New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-14


iron-clads from the New-Ironsides. Soon after ar
riving boarded the James Adger in order to ascer
tain the best mode Of reaching the former, ant
had passage provided for of Charleston on the
survey steamer Bib, TO which transferred myself
and baggage forthwith from the New. England. My
reception by Acting-Ensign Robert Plat, the com
msuder Of the Bib in the absence of Capt G. o
Bouelle of the Coast Survey, was as courteous as
could possibly desire it to be.
Instead OF dying out, as expected in the morning
tho wind grew more violent in the afternoon, sotha
our anchorage became rufled. Az the swell in
creased in volume and the vessels rocked aud rolled
more and more, 1t became evident that the morrow
was not likely 10 bring the "sound and fury" Of
action. Still the final preparations for il were con-
tinued with undated vigor on all the iron-clads.
Their decks We're stripped of what little in the way
of spars and rigging they had The sides, turrets,
pilOt-bouses, and decks of all were covered with a
thick and anything uteegant coat ofgrease. Several
were still receiving additional plating upon their
most exposed portions. Various contrivances for
exploding and taking up torpedoes and distractions
were tried. The click and csnk of tools and the
commands of officers and the shouts Of working par.
ties resounded until long after sundown.
Toward evening, the steamship Ben Deford, car.
rying Major Gen. Hunter and staff, came in and an
cbOred close to the Admiral's flagship. Several
schooners and steamers also stood in, with number
Of small boats lost by Gen. Fery's transports, so
that no hindrance of the movements Of the land.
forces need be apprehended from that mishap.
This morning, it was manifest that we would eX.
perienee rough weather for another day. High
winds, yeeripg in the course Of the forenoon from
n. f.. 10 n. w., blew until toward evening. But
shortly before sunset, the sky became clear Of
clouds, the wind settled gradually into calm. the
surface Of the water smoorhened, and after dark
there was every indication of change to the better.
At daylight, strange accident had happened 10
the Whitney Battery Keokuk. The strong tide
made one Of the Monitors drag anchor, brush past
the former carry off her anchoI.chains, and set her
adrift. Not having steam up che foated helplessly
down the bay, toward the bar. Fortunately, before
she reached the latter her popelers had been got to
work and che wac safely brought back.
About sunrise the naval squadron was joined by
the gunboats Augusta, Memphis and South Caro-
lima, ordered here from of Charleston TO take the
Monitors in tow. One of the two iron.cad rata,
with which the Ericsson anchored for several days
outside WAS brought in early this morning and At
Tackled 10 the bow OF the Weehawken for expert
mental purposes. The officers and crews of the IRON
ciads seemed to be even more busy than yesterday
with fastening their preparations 10 completion.
The greasing-the strengthening of the armor--the
rigging up OF means OF rendering submarine engines
A A lax all Nv.
permenis with throwing grupnel from cOchcrn
were made on the KeOkuk. One Of the discharges
unackily resulted in slightly irjuring Lieut.. For
rest.
In the evening several of The commanders Of the
ron-clads came ON the Bib for consultation as to
the photography of Charleston Harbor Capt.
Chss. o. Boutee also arrived from the North. 1t
became understood that, with anything like favor
able weather, the Admiral would order the whole
squadron 10 get under way at fOod-tide in the
morning.
APRIL 5, 1863.
The presumptons Of last evening were well found
3D. clear sun, coudieas sky, aud calm sea removed
this morning tho last iupedmeDt TO the attack, aud
about 4 o'clock the general signal to get under way
was made from the flagship.
The contamination Of what has been preparing 80
long. 80 carefully, and Oh so extensive scale, being
now coge at hand. certain statements, without
which the character of the operations about TO begin
cannot well be fully appreciated, may safely be made
An erroneous impression has undoubtedly pre-
vailed all along in the North as to the offensive
strength of the troops to be employed in the attack
npou Charest0n. | cannot, OF course, at this mo-
ment state the real number OF electives az the do
aosal Of Gen. Hunter; but can say, with full
of tho actual figures that it is far below
the popular estimate. 1t is comparatively so small
indeed thai tue land forces will be necessarily lin
tied TO Il mere second part. They will have to act
yeIy much after the fashion of Gen. Buffers COM
uand in the operations resulting in the capture Of
New. Orleans. They will simply follow up the con-
quests of the navy; move in the wake, and occupy
the localities opened by the former.
OF the navy. the armored vessels will do the
main work. Tho facts Hsoertained in regard to the
armament of the Rebel defenses of Charleston bar.
Dor would render the employment of the wooden
ships. under the command OF Admiral Dupont, many
of which are merchant vessels converted into men,
of.wsr, aud as weak those that fell easy
proy to the Rebel iron-cads in their late sortie in
any attempt at the reduction of the regular Rebel
forts, exceedingly hazardous. The country may rest
assured that all tho pros and cons in connection with
ibis question have been well weighed, and that
wisdom required that the bruntof the contest should
be borne by the iron-clads.
The aggressive qualities of these seem to be much
by the general public Popular fancy,
nnrtured by journalistic ignorance and exaggeration,
has enyeoped them with nimbus of irresstibility,
not at all warranted by their real merits. Their fight
ing capacities should consist of running offensive
and defensive powers. Were the impending combat
..a. ea..ld diaclnse facta nrnynn that ther