The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-04-17

raj days were occupied in gathering the vcs.

cral days were occupied in gathering the yes
sells, and making the final arrangements,
issuing orders, and otherwise arranging ior
the great combat. All being completed. the
feet left its detachments and assembled oh
Charleston Sunday 5th. The iron.clad.heet
crossed the bar and entered Charleston har.
RI Dor ON Monday; the Keokuk drawing less
water than any of the others was sent first
to find the channel and replace the buoys.
. Proceeding up the ship channel, tho keo'
kuk found nm easy and unobstructed entrance
with full Is feet Of water in the shallowesi
place moro than has ever before been found
on Charleston bar. The buoys were replaced
without difficulty. the rebels Offering no op.
position. The Keokuk returned to the fleet,
and on the morning of the 7th, orders were
given the iron clads to enter the harbor. The
order was to proceed in single file, or in line
ahead, the Wcehawken rs the leading YES
sci, having in front scow. and then between
tho scow and herself Ericsson Torpedo ex'
ploder or devil, rs il has been called.
Ironsides with Admiral Dupont on board
was fifth in line. In this order the bar was
passed in safety, without detention. Orders
were given to the commanders Of the various
vessels to keep straight up the harbor until
they came within 1000 yards Of the Forts,
and then attack. directing their efforts prin.
cipally against Fort Sumter. In this order
the feet moved steadily and calamity up to-
ward Forts Sumter and Moultrio, the rebels
Withholding tho FIRE until they got well up
into the harbor. The Ironsdes stopped of
Fort Moultrie and lot 60 her anchor, II being
dangerous to take her further up, on account
of her drawing over fifteen feet OF water.
At this moment there seemed TO be tempo.
rary misunderstanding, and all the iron clads
except the Weehawken and Keokuk, gather
ed about the Ironsides, apparently supposing
she had grounded and needed assistance
They were, however, soon sgnalled to 60
into action. The Keokuk had kept inward
until she led the line, and had advanced to
within 400 yards of Fort Sumter, against
whose granite walls she hurled her heavy
shot with oil the rapidity that energy OF her
brave crew could furnish. The rebels, as was
expected. Immediately concentrated their fire
on the Keokuk, which assumed to lead in the
attack from Sumter, Moultrie, batteries Beau,
regard, on Cummings Point, and from the
fort erected on the middle ground.
The fire of 400 or 500 guns was concen
trated in terrible hail upon the devoted
vessel such FIRE had never, perhaps, in the
history OF the world been equalled.
1t was met by the officers OF the Keokuk
with heroic fortitude; whilst balls were
striking her ut tho rate of one every second
her guns were worked with vigor and precau
ton, and their weight and force were already
making their mark upon the walls OF Sumter.
1t soon however became apparent she had
mono of tho impregnability OF Ericsson's Mon
itor that in fact, us an iron.clad, she was
q failure.
NEW York April l3.
The Hines publishes an extra containing n
detailed account of the fight at Charleston. The
correspondent says the trial was decisive. The
ordeal OF two hours served to prove that the
defensive powers of the iron fleet were sufficient
to withstand the terrible force Of the offensive
works II had to assail, while the limitations OF
the offensive powers of the iron .clads took away
all advantage. The result ofthe reconnaissance
proves the utter insuffciency Of the iron-clad
fleet to take Charleston alone.
The Nahant received thirty wounds, several
being bad fractures of deck and sides below and
above the water line. The most heavy blow
was by heavy rifed shot which struck the pilot
house and dislodged several bolts, wounding all
the inmates.
The Passaic received twenty-five or thirty
wounds The most extraordinary shots from n
l0-inch riHcd projectile, which struck the top
of the turret, scooping out q huge portion OF
the iron. breaking oil Of the eleven plates OF nm
inch thickness each, on the pilot house on the
top of the turret, in which 1t made crater
three incnes deep and raised the pilot house
three inches. Another shot hit the turret. fore
ing the place struck upward, and disabling the
carriage of the ll-inch gun by the shock while
portion of the interior iron casing fell, lodging
in the groove Of the turret, stopping its revo-
luton.
The Nantucket had her turrct so Jared that
the cover of one of her posts could not be OPEN
cd, and consequently her l5.inch gun could not
be used. The other Monitors received more or
less shots, but were not disabled.