Smyrna times., 1863-04-16
War News.
Attack on Charleston.

The long expected and lsng delayed attack on
Charleston commenced on the afternoon of the 7th
inst. and lasted 81 hours
At o'clock the head of the line was in motion.
the rest following. The batteries on Morris Island
did not open on the fleet at all, and the euemy made
no fire until the fleet had reached position between
Forts Sumter and Moultre. when terrific broadside
came from the barbette guns of Sumter. At the
same time the batteries OH Cummings Point and
SulVan's Island opened, and the iron ships were
exposed TO concentrc fire from five different points
unparalleled in the history of warfare.
The fleet found it impossible to pass beyond Fort
Sumter and assume to appointed place, owing TO ob
structieus, which extended across the entire channel
from Sumter and Moutic, while above these, near
the middle ground, three other rows Of piles.
and absve these three rebel on-clads. The fleet
thus compelled to sustain this terrific fire, and
nobly it did so, for thirty minutes During that
time not less than thirty-6ve hundred shots were
fired by the enemy, one hundred and sixty being
counted in a single minute.
AT the end of this time five of the nine iron eIads
were found to be more or less disabled, and at 4
o'clock the flagship signaled to retire.
The Keokuk, with splendid audacty, had run up 10
within five hundred yards of the fort, and near her
was the KatskiH. The whole fleet devoted themseve.
to Fort Sumter; bnt, owing to the limited time the
ships were enabled to remain, comparatively few
shotS were fired.
The LrOnsides, caught in the tide, was, in prea,
part unmanageable. In consequence Admiral Du.
pOnt had to signal TO the fleet to disregard the movo
ments of the flagship.
The irOn-clads received each from twenty 10 nino
ty shots. The Keokuk was the worst used up. re-.
eeiving several shots below and above the water line
The other four, though in reality but slightly injured
were yet rendered temporarily unfit for use. They
will speedily be repaired. The Keokuk was, however.
SO badly damaged that she sunk in the position near
her original anchorage.
FO't Sumter shows some ugly pock marks On
her eastern face.
The land force has been landed on Folly Island
near Stono, but did not cooperate in the attack.
The paymaster's safe at the Brooklyn navr.va,d
has been robbed of over $4,000 in U. S. Treasury
notes.
A rebel report has been received by wav of New
Orleans, that Admiral Farrigut was in Red rive,
between two rebel batteries, out Of range of eitb.
but unable to pass them. and that a messenge, semi
by him overland to Gen. Banks was captured and
held prisoner by the rebels.
An arrival at New York from Newburn. N. c. |
brings report that it expected General Foster
would have to surrender, for want Of provisions.
he had but 1900 men. On the 5th force Of 5000
men left Newburn the Neuse river, under General
French, to reinforce Foster, but meeting with su.
peer force OF rebels, returned to Newbern on which
place the rebels we're marching.
Van Dorn's rebel corps, $4,000 men, attacked
General Grangers Union corps ut franklin, Tenn,
on the 10Th, and, after an obstinate battle lasting
nearly all day, repused with the loss of 300
ma while our loss was 100 We took twenty oris.
Oners. The enemy beaten and pursued until
nightfall.
General Grant has removed his headquarters from
VicksbuIg to Miken's Bend, and refused all exchan