Litchfield enquirer., 1863-04-16
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 THE FIGHr AT CHAHLEsros.-Ths special correspondent of the N. Y. 1fiOsne, gives the following particulars of the recent naval sn- gagcment at Charleston.
 The squadron arrived olr Charleston on tn, morning of the 5th, and spent the day in ex- amining the bars shd channels, tho wind being too high to cross. That evening the Admiral disclosed hi. plan of attack. which was to sail directly up and attack the North Vest face oi Sumter at six or eight hundred yards. About o'clock on Monday morning the signal for movement was given. and the vessels started slowly. In consequence ofa fog however, they were obliged to postpone the intended attack till the next day, During the afternoon one o Gen. Ferry's brigades work.l its way up Folly Island and established communication with the fleet. but no portion of the land forces got into the attack at all. On the 7th at F o'clock. p m, the ieet got under way and passod the Morris Island batteries without being fired up on, pushing right on toward Sumter. The new lronsi'las worked badly, and. in consequences of the current, was obliged to anchor two ol 1 three times. Fort Moultrie opene.l first upon 1 the Weehawken. which was within 500 yards Cummings Point Battery, Fort Sumter, and Battery B immediately opened, and the action became general and terrific. The Monitors still push. on, replying vigorously and passed the northeast face of Sumter, when they dis covered three lines of ohstructions holding tor pedoes, Gc.. enc of which exploded but did nu great damage. Finding it impossible to get across Instructions, they turn d about and steamed down the harbor. Tho Patapscot'a ] 200-pounder had beconle disabled, aAd the tur rat of the Passaic so bent that the vessel was practically ont of use. Other boats alse sse.l up to the northeast face of Sumter till they al so were stopped by obstructions, and they also turned back. After being under fire f.r three quarters of all hour, all the Monitors were or dered back. and at five o'clock the entire fleet was out of range and the action ceased. Ad' miral Dupont intended to renew the attack next day, but upon ascertaining that the Keo kuk and Passaic were entirely disabled, and three others partially So, he concluded to desist in which conclusion he was sustained by all the Commanders. The Monitors were hit from 50 to 60 times each. except the Keokuk which re- ceived about 90 shots and was penetrated at | the water mark no less than nineteen times | She was kept afoat till next morning when she
 
 board saved. The Ironsides was hit about six ty times but not damaged. There are eleven large holes in the side of Fort Sumter appar ently running through the walls. The entire l firing only amounted to l50 rounds. When our correspondent left, two of the Monitors sailed for Port Royal and the others were to follow. Our entire casulties amounted to l3 of whom but two or three are killed. These are the main facts in the case Charleston has not been taken, nor has any very serious i'm. pression been made upon the Rebel defenses On our side, considering the enormous dispari. 1 ty of guns-at least ten for the Rebels to one for us-the action has been the most gallant l and credtable. It seems that the fleet was to 1 go back to Fort Royal to repair damages but private dispatch from passenger on the Mary Sanford, which boat passed through the 1 fleet on Thursday. says that when about 25 miles away heavy firing was heard, from what cause was unknown. .-. TIE NEXT CoNonEss.-The spring elections in New England have settled the political char. actar of the next House of Representatives in l Congress. There will be in the House S5 Re ] publicans and "A Democrats. Elections are yet to be held in Vermont, Western Virginia California and Missouri, (where there is one vacancy to be filled) which will add eight o, ten to the Republican majority. The Repub' licaDs also have the Senate by large majority so that Congress will be loyal for ,he rsmain- der of President Lincon's term of office, and the plans of the Government will not be em- barrassed by want of means to carry them out We have advices from Newborn, \. C., to the 9th inst. by the arrival at New York ol the steamer Dudley Buck. Gen Foster tt that time had not been rciufareed. and fears were entertai ed that he would have to surren der fer want of proyisi 'ns. The expedition by way of Tar River having failed to reach him on the 5th force af 5000 m'n left Newbs,r to attempt to sch Little Washington by land. It met superior foroe of rebels, how ever, and was forced to turn back 4 dis patch has been received in Buaton, dated a Newborn, 9th, which appears to give later in telligence. It states that rccnnnoiterin. cavalry force went out from New bern on tn, 7th, encountered a strong force of rebel pick cts and drove them distance of five miles The next day, the sth. large force went ovel the Mouse to make another attempt to rein force Gen. Fostor overland. It was expected there would be some hard fighting. The re bsls were reported in heavy force.
 By the arrival at Now York of the steam ship Roanoke. we receive advices from New Orleans to the 5th inst. The news is not spe cially important, excepting as deyelopin, movements which are expected to result in . speedy collision with the enemy at one or two points. Our forces occupying Pontchatoula across the lake, have destroyed all the railroad bridges, and at last accounts were at Pas, Manchac. A reconnaissance had been pushed into the Amite country by Brig. Gen. Kicker son, which met and defeated a small force ot rebel cavalry-kllling ten and vounding seven. teen, and taking five prisoners. Our loss was four wounded. Gen Weitzel, at Brasher City had been reinforced by Growers brigade, and .,cu <cFb Fb< ala, t.v 1o.~o rorrno ,,rI~r