The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-14
A TERRIFIC CONFLICT
The Iron-clads Turned Back BY
Distractions.
CASUALTIES AND MISHAPS
Hauled off for Repairs.

NEW YORK, April 13.-The TTibunes
account of the Charleston fight says:
The squadron arrived off Charleston
on the morning of the 9Th, and spent the
day examining the bars and channels,
the wind being too high to cross that
evening.
The Admiral disclosed his plan of at
tack, which was to sail directly up and
attack the northwest face of Fort Sum-
ter at 600 or 800 yards. About eight
o'clock Monday morning the signal for
the movement was given, and the vessels
started slowly. In consequence of fog,
however, they were obliged to postpone
the intended attack until the next day
During the afternoon one of General
Furry brigades worked its way up Fol-
ley Island and established commurica-
ton with the fleet, but no portion of the
land forces got into the attack at all
On the 9TH at All, P. NJ, the fleet got
batteries, without being fired upon, push
ing right on toward Sumter.
The New Ironsides worked badly, and
in consequence of the current, was
obliged to anchor two or three times.
Fort Moultrie opened first upon the
Weehauken, which was within 500 yards.
Cummings Point battery, Fort Sumter
and battery b., Immediately opened and
the action became general and terrific.
The Monitors still pushed on, replying
vigorously, and passed the northeast face
of Sumter where they discovered three
lines of distractions, holding torpedoes,
one Of which exploded, but did not do
any damage.
! Finding it imposs Ile to get acr lss the
distractions they turned about and steam
ed down the harbor
The Patapsco's 200.pounder had be-
come disabled, and the turret of the Pas
sale so bent that it was practically out
of USE Other boats also passed up to
the northeast face of Sumter. until they
were also stopped by distractions.
After being under. fire for.three-quarters
of an hour, all the Monitors fell back.
! At ) o'clock the entire fleet was out of
range, and the action stopped.
] Admiral Dupont intended to renew
the attack next day, but on learning that
the Keokuk and Pasaic were entirely
disabled, and three others partly so, he
concluded to desist in which he was sus-
tanned by all the commanders
The Monitors were hit from so to GO
times each, except the Keokuk, which
received about 80 shots, and was pene-
trated at the water mark no less than 10
times.
She was kept afoat until next morning
when she sunk on the bar, her colors fly
ing All on board were saved.
The Ironsides was hit about 60 times,
but was not damaged
There are eleven large holes in the
sides of Sumter apparently running
through the wall.
! The entire firing only amounted TO $50
rounds.
When our correspondent left, two of
the Monitors had sailed for Port Royal.
and others were to follow. Our entire
casualties amounted to thirteen of whom
but two were killed
The Times special gives the follow
ing list of casualties on the Nahant:
Commander Downs, slight confusion
in foot; pilot, Isaac Schoield, severe.
confusion IN the neck and shoulder, do
ing we'll Quartermaster Cobb, COM
pound fracture of the skull since dead
Three seamen slightly wounded.
On the Keokuk Commander Rhing,
confusion of the leg; A. Mcintosh, act
ing Ensign, dangerously;..R. Nicholson,
Quartermaster, slightly, and three sea-
men, seriously and seven slightly.
The Heralds account, SAYS there was
rumor in circulation both at Port Roy
al and Charleston bar, that our troops
were rapidly gaining the rear of the city
! of Charleston
The casualties reported we're very few.
f Capt. Rhind Of the Keokuk was slightly
injured by ball The Quartermaster
and six men on the Nantucket were
killed.
AS regards the further moments, re-
, ports are conflicting 1t was positively
stated by one Of the pilots who boarded
us that the Monitors would withdraw over
the bar, and that further action for the
, present would be suspended. This was
subsequently corroborated BY reporter
for New York paper.
, An officer from the James Adger, who
t previously boarded US, stated that the en-
r gagement would be renewed about one
! PM, and added that the Admiral ex-
pressed his belief OF success
e No torpedoes are reported to have ex
ploded.
q We left the feet at noon. When about
: twenty-five miles north, we heard heavy
y firing
i The above was a private message ad
dressed to Col Sanford