Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-04-15

is at an end and this goodly city, girdled
with the fiery circle of its batteries, stands
confronted with the most formidable Armada
that the hands of man have ever put afoat.
The FIRST scene in the novel drama OF he
war, which, we trust, is to add new lustre to
the fame of Charleston, has closed. Let US
reader thanks to the Lord of Hosts that the
result, thus far has been one of proud tri-
unph to onr country. AS yet, however, We
have but entered upon the ordeal 1t will
be for the next few days to tell the tale OF
our sad disaster, or complete success.
In view of the reticence which (for reasons
of military policy has heretofore marked our
illusions to the presence of the ironclad fleet,
a review of the events of the week Will not
be ont of place. About noon on Sunday last
the first intelligence was flashed to the city
from Fort Sumter, that the turrets of the far.
famed Monitor gunboats were looming mp
against the southeastern horizon. During
the afternoon the entire fleet hove in sight.
Eight Monitors, besides the frigate ironsides
and twenty even wooden war vessels, took
up their position just beyond the bar. As
the news became bruited about The city.
yery many Of our non. combstant population
previously incredulous of danger) made has
ty preparations to depart; and every train
that has left the city since has gone heavily
laden with the eleventh-Eour refugees and
their effects. :,
Sunday night passed quietly by. Monday
morning brought US reports of the movements
Of transports up the Stono River, aud the
debarkation of a considerable force of Yankee
troops on Coles Island. But throughout
Monday and Monday night, the armed fleet
held its position beyond the bar On Tues
day morniugit was observed tnat anotner
Monitor had arrived, making force OF no
less than ten iron-clad vessels, including the
Ironsides. :.
At2o'clcck on Tuesday afternoon, dis
patch from Fort Sumter announced that these
ten vessels had crossed the bar, and were
cautiously steaming inward-the foremost
one having at that time reached point about
three Thousand yards from the Fort. The
next news was brought to us, an hour later,
by the dull detonation Of the first gun from
Fort Moultrie, which was Immediately an
swer.d by heavy report and cloud OF
white smoke from the turret Of one Of the
Monitors. At ten minutes after three. the
enemy having come within range, Fort Sum
ter opened her batteries, and almost stimuli
taneously, the VIII te smoke could be seen
puf6inp from the low sand hills Of Morris
and Sullivan's Islands, indicating that the
Beaureeard Battery on the left, and Battery
Wagner on the extreme right. had become
engaged Five of the iron cads, forming
in line of battein front of Fort Sumter, main
ta:ned very rapid return fire, occasionally
burlinv their is inch shot and shell against
Fort Moutre and the minor batteries, but
all directing their chi;f efforts against the
cast face Of Fort Sumter. Gradually, but
visibly, the distance between the attacking
vessels and The Fort was lesSened, and as the
enemy drew NJ arer the firing became hot
and almost continuous
abou, halt: post tour O'Clock, the battle he
came fierce aud general. The scene at that
bour. as viewed from the Battery promenade,
was truly grand Battery Bee had now min
led the hoarse thunder Of its guns in the
universal din, and the whole expanse OF the
barbor entrauce, from Sulliyan's Island to
Cummings Point, became envel ped in the
smoke and constant flashes Of the conflict.
The ironcads kept constantly shifting their
position, but, whichever way they went, their
ports, alwaTs turned towards the battemerts
of Sumter, poured forth their terrible pro-
iectiles against the walls Of that famous strong
hold. Ever and anon, as the huge shot were
r;cocbettirg towards the mark, the water was
dashed up in vast sheets of spray, towering
far above the parapet Of the Fort, while the
wreaths of smoke constantly ascending from
The barbette guns showed how actively the
artilerymen of the post were discbarg!ng
their duties. In the foreground, our own
staunch little ironclads, the Palmetto State
and Chicora, could be seen steaming ener-
eetically up and down their chosen fighting
position, evidently inpatient 10 participate IN
the fray.
borne a very conspicuous part in the fight
Her long hull lay at the distance, apparently
of mile from our batteries, and her tire.
mendous broadsides were more than once ftly
answered By broadsides from the Fort. It
soon became apparent that she was unable to
stand the severe fire directed against her.
Steaming rapidly Sou Inward, she gave Fort
Sumter q few parting shots snd withdrew
from the action The keokuk, double
turretted Monitor, soon after followed her
example and before five o'clock the firing
had evidently begun to slacken. The remain,
ing MONITORS, uoTefe1, nIitt EePs w 'ne o'.
bardment, and our forts and bctteries replied
with undipinished alacFity. At quarter al
ter Ave, p m, the Monitors began to retire,
and at half-past five, the enemy fired the last
shot of the engagement. -
Gratifying as we're the general results of
the fight, the late hour at which it. closed pre-
cluded the possibility of our receiving the
full details from the Forts. A dispatch from
Fort Sumter informs US that the Ironsides
and Keokuk were both very roughly handled,
and retired seriously injured. The Keokuk
had her flag shot down, her boat shot away,
three holes in her smoke stack and por-
ton of her bow shot OF. The practice of our
gunpers was most creditabe. Nearly every
Shot struck some one of the ironcads, but
with what effect is not known. Fort Sum,
ter was struck thirty -four times. One of
our guns was dsmounted, but otherwise the
Fort is in good condition Fort Moultrie
was uniniured. The casualties at Fort Sum
ter were drumer boy, named Ahrens NOR
tally wounded; two men severely wounded
and three others slightly injured. At Fort
Moultrie, one man was accidentally hurt by
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