The New York herald., 1863-04-14

70 those destructive engines Of war the various channels
were 20 obstSucsed that n the ron-eiads should
prove altogether nvunerable they would s nnd their
passage blocked up by obstrucons, which t might be
impossible and would certainly DO dinbcuit, 10 remove
and they knsw that however we'll adapted for
defensive purposes the iron cads might prove 70 be, tho
dcury Of manouvsrng them and the fswness Of their
suns-hsavy though they might be-did not commend
them offensive purposes against such Notifications as
those which they should have 70 encounter.
And therefore, with trepidaton, no shrinking, no
calculation Of defeat nut At the time without the
confidence which unproessona persons seemed TO pos
sess the gallant Dupont and his officers prepared 70
move forwarl and test the great question OF whether
the Monitors were or not mseh for the forts and
batteries.
The attack would have commenced an hour or two
earlier than did had not been that the Admiral was
advised 70 walt for the ebb tide rather than sail up with
the food tide the former would be apt 10 dis
cover the locality Of the obsirucons the channel and
the tide turned 1t eleven O'Clock During these hours Of
suspense the eye had opportunity Of taking the fea
lures OF the scene on which the grest act
was 70 be played. The blue waters danced In
the bright sunshine, and Cocks Of birds dip
ped their white wings In the waves and uttered their
shrin they swooped downward after their prey
Over the parape Forts Sumter and houltrs the rebe
defenders were watching movements and sgnaizing
them and even the roofs and sseples Of the distant
city We could SOC hundreds Of spectators. Distinctly In
view were the numerous batteries extending from the
wappoo creek the Ashley river following the contour
OF James island down 10 the Lighthouse battery the
south point Of Morris Island. On the other aide they
were more sti-Breach Inlet battery, on the
lower end Of suivan's Island Fort Beauregard and
up 70 Fort Mourie while tho centre of The picture,
rs,us A were from the water stood Fort sumter dis
playing the rebel flag angle md ths Palmetto flag
on the opposite angle beyond Fort Ripley and Castle
Pinckney, the city ang up the background.
Meanwhile the attacking vessels lay at anchor 10 the
main shlp channel within mile Of tho batteries Nor.
ris Island, without provoking hostile shot. The Wee.
hawken was the and the other vcses In the order
In which they are named In the plan Of attack Precisely
Al half past twelve O'Clock the feet commenced 10
Tho distance o the positions at which they directed
70 attack nearly four miles, and for almost all that
distance they were within range Of the cnemys batteries
But again there Is delay Graphing irons attached 10
the weehawxen got foul of her anchor cable and u
taxes nearly hour matters right. Al last the
difficulty n got over, and more the vessels are
under weigh. slowly they move up the ship channel.
| Tney pass within easy range Of Port Wagner,
| ON Morris Island; bat not q shot disputes their
prcsrsss they pass the battery s Cummiogs' Point
named believe, Battery Bee-but stll discharge
from rehe gun. And u ti the vessels have 90,
fairly between the two uppyr points Of Morris Island and
suuivsns Isandwhich are about mile srart--snd are
o.nd,ag 70 make the entrance Of the hsrbo, the
ornpous stiffness IA broken. Fort Sumter opens the bail
with her bsrbete guns Fort hou,ris taxes up tho loud
refrain The various batteries JON In the desfenins
enorus and the iron csds hnd themselves wtnn ccle
a are concenrated from all The rebel ,hs, b
b. ought 70 bear upvn the poin~