The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-14
LATE N E WIS.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-The steamer
Flambeau arrived here this p. NJ, with
dispatches from Admiral Dupont to the
Government. The reports from the sew.
eral commanders bad not been received
up TO the time Of the departure of the
Flambeau, Wednesday night, from other
than official sources. IL is ascertained
that the vessels composing the fleet ad-
vanced upon Charleston on the 9TH in the
following order:
The WeehAuken, Captain Rodgers, Pas
sale, Capt. Drayton, Montauk, Capt. Wor-
den, Patapsco, Capt. Ammen, lronsides ;
the flag. ship Commodore Turner, with
Admiral Dupont and bis staff 90 board
next followed the Catskill, Capt. George
Rodgers, Nantucket, Captain Fairfax,
Nahant, Capt. Dawns, and KeOkuk, Capt.
Rhind, in this order proceed up The main
channel, arriving within seventeen hun
dred yards of the main forts. The Iron
sides became manageable owing 10 the
tide and the narrowness of the channel,
and was, therefore obliged to drop anchor
TO prevent drifting ashore Owing t.
these circumstances, she signslled her
consorts TO disregard her motions: The
remainder of the squadron continued on
it's course and soon came within easy
range Of the rebel fire.
From all poiuis the obstruction Of the
channel from Fort Sumter 10 Muultrie
interiered with the progress of Que ships.
Ia consequence of this and the position
Of The lronsides, as above stated, the
| plan of operations was damag. d, aud
the space for maneuvering only from $40
to 1000 yards, the vessels were Obliged
to prepare at once to engage the forts and
the adjacent batteries. The signal had
been made for action at half-past one
o'clock in The afternoon by the lronsides,
but the rebels bad previously opened fire
/ on the leading vessels.
The contest is represented as in the
highest degree exciting, presenting a
fearful scene of fire belching from all
points Oh the land and sea, aud a con-
~tinuOus roar of cannon.
In the course of thirty or forty min
utes the Keokuk vas in a sinking con
dition and was obliged to withdraw from
the Gre and seek an anchorage below
range Of the enemy's guns. A few mo-
ments afterwards all the vessels with
drew from q signal FROM the flagship,
it being deemed impraclicable 10 cou'
tinue any further hostilities. The keO-
kuk was within five or six hundred
yards of Sumter, and was completely
riddled, being struck from all the battle
fies within range at least thirty times in
thirty minutes. ,r
NEw YoRK, April ~ -Midnight.-
The following dispatch has been %receiv-
ed from a gentleman on board the steam
err Mary Sanford:
RICHMOND CITY, n. O., April 10, via
FORTRESS MONROE, April l2-We passed
through the the feet off Charleston on
Thursday, the 9th INST, at 10 A. NJ. The
weather is clear and pleasant. TIE
Monitors were ranged along the beach
off Cummings Point, all in good order.
We were boarded by one Of the pilots of
the expedition, who stated that the Iron
sides and seven Of the Monitors attacked
Sumter on Tuesday, the 9TH, and passed
some distance above the fort, receiving
some 200 shots. A pointed shot Of Eng
lish manufacture penetrated the iron
clad Whitney keOkuk, and she sunk IL
hours after on the beach. The other IRON
clads passed through the shower of shot
aud shell uninjured, or with tTihing
damage. The casualties reported were
very few. Capt. Rhind, of the Keokuk.
was slightly injured by ball. The sec.
ond mate and 6 men on board the Nan.
tucket were killed.
As regards the future movements re-
ports are conflicting. 1t was positively
stated by one Of the pilots who boarded
us that the Monitors would withdraw
over the bar, and that further action for
the present would be suspended. Thi.
' was Subsequently corrObOrated by a re.
porter for a New York paper.
An officer from the James Adger, whC
was previously boarded, stated that IN,
engagement would be renewed al / -.
clock, r. NJ, aud added that tie Admir-
expressed his belief Of success. n,
torpedoes arc reported TO have exploded
1 foRTREss MoNRoE, April l2.-.Th,
steamer Spaulding arrived to-day from
Morehead City yesterday.
No communication has been rseeiv, {
: at New bern from Gen. Foster since We'd.
!. nesday, the 9th inst.
|, The women and children are ~leayinj
Newbern.
' Sever. thousand troops in atiemptiuI
" to reach Washington from Newborn Wsr
driven back eight miles on Wednesday
with the lo,s OF about hty men.
The last accouais from Gen. Foste
state that tho rebels had sent in thre
flags OF truce Tor bin 10 surrender Wash
4 ing,ou. Fosters reply 10 the asst was I
O. send 10 more Il gsiI # they did he wouI
capture them, andif they wanted VAST
ington to come and take it.