The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-04-22
Particulars Of the Charleston Fight.

The following particulars of the late
bombardment in Charleston Harbor are
gathered from participants in the engage
ment:
The Federal feet, after leaving Hilton
Head, rende2voused in the mouth Of the
EdistO. Several days were occupied in
gathering the vessels and making arauge-
mcnts, issuing orders, and otherwise arran-
glng for the great combat. All being com
plcted, the feet left in detachments, and as
sembled of Charleston, Sunday, the 9Th
instant The ron-clad feet crossed the
bay, and entered Charleston harbor Mon
day. The Keokuk drawing less water than
any Of the others, was sent in first to find
the channel and replace the buoys. Pro-
ceeding up the main ship channel the Ke-
okuk found All easy and unobstructcd en-
trance with full eighteen feet of water in
the shalowcst places, more than has ever
before been found on Charleston bar. The
buoys were replaced without difficulty, the
rebels Offering no opposition.
The Kcokuk returned to the feet, and on
the morning Of the 7th the order was given
for the iron-clads to enter the harbor. The
| order was to proceed in single file or in
line ahead. The Weehauken was the lead
ing vessel, having in front of her scow,
and then, between the scow and herself,
Ericsson's torpedo exploder, or Devil"
as it has been called. The Ironsides, with
Admiral Dupont on board, was the fifth in
| line, and the Kookuk the last. IN this or
der the bar was passed in safety without
detention.
The order given to the commanders OF
the various vessels was to keep on straight
up the harbor until they came within 900
yards of the fort, and then to attack, direct
ing their efforts principally against Fort
Sumter. In this order the fleet moved on
steadily and gallantly up toward Forts
Sumter and Moultre, the rebels withhold
ing their fire until they got well up into the
harbor. The lronsides stopped off Fort
Moultrie and let so her anchor, it being
dangerous to take her further up, on ac-
count Of her drawing over fifteen feet At
this moment there seemed to be tempo
rary misunderstanding, and all the IRON
clads, except the Woehauken and keokuk,
gathered about the lronsdes, apparently
supposing she had grounded and needed
! assistance.
They were however, soon signaled to go
into action The Keokuk had kept inward
until she led the line and had advanced to
within 400 yards of Sumter, against whose
walls she hurled her heavy shot with all
the rapi ity that the energy of her brave
men could furnish. The rebels, as was ex-
pccted Immediately concentrated their firs
on the kcokuli, which assumed to lead in
the attack From Sumter, Moultrie, the
batteries on Cummings Point, aud from q
fort erected on tho middle ground the fire
of several hundred guns were concentrated
III terrible hail upon the devoted vessel.
Such fire had never perhaps in the history
of the world been cqIaled. 1t was met by
the officers of the keOkuk with heroic for
titudc, while the balls were striking her at
the rate of one every second Her guns
were worked with vigor and precision and
their weight and force were already making
their mark upon the walls OF Sumter.
1t soon. however, became apparent she
had none of the imprognablity of Ericsson =
| Monitors That IN fact, rs an irOn-c!ad she
WAS failure. The rebel balls seemed to
| penetrate her ~ easily rs il Il wooden YES
sell The port holes or shutters ut her tur-
retS became jammed and her guns practi-
cally uuScrvicrabir. Daring the thirty min
utes she remained uud n this concentrated
| fire one hundred Shot struck her. ninety of
which were water line shots. or such AS
would cause her to leak in i scaway--in
!
was shot into tattcrs and the whole of her
sides battered and bruised aud pierced.
! Percciving the severe injuries she had re.
ceiveI, tlc Admiral signaled her to retire
ont of action and anchor beyond range.
| This was safely accomplished.
In the meantime the Monitor. Nahant and
! Catskill had moved up to the support OF
| the kcollu and engaged Fort Sumter. The
lronsides and other vessels ut longer range
were dividing their attention between Moul-
| trie and Sumter. Into and on the latter
| fort heavy fire was then poured, and it is
believed. not without effect. The engage
ment was kept up from one till four o'clock
/ when, in obedience to the Admiral's sig
! nal. the fleet retired slowly, receiving and
returning the rebel fire until they anchored
out of range within the bar. The Weehau-
ken was assigned the important duty which
was faithfully performed, in the midst OF
/ the tight, to examine and, if possible, to fire
I the uhStructiOns which the rebels have cX-
. tended across the harbor from Fort Sumter
! To Moullrie. Protected by the sc0w and
! the "Dcvil' in front of her, she pushed
strai Sht up toward tho distractions. They
were found to consist OF u network of chains
and cables stretching across the hal Dor
over which it was impossible for the Wee
haukcu lorun without fouling her propeller
and which she found impossible to force
Ca this network the rebels are supposed
/ to have suspended torpodoes and other sub,
marine explosives. Having completed the
examination, and tested the impoSSibility OF
working mp the harhor until means are de.
Nisel tor the removal of these obstruc,
tioaS, the Wcohaukeu returned and repor,
ted to Admiral Dupont, who ordered j
discuutnuance to tho conflict. 1t is be,
lirvci that the damage to Fort Sumter by
our fire WAS serious. So far rs it showed
externally il consisted in two embraSuros
being knocked into ruc, and numerous in
deutatiouS in the wall. which, il is believed
4 few hours more pounding would convert
into Seriuus break, What damage on
loss OF life was sustained in the interior
of the fort is not, of course known, but il
is believed to have been considerable.
Fort Moultrie was also well hammered
and at least one gun was dismounted, Be
yoni the sinking of the Keokuk The dam,
age to the irun,ca,is was very slight, not
more than wound require twenty-four hours
10 repair They all came out of the contest
in fighting trim, aud able Ia have continued
the conflict had il been desirable. Tn,
lronsdos WAS hit frequently, but besides
having port shutter unnjred was un
hamed,
Our informant heard of no serious cas-
UalticS ou board any of tho vessels excep
the EeoLuk. This vessel sunk next morn
ing, about one thousand Yards from Nor
ris Island beach. She had thirteen wound
ed, two of whom, Including Acting En-
sign Mcintosh wi,iproha6iy die.
the Devil was not lost, as stated by the
rebel dispatches, When the Weehaukel
returned from the reconnaissance of IN,
-nhS,rMnLlnms lAn snnAN sLn Ind ~ Inu. Lrnl..