The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-30
A Conclusive Statement as to the
Mismanagement OF the Naval Au-
thOritieS i'm the Charleston Affair.
From the Baltimore American, &c
THE SUMTER AFFAIR AGAIN.

THE SUMTER AFFAIR AGAIN
The New York Tribune thus shame.
lessly misrepresents us, and caioles its
readers as to the condition of the Moni-
tor feet after the recent attack ON Sum
ter:
"The Baltimore american finds itself
compelled to retract, though reluctantly
and ungracefully, It's shameful slandcrs
on Admiral Dupont and the naval COM
manders under him, and to admit the
vUrrecUneSs ef fz4l~-~r-:-:------l -
viously expressed This being so, and
it being apparent to all unprejudiced and
intelligent persons that the repulse at
Charleston was due to the inadequate
force with which Admiral Dupont was
obliged to undertake the attack, and in
no respect to any default on his part, we
have no further occasion for discussion
with the american. 1t is welcome to
resent the exposure of its motives and
correction of its misstatements by abus-
ing the Tribune to its hearts content"
We have not corrected, either "reluc-
tantly or ungracefully," or gracefully or
willingly, any of the statements of fact
contained in our Charleston corr espond-
ence, but we have refused to allow the
Tribune to construe us as making per-
sonal attacks on Admiral Dupont land
the naval commanders under him." The
result at Charleston has proved that Ad-
miral Dupont and his immediate feet
authorities had not the degree of con-
fdence in the Monitor fleet which was
necessary to the proper performance of
the great work expected of them by the
country They lacked the energy, per-
severence, dash, elan, for so important
an undertaking, and have miserably
failed This we have said, and this we
adhere to.
By the steamer Cahawba, which ar
rived at New York on Saturday, we have
three items of news from the iron-clad
feet, to which we would call the special
attention of the 1iibune
First-That the seven Monitors re-
turned from the formal attack on Sum-
ter are all in good fighting condition,
covered with the scars of war, but as
formidable as ever.
Second-That the Keokuk has been
left on the shore of Morris Island, the
fleet authorities having contented them
selvas with firing a few shots at her as
thev passed out
Third-That there is much dissatis-
faction expressed by the officers and the
men as to the course of the feet authori-
ties in abandoning the attack on Charles
ton.
These items of information coming, as
they do, most cautiously worded, from
correspondents of the New York and
Philadelphia papers at Hilton Head,
written ten days after the affair at Sum
ter, are worthy of consideration. Those
who have spent any time in the Depart
ment of the South, know full well that
when correspondent located there dal e;
to say one word that is not compliment
airy to the authorities on land or water
he finds himself suddenly in the guard
house, to await the departure of the next
steamer North. What does occasional
ly leak out should, therefore, always be
regarded as honest truth, spoken in def
ance of the displeasure of the military
authorities-as coming from men, all o
whom, in risking truthful statement
also risk their means of livelihood. Wher
one is sent away they are not allowed tt
return, and are thrust in danger Of losins
their employment
There are some of these items of new
on which we desire to make few com
ments, confrmatory, as they are, of ou
correspondence from Charleston Bar.
The feet, we are informed, have al
left Charleston Bar, and resumed thei
listless position in Port Royal harbol
Our correspondent desires to impress o.
his readers that the fight was merely su'
pended, and will be again resumed.