, 1863-07-17


On the glorious Fourth of July the heavy
batteries We have recently erected on Folly
leland, commanding the rebel batteries at the
month Of Lighthouse Inlet, intended to dis
tute the entrance to the ship channel, were
opened upon with destructive fire; making
short work Of them. The Federal batteries
had been erected under masks Of foliage, and
the astonishcd rebels knew nothing Of their
existence Our guns were Of the heaviest
ca1ibre, and numbered thirts-four Largo
numbers Of troops had been sent to Folly
Island, and there was every indication Of
eaTnestness and activity In the military de-
partment.
: Admiral Dahlgren, On his arrival at Port
R1! md relieving Admiral Dupont, imme.
diately ordered the Monitors to prepare for
active service. The work being done On them,
efficiency was concerned, was ordered instant-
y to cease, and q shout Of joy and gladness
vent up throughout the whole squadron.
These fancy Improvements could be put on
after the war Ia over. Now the vessels were
wanted for the purpose for which they were
constructed. improvements and modifica-
tfons could be made when the vessels were
out ct commission, and where there was an
abundance Of men and mechanism to perform
the work, and not when valuable time wou1d
be wasted sin the face Of the euemy.". G1ori.
Gus decision, and honored be tho man who
u ade IT
Instead Of establishing himself In the chair
ing the homage Of the courtlers, Admiral
pah'gren raised his lag on the humble little
transport Mary DinsmoEe, which had been
ormed and equipped for tho purpose, and on
the Fourth Of July was preparing 70 move to
join his iron clad fleet In the harbor Of North
-Edisto. The officers and crews Of the Moni-
tors rusting for service, and disgusted and
Haia ft41r, {ft,f.
ty. we're In ecatacies At tho prospect Of having
a chance to test theee glorious little vessels
on the walls of Sumter, and equally confident
Of success. They felt that they were relieved
from the tyranntca1 restraints imposed upon
them to. shield iucompeteEcy, and that the
work Of national retribution was approach
admiral Dahlgren had ordered MI tho work
men from the Monitors to proceed at once to
the completion Of the repairs On the captured
iron-clad Atlanta, intending to use her also
She was nearly completed when the Arago
ssiled, and was being manned for the occasion
by officers ind crews from some Of the heavy
wooden vessels, which Of course could not
tai C part in the fight. It is thus evident that
Admiral Dahlgrcn Id not SO kind.hearted ns
to baye any fears Of Irritating the enemy"
and as we have nt the head Of both the navy
two earnest, active fighting men, no doubt Is
fs1t OF the success Of the movement now In
progress.
Of the fact that Fort Sumter was on the
point Of sur7cndering when the Monitors
were called ont Of action We know that the
President and Secretary OF the Navy have the
nost convincing proof. They have letters
ftom those who saw the holes through the
wall, from those who walked through the
breaches, and from those who, living In
Charleston, gave the assurance that scart
ond horse could be driven through them"
They hare the assurance, from those who
know al the detenses, that our Monitors can
enter with impunity and crush them oil: that
those who think them impregnab1e are flight
ened By the ghosts and phantoms sent out
by the rebels themselves to terrify those in
command, Having Witnessed the farce under
the walls Of Sumter, and being cognizaut Of
all these facts a. to the effect Of that badly
managed affair, where the Monitors were not
given d half chance 10 test their powers, va
cannot, even at this late day, think OF the af-
fair OF write about 1t without feeling Of dis
gust and modification that we canno: refsain
Ium EXPRESSING