Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-13


har5or. Charleston dispatches Of Wednes-
day say that the rebel troops and citizens
we're in high spirits over what they termed
the repulse of the Federal feet on the pre-
ceding day. The distance at which the mr.
ing was said by previous dispatches to
have been had-8,O 900 yards-is corrected
to 900, which is much more probable. 1t
is said that the iron-clads must pass with
in 500 yards Of Fort Sumter to gain the
inner barbor. The loss Of the Keokuk is
again reported, and pieces Of her furni-
ture are said to have washed ashore, some
Of which we're clotted with blood, indicat-
ing severe loss on the vessel before she
went down. A dispatch from the Army of
the Potomac reports that Davis had re-
ceived some important dispatches from
Commodore Ingraham, in command of the
rebel "Navy" (the two iron rams)
at Charleston; but their nature can only
be surmised from the fact that the papers
are silent as to their contents. Il is re-
ported that the obstruction denominsted a
Devil, devised by Ericsson for removing
torpedoes and piles, has also washed
ashore.
The fact that up to Thursday morning
there had been no renewal of the attack,
is by no means disheartening. Admiral
Dupont is inside the barw with his feet, and
consequently in smooth water, where he
has no reason to fear storm. He is right,
therefore, in waiting to repair damages and
get all ready before he follows up the re-
eonnoisanee Of Tuesday. He has lost one
of his feet, but has gained valuable in
formation as to the range and size of the
rebel batteries, and the position of the OBJ
structions which he must overcome.
The public interest being concentrated
at this time upon Charleston, we gather
from various sources, the following facts
and details;
THE REBEL CROss-FRE IN TEE HARBoR.
The correspondent of the Baltimore
Americas, after describing the batteries,
&C., says:
at will be easily seen by 8 careful
reading of the foregoing statement OF To-
oalities and distances that passing up eth
er Mafit's Channel or Ship Channel our
iron clads will be under the fire of the
sand batteries for three miles before they
reach Fort Sumter. By entering the Swash
Channel, which passes through the center
Of the bar, they would avoid all the bat
teries until they get in range Of Sumter.
The Swash Channel, however, is too tortu-
Gus and uncertain, so that the entrance
will doubtless be made by the Ship Chan
mel, which runs along the range of the
batteries on Morris Island. This channel
is better known, less chsngeable and easi-
er navigated than any Of the others.
"Ihus on entering, the fleet, after run
ming the gauntlet Of All the shore batteries,
will ultimately come in range of Fort
Sumter. On approaching Fort Sumter
there will be concentration of FIRE upon
them such as has never before occurred in
naval history The guns Of Sumter, Moul-
trie and Cummings Point will be able to
concentrate their fire on them at one and
the same moment, throwing q weight Of
metal that would probably sink all the
wooden vessels in the navy if they should
approach within striking distance.
"Within the harbor, beyond Fort Sum
ter, there will doubtless also be a eoncen-
trated fire Of great power, but then the
city would then be under the guns Of our
Monitors. Whether it will stand fire or
surrender, time will disclose.
There are also distractions in the har-
Dor, which, together with numerous tor
pedoes, will render the work of reaching
the city front one of great hazard. Wheth-
er this will be accomplished or not, a
short time will decide. 1t will be a trial
of Monitor vessels in which all the power
nf modern artillery and engineering kill
viii Dv arrayed Tor their destruction. They
viii have to undergo test as to their vul-
nerability that will, if they should sue
ceed, be the death-knell Of all wooden yes
sells for future naval warfare.
The Charleston papers, in recent refer
enee TO the coming conflict, speak Of it as
. contest for the possession Of the city
They no longer make any threat Of des-
troying it. The possession or destruction
of it will be the aim of our feet; and there
is full confidence Of ultimate success among
our naval officers"
REBEL ACCOUNT OF THE DEFENsEs.
The Richmond Enquirer gives the fol-
lowing description of the situation of
Charleston and its preparations for de-
fense. These descriptions of the stipend
GUS work of defense will moderate the ex-
pectations of our readers, and render the
glory of the navy all the greater if it sue
ceeds:
"Charleston is situated on low, level
point of land, at the junction of Cooper
and Ashley Rivers. No portion of the city
is more than twenty feet above the tide, so
that upon approaching it from the hsrbor
its buildings and the beautiful spires Of its
churches seem to rise directly from the
water. The Cooper River joins the Ashley
at a right angle from the North, and the
continuation Of the latter river, running
nearly due east, forms the lower harbor
and bay of Charleston, which widens grad
ually from two to five miles to its mouth,
distant about ten miles from the city. On
the opposite side of the Cooper River,
where it debOuches into the harbor, short
mile from the city, is C1stls PiHkney, small
work, but mounting some heavy guns.
Nearly opposite, on the southern side Of
the harbor, on James Island, about tlVO
miles distant, IS Fort johnson. About four
miles from the city, midway between Sulli-
vans and James IslsRds, is Fort Sumter,
and directly northward of it, on Sullivan's
Isla2d, at distant of two thousand yards,
is fort Moultrie. Between these two forts
is the only channel fo- vessels to approach
the city Fort Sumter has three tiers Of
guns, and under the old government,
ranked as a fortihcation Of the second
class, in the extent of the works and the
strength Of its armament, but it was con-
structed in q very superior manner, and
was supposed to be inVnlnerable at the