The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-13
BY TELEGRAPH.
ToTHE
Portland Daily Press.
The Attack on Charleston.
The Keokuk Sunk by the Rebel Batteries.
TERRIBLE FIRE OF THE
ENEMY.
All the other Iron-Clads Escape I'm.
harmed.
OUR VESSELS STILL AT ANCHOR IN
SIDE THE BAR.

| WASHINGTON, April IL.
Steamer Flambeau arrived here this AFTER
noon with Lieut.. Com. Rhind as bearer of dis
patches from Admiral Dupont TO the Govern
ment The reports from the several COM
manders had not been received up to time of
the departure of the Flambeau. which left
Wednesday night. From other than official
sources 1t is ascertained that the vessels COM
posing the fleet advanced upon Charleston on
the ith in the following order :-Weekawken,
Capt. John Rogers, Passaic, Capt Drayton.
Montauk, Capt. Worden, Patapsco, Can't. Am
men, Ironsides, the flagship, Commander Tur-
ner, with Admiral Dupont and staff on board.
Next followed the Catskill, Capt. Geo. Rogers,
Nantucket, Capt. Fairfax, Nahant, Can't.
Downes, and Keokuk, Capt Rhind. In this
order they proceeded up the main channel.
arriving within 1700yards of the main forts,
the lronsides became unmanageable, owing to
the tide and narrowness of the channel. and
she was obliged to drop anchor to prevent
drifting ashore. Owing to these circumstances
she signalled her consorts to disregard her
motions. The remainder of the squadron
continued on its course, and soon came within
easy range OF the rebel fire from all points.
The distractions in the channel from Fort
Sumter to Fort 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,
the space for maneuvering being only from
800 to 1000 yards, the vessels were obliged to
prepare at once to engage the forts and ada
cent batteries. Signals had been made for ac-
ton at half-past in the afternoon by the
Ironsides, but the rebels had previously opened
fire on the leading vessels. The contest is
represented rs in the highest degree exciting,
presenting fearful scene of fire, and from ali
points on land and water a continuous roar of
cannon. In the course of 30 or 40 minutes
keokuk was in sinking condition, and was
obliged to withdraw from the fire and seek an
anchorage below the range of the enemy's
guns. few minutes afterwards all the ves-
seis withdrew from signal from the flagship,
1t being deemed impracticable TO continue any
further hostilities. The Keokuk was within
500 or 900 yards of Fort Sumter, and was
completely riddled. She was struck at least
30 times in 30 minutes, The shot was from
rifed cannon of the heaviest calibre Capt.
Rhind, her commander, received a confusion
on the leg from flying fragment Of the vessel.
which only slightly famed him. Twelve of
the men were wounded, together with Acting
Ensign Macintosh, who had charge of one Of
the guns. The injuries are supposed to be
fatal The next morning, finding 1t impossible
TO save the vessel, Capt Rhind called a tug.
which took all his men on board A few min
utes after the Keokuk sunk Persons belong
ing to the ship lost all their private effects
"Wednesday the squadron remained at anchor
Ahi tAAS uidtu Shaifhti. Inc injuries 10 the veS-
sells, excluding the keokuk. are represented
TO be of snch a character as will require but a
short time for repairs.
FORTRESS MONROE, April IL.
The Mary Sanford arrived at Morehead on
Friday from off Charleston, with information
OF the entire attack, which commenced at 3
O'Clock and lasted three hours. The Keokuk
passed hall a mile ahnre Rn-s S....,~- 49,
she met with obstruction, at which time .
terrific firiss wes kept up on both sides, when
she received shot that passed through her
between wind and water, from which she sunk
in ii hours. The Nahant was within 200
yards OF Fort Sumter in the action and receiv-
ed shell at the junction of the tdrret with
the deck, which prevented the turret from re-
volving and rendering her useless for the time.
The Ironsides received $50 shots, sustaining
no damage further than starting few bolts.
The rest of the feet Is uninjured and hauled
of, the object of the reconnaissance being ac-
complished, which was to ascertain the locality
of the distractions. Our entire loss was two
killed and seven wounded. As the Sanford
left some iron-clads were going TO blow up the
Keokuk. M w
G New York, April II.
Midnight-Thc following dispatch has been
received from gentleman on board steamer
Mary Sanford:
Morchead City, N. c., April 10, ria Fortress
Monroe 12h.-We passed through the fleet off
Onaiies.on On THURSDAY ,ne gun AZ ~ a. M.'
WV, WIN m ,eaa eaeaI anu p'essanI Inc mont
sis VII ians1u a'ons ,he 1each On ounl-
boarded by one of the SIo,s of the exnedi,ion,
who stated that the Ironsides and seven of our
monitors attacked Fort Sumter On Tuesday
Snr, ',n, a,a p",sem so ono 49, .nS
shot OF English manufacture penetrated the
iron clad Whitney battery Keokuk and she
sunk ~ hours after. near the beach, The 9TH