The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-04-25


NORTHERN NEws.-The .iragp, Henry A. Gads-
den, commander, arrived here last Wednesday
from New York, which port she left on Sunday
last. Through the courtesy of Purser Grautegein,
we have files of Northern papers to the 18th inst.
In them We find many comments on the Charleston
fight, but while some are disposed to look upon it
as a regular engagement those who are more fully
acquainted with the facts are satisf with the re-
suits obtained by this great naval reconnaissance.
The N. Y. Herald says:
ssNow that the news of the recent attack upon
this rebel stronghold has been dlgested the quss-
tions which naturally sugge't themselves are ::
First. what light has the affair thrown upon the
utility of the new engines Of warfare which III E.
chanical science has recently brought forth
Second, has any of the well-matured axioms Of
military and mechanical science been overthrown
Third, what useful lessons may be drawn from this
conflict, relative to the vital subject Of 'eacoast
The maxim that no amount of fire from fixed
Notifications can prevent the passage Of steam
vess .ls-of-wat through an unobstructed channel
has received marked confirmation from this en-
gagement 1t is patent to every one, that had it
not been for the obstructons in the channel the
fate of Charleston would hare been sealed No
amount of fire from the forts could have prevented
the passage Of the iron-clad feet. Admi ting
this fact it necessarily follows that the only way Of
meeting an enemy provided with iron-clad vessels
is By an equal number Of still formidable ron.cads
than he brings against you. Let US profit by this
example, and not place trust in fixed forts for
the protection of our principal harbors, such as
New York, when the humilating expedient of
obstructions is If doubtful utility. Can any one
contemplate. without feeling Of deep modification
the blocking up Of the harbor Of our city, except
BY floating impregnable defenees capable Of anni-
hilating an enemy 80 audacious as to attempt an
attack 1t is a useful lesson. and we hope for.
egn nations may profit by it, for 1t is certain that
should they sssai our cities, with their approach
es defended by Monitors armed with ordnance
with which the genius Of our engineers is about
provide US, they will not only be repulsed, but
destroyed.
The failure of the immense English feet to
attack Cronstadt during the late Russian war has
often been adducei to prove the efficiency of case
mated forts; but j! il clear to all unprejudced
sri.ntic men that il not the fear of the forts
alone which prevented the attack, but the certain
| ty that should the attempt be made, and the fleet
badly handled by the forts, the Russian fleet would
come out, and, while the English were in CRIPPLED
condition, complete their defeat. 1t is upon our
floating defences We must chiefly rely to repe in
u III
cal resoarces an invasion will never be attempted.
Although, at so crest distance from the scene
Of the conflict, it may be rash to express an opin
ion, we cannot help expressing our conviction that
had the entire iron-clad feet paid Its attention en-
trely to Fort Sumter it would inevitably have
been preached and rendered untenable.
CAPTAIN WoRDEN's arrival is thus chronicled
The Caha.rba, which harrived at this port yester-
day, brings Capt. Worden. kte OF the Momtask,
and the first American naval officer to demonstrate
Worden was ordered home by Admiral Dur ont,
who, in touching letter. stated that his declining
health rendered it necessary for him to return
North Immediately so that it might be restored |;
and so palpabe the proofs Of his decline that
the Admiral would not order a medical survey to
| be held upon him.
! Captain Worden had by no. means recovered
| from the injuries received ON board Of the Moni-