The Placer herald., 1863-04-18
SACRAMENTO CORRESPONDING
SACRAMENTO, THURSDAY, April l6, 1868.

Editors Herald:-The irregular droppngs
by telegraph inform us that the capture of
Charleston is a more serious undertaking
than was at first anticipated. This siege and
defense will be held in history as very dis
tinctve-t being a trial of the war iron.
clad ship against most formidable, and to
the wooden man-of war, impregnable land
forttcation Since the Inauguration of
the Revolution, or Rebellion, flor, if sue
cessful, it is Revolution, and if unsuccess-
full, a Rebeion) it has been claimed that
maritime warfare has been revolutionized by
the invention Of our "Moniters," and that
the great wooden,sided ships of the immense
navies of the Old World are thus rendered
useless, and might as we'll be laid up in dry
docks. Iron cads have received the custo-
mary audation and praise of all new desI
structives, and the various Governments of
the world have been shocked, as bv an uni
versal earthquake, by their conceded power
for destruction, as water defense. But are
we not too fast, in this estimation of the
nvincibiIity of the iron clad gun boat?
Have they been fully tested! Not fully yet,
as will be seen by the contest now raging
at the harbor of Charleston. There, I'M
doubtedly, their power of endurance will be
thoroughly tried, as due preparation has
been made 10y the besegers and the besieged.
The land Notifications in front of that city
are sufficiently strong, and the iron clad
fleet most complete for a grand demonstrai
ton and calculation of the question at issue.
If the Federal gun boats succeed in reduc-
ing Fort Moultrie, and the assisting batter,
les on Mount Pleasant and Cummings
Point, a signal victory for iron-clad batteries
will be won. But should this fleet be driv.
en- off, and the masonry of stone and mortar
prove the most durable, then all that has
been claimed for this invention of our age
and times, dwindIes into nsiguificance AS
compared with the great advantages claimed
and spread worldwide Immediately after
the terrific conflict between the two first gun.
boats-the Monitor and the Merrimac.
England will be again the mistress of the
seas, and our sea port towns safe in case of
foreign war. Old Moulrie was Construct
ed for an outside attack, and not for inland
batteries. 1t. Anderson, had tremendous
fire in the rear" to contend against, and
there was no other result to be anticipated
from the attack on the 18th of April, 1861, |
than surrender to South Carolina But
the news of the success or defeat of the
iron clals Low before Charleston, is looked
for with the greatest interest from all parts
Of the world,-n solely toi the effect it
may have upon the progress Of the war, but
for the knowledge it will give of the power
and efficacy of iron-clad batteries. so far
AS we have learned the progress of the
contest, the confidence heretofore. given this
class OF vessels has been materially shaken
hey may, however prove successful in the |
seige before the end. The fact that the
ironIcads Withdrew after the first day., fight
Is not conclusive of their inability to con,
quer. Fort Moultrie may have suffered
equally with them. The contest between
fixed and floating batteries cannot but con.
lln"e to excite the greatest a tention among |
men OF military science until the result is
known