The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-04-18
Trr poMRARDxENr OF CHARLESTON.

rHR COMPARTMENT OF CHARLESTON.
The New York 7ribune's account Of the
Charleston fight says:
The squadron arrived off Charleston ou
the morning of the 5tb, and spent the day
examining the bars and channels, the wind
being two high to cross. That evening the
Admiral discussed his plan of attack, which
was to sail directly up and attack the north
west face of Fort Sumter at six or eight
hundred yards. About o'clock Monday
morning, the signal for the movement was
given, and the vessels started slowly in
consequence of the fog. However, they
were obliged to postpone the intended at.
tack until the next day.
During the afternoon, one of General
Terry's brigades worked its way up slowly
inland and established communication with
the feet, but no portion of the forces got
into the attack at all.
On the 7th, AIS ?. m, the feet got
under way and passed Morris Island battery
without being fred upon, pushing right on
toward Sumter. The new Ironsides worked
badly, and in consequence Of the current
was obliged to anchor two or three times.
Fort Moultrie opened FIRST on the Wee
hawken, which was within five hundred
yards. Battery Bee Immediately opened,
aud the action became general and terrific.
The Monitors still pushed on, replying Wig
orously, and passed the northeast face of
Sumter, when they discovered three lines
of distractions, they turned about and
steamed down the harbor. The Patapsco's s
200. FOUNDER had become disabled. and the
turret of the Passaic so bent, that the ves-
sells were practically out of use. The other
boats also passed up to the northeast face
of Sumter, until they also were arrested by
obstructions and turned back, after being
under fire three-quarters Of an hour. All
the Monitors we're ordered back, and at
FIVE o'clock the entire feet was out Of range
and the action ceased.
Admiral Dupont intended to renew the
attack the next day, but on ascertaining the
Keokuk and Passaic were entirely disabled
and three others partially so, he concluded
the commanders.
The Monitors were hit from fifty to sixty
times each, except the Keokuk, which re.
ceiyed about ninety shots, and was pene-
trated at the water mark no less than nine.
teen times. She was kept aaoat until the
next morning, when she sunk on the bar,
her colors still flying There arc eleven
large holes in the side Of Sumter, apparently
running through the walls. The entire
firing only amounted to one hundred and
fifty rounds. Our entire casualties amount
ed to thirteen, of whom two or three were
killed.
The Times correspondent says: The iron
ships were exposed to conccntric fire from
five different points, unparalleled in the his
tory of warfare. The feet found it impos-
sible to pass up beyond Sumter and assume
the appointed place, owing to distractions
which extended across the entire channel,
from Sumter to Moultlie, while above these
near the middle ground, were three other
rows Of piles, and above these three rebel
iron.clads. The feet was thus compelled
to sustain this terrific FIRE, and nobly it did
so for thirty minutes. During that time
not less than three thousand FIVE hundred
shots were fred by the enemy, one hundred
and sixty being counted in single minute.
An eyewitness says: The Weehawken
was assigned the important duty, which
was faithfully performed in the midst Of the
fights, to examine, if possible, and to fire
the distractions which the rebels have ex-
tended across the harbor from Sumter to
Moultrie. Protected by scow, and the
devil in front of her, she pushed straight
up towards the distractions. They were
found to consist of net work Of chains and
cables stretched across the harbor, over
which it was impossible for the Weehawken
to run without fouling her propeller, and
which she found it impossible to force. To
this net work the rebels are supposed to
have suspended torpeGoes and other subma-
rine explosives. Having completed the
examination, and tested the impossibility Of
working up the barbor until means are
discovered for the removal of the obstruc-
tions, they retired.
The State Bonds.
The Topeka Record. contains the follow
ing correspondence, which is Of general
interest to the people of Kansas.