Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-04-24
scal Correspondence Of the Chicago Times
From washington.
WASHINGTON, Ap

W ASHlNGToNi Aptll 10,
During the last four days the Administra.
ton has heen striving with its utmost power
to keep from the people knowledge Of the
great disuster that hes befullen the national
arms in Charleston hnrbor On Sunday it
was given out, under the express sanction Of
the Administrat that the bombardment Of
Charleston had commenced, and that the Gov
ernment was in receipt of intelligence which
rendered it certain that by that time that nest
OF treason was IN our possession. The same
telegram stated that many Government oil
cials bet heavy sums that Charleston was
taken, or would be taken by the 18th inst,
and that those hets found no takers No
such bets were ever made. On Monday, the
Administration authorized the statement to be
made that the affair of the Ith was only Il re.
connoissance, that it had proved successful
and that Com. Dupont having ascertained
what he wished TO know about the dcfences
of tho place, would begin the regular lombard
ment nbou the 10th also, that the affair of
the 7th was without loss on our side. Iester
day, the fasehood Of the official exports Of
the previous two days was exposed, and Lin
coin aud his minons here were obliged to
admit that our loss had been severe that one
Of the finest iron clad vessels was destroyed
and sunk, and five others so disabled and
shattered as TO he useless until repaired But
the Administration, with bushing efirontery,
then caused the statement TO be made that
the damages could all he repaired by the 10th
that by that time our naval force Il ere would
be reinforced by three other iron clad vessels
and that on that day the bombardment OF
Charleston would really begin. Mr. Lincoln
himself said emphaiically that the affair of the
! 7th was not repulse, but only q check, aud
! that Com. Dupont would be ready to begin
operations there ia earnest on the 18th,
! The day for the people to be fooled and
bamboozled, however is over. To-day neith-
| er Mr.. Lincoln nor any member OF his weak
and wicked administration has a single word
| To say about Charleston The facts are now
known to the world The people now know
that the affair in Charleston harbor on the
! Tth was no reconnaissance, but that it WAS the
long talked Of and much boasted attack on
| Charleston, vhich was to demolish Fort Sum
ter aud grind il TO pogder and to reduce
Charleston TO II heap OF smOuldering ruins
They know that this attack was made deliber
ately, after months OF preparation, and viii
the utmost power ul our naval force They
know that it has proved total, complete, ant
confessed failure They know that some o
our iron clad vessels are entirely destroyed
And others so much strained, bent, and bat
tered, that they can never be made seryiceabl'
again. They know that the impregnabiity
Of Charleston has been demonstrated anC
that no further attempt will be made to take
that city in word, lhatthe campaign agains
Charleston is over
The members of the Administration, too
know these facts. They gnash their teetl
over them and swear awiully (you know they
are all dreadfully profane swearers, from
Abraham down to the tail end of the Cabinet
except Mr. Usher, the new Secretary of the
Interior, who, although in bad company il
every inch a gentleman, and don't swear y yes
they all swear awfully about it, and are trying
10 throw the blame of the defeat on Com
uodore Dupont, General Hunter, and tbs
brave Captains OF the ron.elad vessels. Thsy