Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-04-14
THE FIGHT AT CHARLESTON.

7vilI enforce strict compliance Herewith
THE FIGHT AT CHARLESTON.
Ever since Major Anderson was com.
PEELED to haul down the "Stars and
Stripes" thatthe Confederates might I'M
furl to the breeze from the battlements
of Fort Sumter the aStars and Bars" il
has been known that the enemy burned
with an intense desire to stake, hold and
possess" that fort, as well as to capture
and destroy the city of Charleston, s'the
nest of Secession" as the enemy are
wont to call it. For two years they have
been preparing, with all the skill of in
genuity and allthe malice of their hearts
such an armament as they fondly fan.
cied would be sure to enable them tc
re-take Fort Sumter, to capture Charles
ton, and lay it in ruins-destroy its fine
buildings, and sow its streets with sail
and birthstone. For two years we have
been anticipating the attack, and have
not been idle III preparing to meet i
with heroic courage. On Tuesday last
the long-threatened and impatiently a
waited attack was made. When The
garrison of For; Sumter saw that The
enemy We're really approaching will
their iron-claa monsters. they were re
joiced. They fired q salute of thirteen
guns, and unsqsr9ea a'ee sSSsars and Bars,
with the band gslaysng the air of Dixie
A paper published IN Charleston he
next day says that the atmosphere ear
ly on Tuesday MOI ming was misty, hut
as the day advanced The haze Eghtened
and the monitors SnJ the Ironsides were
seen lying off Morris Island. Between
two and three o'clock In the afternoon
dispatch from Colonel Rhett, com
mandant of Fort Sumter, informed Gen
eral Beauregard that five monitors and
ronsides were approaching the fort
The fleet were seen rounding the point
Of Morris Island, the Keokuk in the ad
vance. When the double turreted mon
ster, the most formidable of its class
came within range, Fort Sumter open
ed upon her with a broadside. The,
kept on their way and formed in line O
battle off the fort, at a distance of abou
two thousand yards.
At three, ?. NJ, the action was open
ed, by Fort Mollltrie firing the first gun
Fort Sumter opened ten minutes later
Battery Bee, Forts Wagner and Beau
regard, and the battery at Cummins
Point, also opened, firing by battery
The feet fired with great rapidity; on
forts and batteries replied with spiri
and singular accuracy. The Ironside
took position to the lett of Fort Sumter
directing ali her guns at that fort, anc
throwing shells exclusively.
1t was manifest that the ironsides was
appointed 70 test the strength of the fort
wi Sc reduction was the inauguration
of the terrific contest now going on
Fort Sumter acknowledged the compli
ment Of the preference by pouring The
contents of her biggest guns into thu
sides of that pride of the Yankee navy
and she was not treated with contemp
by the other forts and batteries.
About forty-fve minutes after the en-
gagement began, steam was seen issuing
in dense volumes, from the Ironsides
and she withdrew from the action, taking
position to the South of Fort Sumter, but
remaining silent spectator Of the ex
citing scene. 1t is believed she was Sc
riously damaged.
The firing from our forts became more
and more accurate as the engagement
proceeded. The shot and she'll fel
tbickly in the hostile feet, and the
smoke-stacks OF every one of them were
struck several times. Fort SumternoW
appeared to be the chief aim of all the
enemy's iron-clads.
The Keoknk, a double-turreted iron.
clad, and considered by the Yankees
the most formidable Of their terrible
monsters, received a large share of at
tention from our gallant gunners. She
occupied the post of honor, and in &C.
cordance with the custom of war it was
made the post OF danger. She paid dear
ly for her reputation, having been hit
several times. Atabout five O'Clock she
followed the example of the Ironsides.
and withdrew, evidently seriously Grip
pied.
The other monitors continued the
fight until forty five minutes past five
O'Clock, when they steamed away, and
came to anchor off Morris Island.
During the battle drummer boy,
named Ahrens, was killed at Folt Sum
ter and five men wounded, two severely
in the head, the others slightly. One
man came to his death from the falling
of the flagstaff of Fort Moultrie. Two
houses on Sullivan's Island, on the back
beach, were struck, one of which was
demolished. A shot passed through
Fort Sumter's flag.
Col. Rhett was in command of Fort
Sumter, Col. Butler of Fort Moultrie,
Captain Sitgravcs of Fort Beauregard.
Lieutenant Colonel Simkins of Battery
Bee, Major Iluger of Battery Wagner,
and Lieutenant Lesesne, with detach-
ment from Fort Sumter, Of the Battery
on Cnmmins' Point.
Fort Sumter was hit thirty-four times,
but received no damage.
We learn that six men belonging to
Capt. Matthews artillery company, sta
toned at Battery Wagner, were wound
ed. Two ofthese havesince died. Two
were very seriously wounded, and it is
tho ght one would die before morning.
The other two including an officer, were