Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-04-15

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<anl, counci| of war was held, attended ny all
no r,ntains Of the ron-clads. They reported
20 the Admiral that the Keokuk was totally
j;sahled and in a sinking condition-that, the
V,hants pilot-house was injured, and three
no., hadlv vouraed by the flying bolts This
rgas the onlv vessel that had no lining to the
o;Iot-house. and although a few bolts were
started n some of the others the Innings fully
nrotected those inside. The turning OF the
Nahant's turret had also been partially OBJ
structed By the conclusion OF the blows she
had received The Patapsco also reported that
. she'll had cot vedged in its rifle gun which
could not at once be removed. The Nantnck-
at had some damage to the muZzle-box OF one
of its guns. The Catskill, [ think, also had
some difficulty with one OF her gun carriages,
and the northoe slide Of the Passaic was re-
nortc1 bent and immovahla. Thus, four of the
vessels were reported as temporarily injured,
whilst the Keokvk was totally disabled, and
sunk at her anchorage next morning.
The workmen and supervisors OF the Monl-
sors were sent for, and having examined the
four damaged vessels reported that they could
have them all il good working order at noon
next day. The Ke0kuk was OF course OF no
further account
It is also now asserted on the flagship, that
each and all of the Captains OF the lron-cads,
at their council Of war, advised the abandon
ment Of the attempt to reduce Sumter or take
charleston, regarding it as a HOPELESS task
From the reserved manner Of most OF the Cap
talns since the abandonment OF the siege [ am
inclined to doubt this though it is understood
that Captain Drayton and Worden both strong
y opposed renewal Of the fight, Both OF
these officers had, however, from the first been
Tree in the expression Of their prediction Of
failure-they looked for and anticipated that
we would find Sumter impregnabe and the
harbour Of Charleston INSTRUCTED beyond our
ability to enter.
Be this as it may however, early on tile
evening Of Tuesday the Admiral, previous to
hearing these reports declared his intention
of renewing the assault On Wednesday, declar
ing his purpose to lead the way with the Iron
sides, which he considered an impregnabe yes
sell At the close of the council of war he made
no decision, and, as lar is | can learn, he slept
on his determination only to reverse it on
Wednesday morning.
The work Of putting the vessels in order for
battle progressed rapidly on Wednesday
morning, and at O'Clock the workmen had
allleft the vessels, reporting every difficulty as
10 the working of turrets, guns a., to be fully
remedied I visited several of the vessels
about this time and found them preparing for
the signal to advances expecting to move for
ward to renew the assault about half past one
o'clock. No signal was given, however, and
during the afternoon the first indication reach
ed their decks that the Admiral had given it
up.
It is now asserted by those who are in the
confidence Of tie Admiral that, after duly
weighing the reports of the commanders, and
taking into consideration the fact that most OF
the vessels injured reported that they were
partially disabled by the time they were under
lire forty minutes he Determined Of his own 70.