Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-04-17
VOL. ?:XIV----:NO. 49,

Drayton; Montauck. Capt. Werden; Pataps.
leo, Capt, Aunnen; .lronsides, the flag ship,
| Commander Turner, with Admiral Dupont
and his staff on board; next followed the
Catskill, Capt Rodgers; Naugatuck, Capt.
| Fairfax; Nahant, Capt. Downs; Keokuk,
Capt. Rhind. In this order they .praceeded
|up the main channel, arriving within 100
yards Of the main forts. !, r, 80 ols y,
| The Ironsdes became unmanageable owing
to the tide and narrowness of the channel,
and was therefore obliged to drop anchor to
prevent drifting ashore. Owing to these cir
cumstances she signalled her consorts to dis
regard her motions. sre'. s-1a.zt !aEsrv-
| The RI mainder Of the squadron continued
on its course, and soon came within easy
range of the rebel force from all points. The
distractions of the channel from Fort Sum-
ter to Moultrie interterred with the progress
of the ships, and in consequence Of the posi-
ton Of the Ironsides, IS above stated, the
plan Of operations was deranged, and the
space for maneuyering being limited from
500 to 1000 yards, the vessels were obliged
to prepare at once to engage the forts. and
adjacent batteries The signal had been
made for action at half-past three o'clock in
the afternoon, by the Ironsidcs, but the rebels
had previously opened fire on the leading
vessels. s1.,s5 5zge.9 Il. sl. .s. sEt-
The contest is represented as in the high
est degree exciting, presenting fearful scene
Of fire belching from all points, on the land
and water, and continuous roar OF cannon
In the course of.3O or 40 minutes the
Keokuk was in a sinking con'tition and was
obliged to Withdraw from the fire and seek ar:
anchorage below the range Of the enemy's
guns few minutes afterwards all the yes-
sells withdrew, from signal from the flag ship
it being deemed Improbable to continue
any further hostilties. e, Hin .,,,,eo All
The Keokuk was within 500 or 600 yards
of Fort Sumter, and was completely riddled.
She was struck from all the batteries with
in range, at least 80 times in 80 minutes. -GI
{. The shot was from riAed cannon of the
heaviest calibre. Capt .Rhind, her comman-
der, received a confusion on the leg, from
flying fragment of his vessel, which only
slightly famed him. Twelve Of the men were
wounded, together with acting Ensign Mcln- .
tosh, who had charge of one Of the guns =.
The injuries are supposed to be fatal. The
next morning, finding it impossible to save
the vessel, Capt. Rhind called tug which
took all his men on board. A few minutes
thereafter the Keokuk sunk The persons
belonging to the ship lost all their private eff
fects On Wednesday the squadron remain
ed at anchor in the main ship channel g-
1t is said the number of men in our feet
was only about 100 with 80 guns, while the
enemy had it is reported at least 300 guns,
the best in the world The injuries to the
vessels excluding the Keokuk, are represent
ed to be of such character as will require
but a short time for repairs. ..s -....
The casualties among our men are remark
ably few, including one killed and three
wounded on the Nahant. The advantage of
our fleet being in the possession Of the Mar
rows. ... .,..... f,..ei . ... .....-... .-- a. r.
None of the batteries fred upon our ves-
sells until they reached the vicinity Of the
main forts.
New YoRK, April 70.
The following dispatch has been received
from gentleman on board the steamer Mary
Sanford, Moorhead City. N. G., via Ft Monroe
18th. We passed the feet off Charleston on
Thursday, the 9th inst, at 10 A. n, weather
clear and pleasant The monitors were ram
ged along the beach off Cummings Point, all
in good order. We were boarded by one of
the pilots of the expedition, who stated that
the Ironsides and seven of the monitors at
tackled Sumter on Tuesday, the 7th, and pass
ed some distance above the fort, receiving
some 200 shots. A pointed shot of English
manufacture penetrated the iron-clad Whitney
battery Keokuk and she sunk iu 10 hours al
ter, near the beach. The other iron-clads
passed through the shower of shot and shell
uninjured, or with trif1ing damage. The cas-
ualrties reported were very few Captain
Rhind, of the Keokuk, was slightly injured
by bolt. The Quartermaster and six men
on board the Naugatuck were killed. As re-
CARDS future movements reports are conflict
ing 1t was positively stated by one Of the
pilots who boarded US that the monitors would
withdraw over the bar and further action for
the present would be suspended. Tits was
discredied by an report for E
New York paper. An officer from the James
Adger, who previously boarded US, stated the
engagement would bd renewed about P. NJ,
nd that the Admiral expressed his belief of
success. No torpedoes are reported to have
exploded. We left the feet about noon.-
When about % miles 18th we heard heavy
firing. .. ~. ....-,.-...s. ..........-....
The above was private message addressed
to Col. Sanford.