The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-04-24
The Attack upon Charleston.
Uranus.

Our attack last Tuesday upon the strongest
of the rebel strongholds, though unavailing,
was in no sense disaster. 1t added to the
glory of our navy. and involved no serious
loss either of life or of material. In the an
nails of naval warfare, no instance can be found
of a serious attack upon place hundredth
part so formidable. Considering the tremen-
dous calibre and scientific construction of the
guns, and the fact that three hundred of them
simultaneously belched their concentric fire
upon the little fleet at the distance of only a
| few hundred yards, and considering. too, the
. Internal agents of destruction that lay beneath
! the water, as well as the curbS and the snares
and the traps, all former attempts of the kind
now seem but mere child's play.
/ 1t is presumptuous for civilians to try to
settle the question whether this baficd effort
is tnality or not. Nobody but the naval
Commanders on the spot are able to deter
mine the expediency of renewing the attempt
Undoubtedly the knowledge gained of the
power of the enemy's fire, of the enduring
power of the Monitors. of the topography of
the various channels. and of the locality and
character of the subaqueous instructions,
would serve as very great advantage in an
other fight but it is only for the Judgment of
Admiral Dupont, and the master minds with
him. 10 determine whether even this great
acquisition would bring the capture of Charles
ten, by naval attack onlv within the range
, of possibilities. If, with their enlarged COM
prehension of the relation between their
means and the object to be accomplished,
they decide against new attempt the peo-
,.l.. VI T, I.
been made certain that no truer heroes live
than those having charge of that iron fleet
They surely will 90 all that mortal flesh and
blood can do, or should attempt; and their
conclusion, whatever it may be, will be re-
ceived with implicit trust.
But even at the worst. one important end .
at least. will doubtless be effected The iron
clad VII lie safely within the bar, beyond Sc
rlous annoyance from the forts, and in COM
parativey smooth water; and will be able to
seal. almost Theoretically, the blockade, which
heretofore, even with our best enieavors out
side the bar, has been 50 penetrable that
probably hundred times more merchandise
and munitions of war have gone through in
to the Contedcracy at that point than at any
other east Of The Mississippi. Il is settled
that Nicilsbnrg cannot be taken at present;
bu, then the Importance of taking it has
been vastly diminished by the occupation of
the Mississippi below. SO as to cut off the
great transit of the necessaries of life, from
the region beyond, into the heart of the Com
!ede-ary. Just SO. it may be settled that
Charleston cannot be taken at present but
the Importance of taking it vii! he in like
manner vastly diminished by etfectually cut
ting of I'll communications of the outer
world with it. If regard be paid to the ter
rible straits already existing in the Confeder-
acy, The sealing up of the Mississippi river,
and of the port of Charleston. which has
cost hardly drop of blood, will tell more,
in the way of weakening the enemy. than
half a dozen Of the bloodiest battles of the
war.
Whether naval operations are to have
remission or not, the time has come when
the movements on land Will engage the chief
attention. The roads are fast getting into
prime condition, and the great armies are all
in far better spirit and trim for advance
movements than ever before. There are
signs OF mighty blows close at hand. We
await them with confidence York
TiH,es