The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-23

heretofore passed up to the city. The pres
ence of the Ironsides will, in future, render
the business quite hazardous.
This department has already relapsed into
its old habits of inactivity. Nothing will be
done for the present but drill the troops, work
the plantations and watch the movements of
the rebels against all encroachments.
Correspondence of the Boston Journal
At the close of the engagement it was sup
posed by every one that the attack would be
renewed on Wednesday afternoon. At nine
ocl'k Tuesday evening the Captains and Com
manders of the feet were called on board the
flagship. Each gave his account of the fight,
and each returned to his ship with the expec-
tarion of a renewal of the battle The Chief
Engineer, Mr.. Sinners, under whose direction
the Monitors were built, visited each, examin-
ed them carefully and reported that by noon
OF wednesday they would be i'm good condi-
tion for renewal of the engagement; that no
serious injury, except to the Keokuk, had been
received; that in his opinion they could stand
as much hammering as they had already re-
ceived.
Admiral Dupont had not visited the several
ships, but he dissented from this opinion. He
thought them more damaged than the inspec-
tor had reported, and feared that If he renew
ed the attack the fleet would be entirely disa-
bled.
On Wednesday morning the sea was rough
Each wave washed the Keokuk, pouring floods
of water into her shot holes. 1t was found
impossible TO save her, and she sank at eight
o'clock on the bar-her smoke stack being Wis
ible at ebb tide.
A member of the press at this hour visited
the flagship and found to his astonshment
that the Admiral had decided not to renew the
attack. He said that he took the responsible
ty upon himself of abandoning the expedition.
ft.,<x H.. Al. 4 r. N
he found the commanders making the necessa-
ry preparations for another fight. The tenn
porary disability of the guns had been repair
ed, the turret of the Passaic, which had refused
to reyolve was all right, the men were in good
cheer. Among the officers there was a differ
ence of opinion-some were confident that
they could knock Sumter to pieces, while 9TH
ers feared that a second hamnering would use
up the feet.
The information given by the correspondent
was the first intimation to the fleet that the
attack was not to be resumed. The crew ex-
pressed great dissatisfaction. They were
ready for another afternoons work. On board
the lronsides there was much murmuring, not
only in the forecastle but In the ward room.
The lronsides had taken no part, or at least so
little that the officers felt that in the eyes Of
the world they would be subject to ridicule if
it was thus given up.
What influenced Admiral Dupont TO change
his mlnd-whether it was the sinking of the
Keokuk, whether he feared that the fleet
would be shattered in a second attack by the
shot, or blown up by undiscovered torpedoes,
or run down by rebel rams, or was influ-
enced by the opinions Of some of the comman-
ders, who, from the beginning, have not look
ed upon the Monitors with favor--is not
known. 1t is no secret that the Admiral has
not had great confidence In the monitors. He
has never been sanguine of success. In a con-
versation held few weeks ago he spoke
freely of the tremendous batteries he would
have TO oppose-of the torpedoes-steam boil
ers filed with thousands of pounds Of powder
of Internal machines. He said that all his
knowledge of naval warfare was obtained on
shipboard, and that he was called upon TO
make an attack against the most powerful bat
teries ever constructed, with feet SO pecu-
liar in its construction and armament that his
knowledge and experience were of but little
value. Some fthe Captains have expressed
fears that the monitors would be wanting in
aggressive power, while others, younger in
years, not confirmed in opinion by long SER
vice, have had more ardent expectations.
Now that the monitors have been tested and
have come out of the hardest possible pounding
which the rebels casgive-al almost as good AS
new-they are sanguine that Sumter can be
made ruin and Charleston an ash heap.
The crews, who reason OF what can be done
bl NHdi Has DteH, are tNECr 10 ITN tnelf
strength in deeisire contest, which will be
victory or defeat, or a repulse. | have 1t
from good authority that the crew of the IRON
sides will refrain from giving the Admiral the
customary hearty cheer usual when Com
mander transfers his flag to another ship.
In the army, where the dicipline is lax COM
pared with the navy, where men express their
opinions freely. there h modification, chagrin
and disgust. The troops of the department
have had but few opportunities to meet the
enemy. They were ready for the encounter.
The siege train was complete, the ordnance
ample for offensive operations. All of their
expectations have vanished. They see moth
ing but an inactive summer dull campaign
which is soldiers horror.
Such Is the outside view, such in part the
inside view. In forming conclusions, we are
not to forget that Admiral Du Pont in assum-
ing the responsibility to cut short further OPP
erations after so long waiting, after such an
outlay of means against the chief seat of the
rebellion. against the city which inaugurated
the war, may be actuated by reasons which
will fully warrant him in the course. His rea-
sons are doubtless transmitted to Washington,
and will receive due consideration from the
Secretary Of the Navy and the President.
The result is not what was expected We
who watched the contest were not surprised
to see the fleet withdrawn, for it had been de-
termined to discontinue the fire at sunset.
We were surprised TO find no loss ef life, so
few wounded, no serious damage done to the
monitors after such pounding. Great was
the surprise when it was aseertained that the
expedition mad been abandoned.
We have seen the heaviest possible rebel
fire. We have seen also about the smallest
possible fire Of the feet The dispatches from
Charleston say that the fort was struck eighty
four tmes-showing that nearly every shot
aimed at the walls had some effect. There is
discreet silence as to the damage done the
fort. If the walls were sound, should we
not hear oft? The inference is natural, that
the damage is greater even than appeared to
us who saw it from distance.
We have the reduction of Pulaski for basis
of fcalculation-where the nearest battery was
three-fourths of a mile distant, further than
the lronsdes in the late engagement.
1t will be instructive at this place to see
what was done at Pulaski. The mortars en-
ployed there did no damage There were but
twenty guns in all, and they were in position
at the following distances:
lo-inch Columbiads at .......... 800 yards.
s-iDch ......,.... .3o45 "
5loinch ............lI40