The New York herald., 1863-06-09
AnglO-Rebcl Account OF the BOmbard-
mcnt OF Fort sumter. y.
charleston Apr 10y OF London Herald

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charleston (Apr 10y correspondence OF London Heradl
Dnxxcks or cHARlxsros HARBoR
1he harbor Of Charleston Is bounded BY fats. Its
northern shore swecps from the city towards the In
the form of semicrcle Its southern shore tends 10
encirclDg arms the hsrbor spreads out towards
open sea from OF the fairost cities OF America The
the mainland but is terminated oceanward by saiIi.
vans Island The right shore formed by two islands
lam near ana out sea- MOTIFS % M snnh sn NJ
both Of these separated by inlet OF thousand
Width constitute Ut the leading from the
mounted these keep watch and ward over the
proach to this "cradle Of secession Inside these Scya
and Charybdis about fifteen hundred yards lies Fort
Sumter the three constituting the extreme points Of ri
angle that may be sad in general terms TO be equilae
rail- These constitute the rst line Of defence and
here all require in this letter special reference
be referred the present time with proper
gard to the neutrality which your correspondent feels
bound in good conscience to observe.
The Confederate works Morris and Sulvans Islands
are not plated with iron; they made with earth and
sand Sand bags soda are sometimes employed at the
angles and when used at these places present outlines
clean and sharp. The magazines, in these instances,
By mounds Of earth o ., some Instances
cal island formed by granite chips, the edge or the
channel into Charleston It Ia about sixty feet high The
shape Of the work Is irregularconssng OF gorge to
the rear side fronting the east and constituting the
face and two other Sides looking TO the northeast
cline in thickness from feet eight
feet at the parapet, and made Of bick facing
concrete. The armament consists OF number of
guns In casemaie, and corresponding number bar
by brick traverse. Sumter has no gaois It's base,
washed by the the fort accessible only from the
rear by short and narrow jctty.
MONITORS
Eight Monitors, one iron clad frgate and Whitney bat
ey anchored on the bar Of Charleston harbor the 9Th
Of this month The Ericsson vessels constructed after
fashion with which you already familiar. The
armor plated fgate ronsdes whatever her form under
the load lne consists above that Of rectnear sides
and ends, which slope up at q steep anglo TO fiat
roof or deck Above water and for some distance below
it that ship said to be plated but with what thickness
the sides what the deck your correspondent
unable to state She is considered good boat She
is very large looks like the double roof Of great house.
md carries armament OF Twenty-Five ten eleven and
hftceninch guns The Whitney battery Keokuk conform.
ed general TO the design OF the Monitor She carried
two fixed turrets, and mounted eleven inch and
fifteen inch gum The mailing of her batteries Is under
OF inch In thickness, bolted cylindrical turret.
This urret formed OF Inch iron strips four and half
inches wide set on edge radialy and alternating with
similar edge pieces OF inch pine Ibis armor was backed
with heavy timber.
Early the afternoon Of the 7h OF this month the
iron plated fleet of this city weighed anchor. They
formed In two divsions and advanced in the direction Of
the harbor. atH -lataa
The long roll beat In Fort SUMTER the artierists In
that work rushed 70 their guns Colonel Alfred Rhstt
mental aaS of he Trs. South CarOiina .r.ioryrsEs
palmetto aud crescent OF South Carolina the staIs
their .ns on The ioss q the ssrrsSo ana w.r. IN
luted as tho enemy advanced vi'a an outburst Of the
'' 1ssy rhs ssmor.d ships within the hssSss made made
Tho forts q the land and water shotted their
guns. Their parapess were crowded with soldiers fhs
tors Of all ages and sexes Tho wharves vsrs throngsd
with lockers on, white and black. The sea wa1 was
ovey women Who sssoS sssns ous 70 sea through snsr
oEnestss with an ar Of vvacty and re which present.
Of hs slave tended beauty Of the south 80
me guns ., Sumter are shotted They out for
battle Their sny.Ids are 70 the hands Of the srts
ranged their The officers await orders at
heir posts Colonel Rhest stands like tall statue upon
"the outer wall" Silence reigns In Sumter.
TuEY FIRE ON THE iR0NsDr.
The mailed monsters Of the deep slowly Their
things ON they come, however, and in two divisions
the Ironsdes leading tho advance, the Keckuk lead
vans Island. aud al distance from lis batteries Of
twelve hundred yards they began around
thunder herald storm Of heavy shot which bursts from
the island upon tho side Of tho frga.e with pesng cst
word to ro The S' mo"b:d eHpo.ons u sumter
Sns: instantly % upon The advancing ships and hur ;,o
Ironsides In peilngs loud and shrin.
TIE UNION RxPLy.
The. The f,igni: hal.s A. la di.tAnc: Of about
liyers from seven seven guns m broadside Of fifteen inch
with q heavy crash. Bricks fly from the parapet
and whr from the traverse. she'll smashes marble
n,o in the officers quarters hures through window
nado Of bricks far the The works Morris
Island burs, into the deaiening chorus-on land and
from all the batteries OF the outer circle from all tho
tnrrcts OF the inner circle
Fierce flashed artillery thick and fast peal fol-
lows peal crash succeeds crash upon the brick work
Of the fort The iron bolts ring upon the armor Of the
ships with . clatter loud and sharp. Advancing her
ant warriors and one by one as their turrets wh in
the dance ri Ttans they receive the fire, sometimes
Gle Of batteries The rst division OF the ships
its path under iron storm that rcnds the air with It's
roar and bursts upon their mail n quick succession Of
reports sometimes with the heavy groan OF crushing
sometimes with the sharp cry OF tearing Delivering
Of shot and shell as they pass the works Morris Island
=
Tho Keokuk led into the fight four Monitors; bold
the lronsides she under tornado OF
shot TO a position within about nne hundred yards Of
Fort sumter Hating at that distance she discharged
her ibnch balls from her turrets against the Of
Crushing and ing the bricks on the limo
OF her tremendous re shc failed however 70 mako any
rsdtns .cwsrd her from ali sides inc terrible bolts OF
the defence crashed against her Mt every point while the
very Garth and sea trembed with thor roar.
HER INJURIES
s,SsG s, ''s s, s;, s, K about enc b. nsn,sd and sy
ron Ms ssss gun entered on, o9 s, tuyrs % rosoH an
aperture Of m os pal,ss third shot Is said 70 have
ba-whether from Fort sumter or from the shore Vat
terics, Is not known P~ about ,onty msmes iAs food
time she moved very slowly and after receiving ths
Ore Of the works Norris Island passed out Of range
Inc smoke OF noaIIy tNony ana pounds
hung asy over tho Confederate wosss but was ssill
aside s rapid nsssva by the nery flashes and ihe
thunder claps Of their artillery.
uGF noHuon snroxp prvrroS
Tie MuIfors OF the second division following the cro,s
leader hundcred against tho fort they passed
on and received rcsponss oud and terrible Burstug
glanc ing dropping thsr urrets tho missiles OF tho
defence we're launched AT them With quick of
bursting explosions shot, nrsd with something OF
plunge struck the deck Of of the Monitors Of tho
second division aud entering, len hoe which was i'm.
mediately nlcd with rush OF steam She maintained
poston, however In the circle OF movement de-
hvens wildly from Of her guns, passed through
the terrble ordeal 10 which she had been exposed.
Her si-ter ships followed In her wake, pelted with
tempest u bolts and round shot that broke upon their
iuucs In q comminsled thunder Of ringing blows ard
dcafcnina explosions Delivering their nre against the
works Morris Island the o attacking vessels
out o range The circular movement was not renew.
cd Tho ships retire outdd the harbor their anchor.
ago; and after about two hours and half OF terri
bio storm OF shot and thunder of artillery FORT Sumter
and s supporting batteries settled down suegish