighteen hundred yards
reported that the plating could be distinctly peel
oil Fort Moultre fred at this vessel entire broad
side, but with what specific effect is not known.
It's evident from the action of the Ironsdes not only
that she was badly damaged but that she expected
perform the lios share III the reduction oil the de-
fences Of the harbor.
As soon as the frgae turned the second line of Moui
tors advanced led by the Keokuka boat which differ
ed from the others in having two turrels. Taking the
track OF the frat ne aud passing under the stern of
the Ironsides she CALAMITY into accn and took
position within nine hundred va d Of Fort Sumter The
latter concentrated fire on The keokuk nj five minutes
past four did also Battery Bee and others Of
works and in forty MINUTES she, too, Withdrew from
action so badly crippled in turrct and ball. that it
not without difficulty she prevented from drifting
ashore. The first shot fired at her from the Fort
from the Brooks rhed gun, and aimed 10y Lieut. Colonel
Joseph 4. Yates. The bolt weighing hundred and
nineteen pounds entered Of the Cmbras in the
turret A second shot, fred By the same hand, struck
immi dately above the i,s making ragged hole and
third fired by the gunner of the piece tcrs portion
OF deeh, The bow, III such manner that leak
have been started then and at that The
prrectl,s aimed at her from every battery soon
finished her short career aud with riddled smoke stack
turret and ragged sides, from which the
steam escaped WITHOUT restraint, the doomed Keokuk
made her way out Of the fight only sink the fol-
loving morning her anchorage The recovery of yai.
Gus articles stained with blood would also indicate sone
loss Of life ON board.
The three Monitors behind the last named followed in
The manner described above each receiving its share Of
attention, and suffering injury, but to what extent will
l. LII. II
lad retired and ceased firing al twenty minutes alter
i've o'clock, the battle having lasted TWO hours and
twenty-five minutes.
The enemy fired eleven and fifteen inch shot and
hell but with great delbcrauon, us it requires from
en- TO fifteen minutes to load the guns. The turrets |
evolve slowlynot oitener than in a quarter Of
IN hour. Probably less than ninety balls were fred by
ne Monitors during the entire engagement and Of these
only about forty struck Fort Sumter The effect on the
walls Of the Fort is not as bad as many officers had pre-
iicted and the damage has been Sd quickly repaired
hat the Fort is stronger than before the battle
1ne fifteen inch shell exploded in the eastern quarters
md two ia the western quarters A third struck and
battered gun carriage, thereby disabling for time
Gu inch CQlumbad; and a fourth knocked bushel or
wo of bricks out Of OF the traveres some of the
fragments of which caused con,usions but only
me person was hit by piece of she'll aud he a nc
ro who took refuge in the Of the Fort The
idc None were killed. The terrible power Of the IF.
Lch shells well illustrated by the explosion Cf
me opposite the quarters Of Colonel Rhett on the out
iie of the walls. The conclusion great as TO
reak nearly every wndow.gass in the apartment.
During the battle an eight-inGh Coumbad on Tie
arapet exploded, throwing the fragments in every c
iiection third OF the qua being precpitated
he wall to the ccks beneath, and another thrown into
he parade ground in the Fortunately was :
urt. Such the admirable discipline of the men, Il
nat not individual left his place. and the simple re-
OFT made to tie officer was-"Missing" slow miss t
Ig?" the reponse. "Its scattered your honor
minute or two afterwards one of the men, meeting G
rotter officer, touched his hat and with Irish grin
tray egbnS Goinb!aa NJ ar eshe shc F5of Sra
leres got loose, and devil pace the size of yer
lumb.nail can find 2" sevenipch rilfd gun was r.
so 6i-mountcd by its recoi but quickly put in posi- IL
on. These the only accidents Of the battle that
,curTed Ii
One of the flags struck by fragments Of the she'll
veral times but in the language of negro in the
or-"Mossa, dey made big hole but dey lebe all de-
airs behine, shulh didn't touch OBJ um." la Fort
oue the second shot Of the enemy cut the flag staff
I'd it is said that while another being prepared, 3
apt Allen Wardlaw seized the color and gGllantly.l
ountng the parapet stood waving it there until it was
placed. Another penetrated the officers quarters
ID ffteennch shell burst over tue magazine. One
two shots went through the Moutrie House. but it |
ems that damage anywhere done during the
ton except slightly in the instances mentioned
F:HINaIL AID UOnMERC l.
TUESDAY, Apsl "a, 1sGs.