Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-04-14
PUBLISHED (DA1LY) TX
EDGAR SNOW DEN, JR.
ng- OFFICE-No 104 King street, over
tones, Formerly French's) Book Store.
The Fight in Charleston Harbor.


The n. Y. Times publishes an extra edition
containing accounts relative to the engagement
in Charleston harbor.
It's correspondent says the trial which was
decisive ordeal of two hours, served to prove
that the defensive powers OF the iron fleet was
sufficient to withstand the terrible force OF the
offensive engineering of the works it had to as
sail while the limitations of the offensive pow
ers belonging to the iron-clads took away all
/ their advantages The result of the recconols-
ance proves the utter insufficiency OF the IRON
clad fleet to take Charleston alone.
The Nahant received thirty wounds, several
being bad fractures of her deck and sides above
and below the water line. The most fatal
blow was by heavy rihed shot, which struck
/ the pilot house and dislodged several bolts,
| Wounding the inmates.
rounds. The most extraordinary shot was
the turret scoping out large portion of the
inch thickness each, and spending its force en-
the pilot house on top Of the turret, in which
it made a crater three inches deep, and raised
the pilot house three inches. Another shot
hit the turret, forcing place which struck In
ward, disabling the carriage OF a eleven-inch
gun by the shock while portion OF the interior
iron casing fell, lodging in the groove of the
turret, stopping its revolution.
The Nantucket had it's turret 50 Jared that
the cover port could not be opened, and consee-
ouentlv it's ffteeen inch gun could not be used
The other Monitors received more Or less shots
but were not disabled
It appears that Fort Moultrie first opened
fire VI on the Federal feet, and was soon fol-
lowed by the other forts and batteries, when
the action became general and terrific. The
iron-clads advanced, replying vigorously, and
passed the northeast face Of Fort Sumter,
when three lines Of distractions were discover
I'd. Finding it impossible to remove OF pass
them, they turned about and steamed down
the harbor In the mean time the Keokuck
had been struck and perforated by large shot
from the effect of which she sunk the next
morning. The monitor Patapsco's large gun
had become disabled and the turret of the
Nahant SO bent that the vessel was practically
out Of use. Other boats also passed up the
northeast face Of Fort Sumter till they were
also stopped By the obstructions and turned
back. After being under fire for three-quar
eers or an hour, the monitors were ordered TO
withdraw, and at five o clock the entire feet
was out Of range and the action ceased. One
statement says that the hight clearly demon
stIates that the iron-clads alone cannot take
charleston. The firing Of the fleet issupposed
10 have damaged Fort Sumter considerably,
as several large holes were seen on the eastern
wall. The Devil broke loose from her con-
SORT the v ehawken, the day after the fight,
ana foated ashore and was captured by the
Nonfederates. No official dispatches had been
5HecelVed Hc from Admiral Dupont by the Navy
t|ci?arCnlent IN 4 noon Yesterday
small nny has Cor The aaet throo or to11r