, 1863-04-20
RESULTS OF THE CHARLESTON
ATTACK,


The excellent correspondent Of the Boston
journal writes as follows Of the condition Of
the Monitors, after tho attack on Sumter:
"As stated at the close Of my account OF
tie engagement, 1t was supposed by every
one that the attack would be renewed on
Wednesday afternoon At nine O'Clock Tues
day evening the captains and commanders Of
the 1leet we're called on board the flagship.
Each gave his account Of the fight, and each
returned to his ship with the expectation Of o
renewal Of the battle. The Chief Engineer,
Mr. sinners, under whose direction the Moni-
tors were bni1t, visited each, examined them
carefully. and reported that bF noon Of We'd
ucsday they would be in good condition for d
renewal Of the engagement; that 10 serious
injury, except to the Keokuk, lad beea re-
celyed; that In his opinion they could stand
IS much hamnering as they had already re-
ceiyed.
Admiral Dupont had not 3isited the several
ships, but he disse11ted from this opinion He
thought them more damaged than the inspec-
tor had reported, and tcared that if he renew
cd the attack the feet would be entirely dis
ablcd.
A member Of the press, On Wednesday
morning visited the flagship, and found to
his establishment that the Admiral had decided
not to renew the attack. He said that he took
the responsibility upon himself of abandon
ing the expedition.
Proceeding to the other vessels Of the fleet,
hefound the commanders making the necessa-
rs preparations for another fight. The tenn
pofary disability Of the guns had been re.
paired; the turret Of the Passaic, which had
refused to reyolve, was Ill right; the men
were in good cheer. Among the officers there
was a difference Of opinion were conf
dent that they could knock Sumter to pieces,
while others feared that second harun1erInsr
would use up the fleet.
The information given by the correspond
ent was the first intimatioa TO the fleet that
the attack vas not to be resumed. Tie crews
expressed great dissatisfaction. TheY were
ready for another afternoons work. On board
the 1ronsides there WAS much murmuring, not
only In the forccast1e, but in the wardroon.
50 little that the officers felt that in the eyes
of the world, they would be subject to ridi-
culc if it VAS thus given up.
ADMIRAL DUPONT AND THE MONITORS.
What Influenced Admiral Dupont to
change his mind-Whether 1t was the sinking
Of the keokuk, whether he feared that the
feet would be shattered in second attack by
the shot or blown up by. undiscovered torpe-
does or run down By rebel rams, or whether
Influenced by the opinions Of some Of the
commanders, who from the beginning haye
not looked upon the Monitors with hyor-is
not known. It is no secret that the Admiral
has not had great confidence In the Monitors.
He has never been sanguinc Of success. In
conversation with him, few weeks ago, he
spoke freely OF the tremendous batteries he
would have TO opposeof the. torpedoes-
steam boilers filled with thousands Of pounds
Of poEder-of internal machines. BE said
thai al his knowledge Of naval warfare was
obtained on shipboard, and that he was called
upon to make an attack against tho most
powerful batteries ever constructed, with
hect SO peculiar in Its construction and arma-
ment that Ills knowledge and experience was
of but little value. Some Of. the captains
hare expressed fears that the Monitors would
be wanting In aggressive power, while others.