Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-04-17


leston on The M, in the following Ordcrs Wee
hauken, Capt Rogers; Pasaaic, Capt Drayton;
Montauk, Capt. Worden; Patapecc, Copt. AM
men; Ironsides the flag shir Commander Tur-
ner, with Admiral Dupont aud his staff on board;
next followed the Ca,skill, Capt. Geo. Rogers;
Nantucket, Capt. Fairfax; Nahant, Capt. Downs;
aud Keokuk, Capt Rhind. In this order they
proceeded up the mnin channel arriving within |
100 yards Of the main forts w
The IronsideS became uninanageable, owing
to the tide aud the narrownesA of the channel,
and was therefore obliged to drop anckor to pre-
vent drifting ashore. Owing to these circum-
stances, she sgnalcd her consoits 10 disregard
her motion. The remainder Of the squadron
continued on its course, and soon came within
easy range of the rebel FIRE, from all points,
The distinctions in the channel 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, and
the space for nnnDeyering being only from 500
TO 900 yards. the vessels were obliged to
prepare and at once engage the forts and the ad-
jacent batteries.
| The signal had been made for action at half
past three o'clock, p. NJ, by the lrOnsides, but
the rebels had previously opened FIRE on the
leading vessels Is -.F sss-
| The contest is represented as in the highest
degree exciting, presenting fearful scene of
fire belching from all points on the land and wa
ter. A continuous roar of cannon. In the course
Of 80 or 40 minutes the Keokuk was in a sink
ing condition, and was obliged to withdraw
| from the FIRE, and seek an anchorage below the
range ofthe eneny's guns. A few minutes af.
terwards, all the vessels withdrew from signal
from The fag-ship, it being deemed impractica-
BILE to continue any further hOstilities. F
| The Keokuk was within 500 or 600 yards of
Sumter, and was completely riddled, and was
struck from all the batteries within range at
least 80 times within 30 minutes.
| New York, April Midnight The fol-
lowing dispatch has been received from gen.
tleman ON board the steamer Mary Sanford:
! Mooehead City 10th, via Ft. Monroe, IL We
passed through the feet off Charleston on Thur
| day the 9Th inst. Ito A. NJ. The weather was
clear aud pleasant. The monitors were ranged
along the beach off Cummings Point, all in
good order. We were boarded by one Of the
pilots of the expedition, who stated that the
Ironsides and seven Of the monitors attacked
Sumter on Tuesday the 7th, and passed some
distance above the forts, receiving some two hum
drcd shots. A pointed shot of English manu-
facture penetrated the iron-clad Whitney bat
tcry Keoluk, and she sunk in ~ hours after,
near the beach. The other iron clads passed
through the shower of shot and shell uninured
or with triding damages.
The casualties reported were very few; Capt.
Rhind Of the Keokuk was slightly injured by
ball The Quartermaster and six men on board
the Nantucket were killed.
As regards the future movements, reports are
conflicting. 1t is positively stated by one Of
the pilots who boarded us that the monitors
would withdraw over the bar and further action
for the present would be suspended. This was
subsequently corroborated by reporter for a
New York paper An officer from the James
Alger who previously boarded us, stated that
the engagement would be renewed about one p.
4 Il al. A L.
belief Of success. No torpedoes are reported
to have exploded. We left the fleet at noon,
and when about 25 miles North, heard heavy
firing. ..t.
New York, April l3.-The Tribunes special
account of the Charleston fight says our squad
ron arrived off Charleston on the morning of
the 5th and spent the day in examining the bars
and channels, the wind being TOO high to cross
that evening. The Admiral disclosed his plan
of attack, which was to sail directly up aud at
tack the Northwest face of Fort Sumter at 600 or
800 yards. i, gs- a s4g al I'd
| About 8 o'clock ON Monday morning the sig-
nal for a movement was given and the vessels
started slowly. In consequence of fog, how
ever, they were obliged to postpone the intended
attack till then extlay. During the afternoon one
of Gen. Ferry brigades worked its way up Fol-
ley Island aud established communication with
the fleet. but no portion of the land forces got
into the attack at all. g5irlr -tss...f ttfts.r
On the 7th at A P. NJ, the fleet got under way
and passed the Morris Island batteries without
being fred upon, pushing right on toward Sum.
| ter. The New Ironsides worked badly, and ir
consequence of the current was Obliged 10 anch'
or two or three times. seisf (, ~ st-
Fort Moultrie opened first upon the Weehawk
en-, which was within 500 yards. Cumming,
Point Battery, Fort Sumter aud Battery Bee inn
mediately opened, and the action became gener
al and terrific. The Monitors still pushed on
replying vigorously, and passed to the north.
east face of Fort Sumter when they discovered
three lines Of distractions holding torpedoes
&c., one Of which exploded, but did no great
damage. Finding itimpossible to get across the
obstruetions, they turned about and steamed
down the harbor. The Patapsco's 200 pound.
er had become disabled, and the turret of tn,
Passaic was 50 bent that the vessel was practi
cally out of use. Other boats also passed up L
northeast face of Sumter, till they also were
stopped by distractions, and turned back; afteI
being under fire for three quarters of an hour
all the Monitors were ordered back aud at 6
o'cloek the entire fleet was out OF range, and the
action ceased. Admiral Dupont intended TO re.
new the attack the next day, hut on ascertaining
that the Keokuk and Passaic were entirely dis
abled, and three others partially SO, he conclud.
ed to desist, in which be was sustained by all the
| Commanders. Aert sr-a 81
The Monitors were hit from so TO GO time,
each, except the Keoknk, which received abou
80 shots aud was penetrated at the water-marl
no less than IS times. She was kept afloat til
next morning, when she sunk on the bar, he
colors flying. All on board were saved. Tn,
Ironsides was hit about 60, times, but not dam
aged. s fi.,5s. s,faa0sF N l,ss.ti .e-l
There are II large holes in the side of For
Sumter, apparently running through the walls
The entire firing only amounted TO $50 rounds
When our correspondent left, two of the Mon.
itors had sailed for Port Royal and others were
to follow. Our entire casualties amounted To IL
lof whom bpt2 or were killed. sas3 ,,. -
The Times special gives the following list o.
lcasuallies;s On the Nahant--Com. Downes
slight confusion Of the foot; pilot Isaac Scofield
severe confusion, of the neck and shoulders. do
ing well; Quartermaster Cobb, compound fract.
ure ofskull, since died; three seamen slightly
Keokuk, commander A. @. Rhind, confusion o.
leg; Mcintosh, acting ensign, dangerously; II
Nicholson qnartermasieB slightly three sea.
men seriously and seven Others slightly. =. + ,
i The New York Herald's account SAYS rumo,
was in circulation both at Port Royal and Char.
lesion bar, that our troops were rapidly eaipine
, the rear Of the city of Charleston.
The Times correspondent says the Charles,
ton fight that the iron ships were exposed 10 I
eoncentric fire from i've different points. unpar
Ialleled in the history Of warfare. The Zee
found itimpossibletO It pass up beyond Fort Sum
ter and assume the appointed place owing to III,
lobstructons which extendeding across the en-
lire channel from Sumter to Moultrie, Will.
above those near the middle ground were thre,
other rows Of pilots, and above these the rebe
'ron-elads: The fleet was thus compelled t