Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-04-15

Keokuk, Capt. A. G. Rhind....-..- 9
The armament of the New Ironsides is
sixteen ll-inch guns and two 2~00-pound
rifed Parrott guns. All of the Monitor
class except the Keokuk have each an ii
inch and a l5-inch. The Keokuk has
two turrets, and an ll-inch gun in each
turet.
The ll-inch guns throw a solid shot
weighing $50 pounds; the l5-inch guns
a solid shot weighing 476 pounds.
The steamer F~lambeau, arrived at
Washington with Government dispatches
on last Sunday evening.
The reports from the general COM
manders had not been received up to the
time of the departure of the Flambeau,
on Wednesday night. From other than
official sources it is ascertained that the
vessels composing the feet advanced up
on Charleston on the It'll in the following
order:
Weehawken, Capt. Rogers; Passaic,
Capt. Drayton Montauk, Capt. Worden;
Patapsco, Capt. Ammen Ironsides, the
flag ship, Commander Turner, with Adj
miral Dupont and his staff on board
Next followed the Catskill. Capt. Geo.
Rogers Nantucket, Capt. Fairfax Ma
liant, Capt. Downs and Keokuk, Capt.
Rhind. In this order they proceeded up
the main channel, arriving within 100
yards of the main fort.
The Ironside became manageable
owing to the tide and narrownes of the
channel, and was therefore obliged to
drop anchor to prevent drifting ashore.
Owing to these circumstances she signal
ed consorts to disregard her notions
The remainder of the squadron continued
on its course, and DOR came within easy
range of the rebel fire from all points,
The distractions of the channel from
Fort Sumpter to Moultrie interfered with
the progress of our ships. In consequence
of this, and the position of the Ironsides
as above stated, the plan of operations
was deranged, and the space for hanover
ing being only from 500 to 200 yards, the
vessels were obliged to prepare and en-
gage the forts and the adjacent batteries.
The signal had been made for action at
half past three o'clock in the afternoon
by the Ironsides, but the rebels had pre-
viously opened fire on the leading YES
sci. The contest is represented as in the
highest degree exciting, presenting a fear
full scene of fire belching from all points
on the land and water, and a continuous
roar of cannon. In the course of 30 or
40 minutes the Keokuk Was in a sinking
condition. and was obliged to withdraw
from the fire. aud seek an anchorage be
low the range of the enemy's guns. A
few minutes afterwards all the vessels
withdrew from a signal from the flagship,
it being deemed impracticable 10 continue
any further hostilities. The Keokuk was
within 500 or 600 yards of Sumter, and
was completely riddled. being struck from
all the batteries within range at least 80
times in so minutes.
The next morning finding it impossible
to save the vessel, Capt. Rhind called a
tug, which took all his men on board. and
a few minutes thereafter the Keokuk
sunk. The persons belonging to the ship
lost all their private effects.
On Wednesday the squadron remained
at anchor in the main ship channel. 1t
is said the number of men in our fleet was
only about 100, with 80 guns, while the
enemy had, it Is supposed, at least 3OO
guns, the best in the world.
The injuries 10 the vessels, excluding
the Keokuk are represented to be of such
a character as will require but a short
time for repairs. Casualties among our
men were remarkably few, including one
killed and three wounded on the Nahant.
The advantages of our feet being in pos
session of the narrows. The circuit of the
blockade being two-thirds of the former
distance. None of the batteries fred up
on our vessels until they reached the vi
cinity of the main fort.
New York, April u, Midnight.
The following dispatch has been re-
ceived from a gentleman on board the
steamer Mary Sanford
MooREHEAD CITY, n. G., April 10, VIA
FORTRESS MONROE, April l2.-We passed
through the fleet off Charleston on Thurs
day, the 9th inst. at 10 A. NJ. Weather
clear and pleasant. The Monitors were
arranged along the beach at Cummings
Point, all in good order.
We we're boarded by one of the Pilots
of the Expedition, who stated that the
Ironsides and seven of the Monitors at
tackled Fort Sumter on Tuesday the 9TH,
and passed some distance above the Forts,
receiving some 200 shots. Appointed shot
of English manufacture penetrated the
iron-clad Whitney battery Keokuk, and
she sunk in u hours after, near the
beach. The other iron-clads passed
through the shower of shot and shell I'M
injured or with trifiing damage. The
casualties reported were very few.
Capt. Rhind of the Keokuk, was slight
ly injured by a bolt. The Q-uartermaster
and six men on board the Nantucket
were killed.
NJ to,,oIaaS apa ranorfaH IN hava aY-
ploded.
We left the feet at noon, and when
about 25 miles north heard heavy firing.
The above was a private message adj
dressed to Col. Sanford.
We further add: The shot was from
rihed cannon of the heaviest calder.
Capt. Rhind her commander received a
confusion on the leg from a flying frag-
ment of his vessel, which only slightly
famed him.
Twelve of the men were wounded to-
gether with Acting Engineer Mcintosh,
who had charge of one of the guns! The
injuries supposed to be fatal.
The New York HeraLFs account says:
Rumor is circulating both at Port Royal
and at Charleston to-day that our troops
were rapidly gaining the rear of the City
of Charleston
Tho Times correspondent says of the
Charleston fight: The iron ships were ex-
posed to a concentrated fire from five
different points. 1t is unparalleled in the
history of warfare.
The feet found it impossible to pass up
beyond Fort Sumter and assume the APP
pointed place owing to Instructions which
extended across the entire channel from
Sumter to Moultrie, while above these,
near the middle ground, were three other
rows of piles. and above these three rebel
Iron. Clads. The fleet was thus compelled
to sustain this terrific fire, and nobly it
did so for 80 minutes during that time
not less than $500 shots were fired by
the enemy, leo being counted in a single
minute.
BALTIMORE. April u.
The gunboat Flambeau arrive at Old
ls--.- tx