New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-16

river against an object, that no. only received, but
returned FIRE, must be obvious. Is ia that be-
tween the comparative amusement OF nham hght,
aad tho instruction, stes0nees, self-coufdeDce de-
rived from real action To secure the latter was
the sole aim Admiral Dupont bad ia view in order.
ing the diversion agsinst Fort McAllister. Nor did
It's result come short OF his calculations. Tho en-
gagemeut between the Fort and the Monitors, the
details OF which sui join, taught the crows OF the
latter invaluable lessons In the handling Of their
vessels and the use Of their armament in action and
mbued them with strength Of faith In their gene
ra fighting qualities they did not the rctofore possess
The Psssaic, Patsseo and Nahant severaly arrived
near the anchorage Of the Moniauk and the wooden
vessels blockaing the Ogrechee in the course OF
Monday. All preparation being completed, they
stood toward the Fort after daybreak on
Tuesday morning. The Psssaic took position AZ a
distance Of 300 yards the Passpsco at oOO ana
the Nshaut at 1900 from the fort. Owing 10 The
intervening distances, aud the course OF tie
river the line of battle was obli9ue
The fort stands directly on the bank, at the base
of y neck of land formed by crook of the river.
The Montank and the wooden vessels remained
anchored TO the cast of the neck. across which the
Rebels had 10 fire 10 reach Them while he Mouitofs
about to engage the fort stood in line 70 the west OF
il. The IortiOn Of the bend, in which, they OF Grated,
running stuight to the lace OF the fort, The ehemy
had as fine marks as they could probably wIrh.
Rlght at the fort The river makes another twisi,
forming another nech. over which the Montiuk nid
sent her sbe and shot into the sides OF the Nash-
vile, Of whose wreck only the s!rcLe-siac and the
upper part OF wheelhousr fensinod ylslhlc.
A. tie Monitor, moved INTO ther several positions,
the Rebel guus OF eued npon them About o dock
ouT II sod I5-inch guns commenced replying.
ihe hupg continued Oh both sides throughout tho
day. v ia interruptions II utcNals Of more "r irs.
aors,uor. TIE Rebels used all tleir gurs o., Lad e
,cyenl uoIl9rs. aud tired rapidly though Win COW
par,ti,oly little pr'ci-iou.
ihe FIRE Of the Monitors was slow AID Celit crate.
IL beng dcHrei g. Obtain t.ororg On '-sts ~. tie
n,t &C. aCclIacy oi liz, n4d practicable elevation o.
The glIu- guud rather than quick ,hOts wee mined
a.. Toe pom. II te N--s'is also frC"ucUIlr
changed. lo. tie purpose ~ prsCc- in their iuarDV
e..ug uuIeg frr. ipan tHs whole. Do was rather e
tslIcly baml sldnclt than spirited offensive notion
COL cor part.
lie nsuh. Ele tic "details Of ~ carnona.ir
Hhicr ceased on tie Urlt OF the Monitors with
uielthIl. can e s's.,u 10 lew vord-. The 'uyu-
Tcr.UIity o. he three irol-,iad' e'g ed ~a- h.
iniiv established az thai oi tlc Nr..auk. The
l.. -a.,, ocilg Arart-i 10 tie iOfi aud lenca mot
,Aroscl 10 it, ti,, Wa stfu,k no les tom tar'y-
tree t.ncs up'l the ieck and inrlef. no ,ihrs
0a4arc tnau i"l,utl'iOus was iallic,eJ ugou F.r.
ali.ou- q shoi and she Of lie hesvet sa'l er wa.
ur-d by me enemy. Blot of tAr miS.Iies were
broken iniO 4. gn-ats against her aiHps one .olia
.eu-incli ,.,ut i,h unbtos"a upon tie decs after
strkiu. the gilo'-Iouse 4 tlirieen.inch sell 4 D
on cius. . inple ihau Z. cr.,a
Tse Pat4prco AMI Nabaut wero bit repeafe iIy.
thOrg not Hs frequently a. TIE iassAlc. lie .nIlIy
30 pc 10 them i nGi woth noticing.
Tie extent OF the damage cau-ri 20 tie io-' D.
orr hcc IL, OF ooIr-", Lot oshai.ely known. Tho
ii cers OF the ilOuiore, un1srstHnj. elm that
they have demol-acd g. parslr' AID dismouEte1
eeveral guns.
The Aontauk'- qualities baving already been
thoroughly tested IL s.,eral encounters with the
tort. it was moi lhought worth whils g eKPrrd any
more Of her eXIonslSe ammunition, aud she per-
formed merely tho part oi a lookei."n.
The wooden gsnboa,s likewise remained passive
during the action. The mortar scboOuer 4. l..
Williams Norfolk Packet, aud Para however, fired
at irregular intervals dunDg tie day and the early
part OF the n..hi.
The Moptauk returned - this harbor yesterday
afternoon in tow Of tie steamship E1csson. The
other Monitors are expected back within tho next
fory.eighl hour. The Nashville being destroyed
and the ram Atlanta efestuaily locked 60 IN vii
mngton River BY ob,trucuons recently placed their
services are 10 longer needed below.
The above eubodies ali the fscts Of affair over
which tie who CoDfedcfACy Will probably Indu ~
IN frantic emulation.